Cyrus ¡9-XR
Hi-Fi Choice|Yearbook 2022
Back in HFC 473, Cyrus' i7-XR put in a fine showing and now it's the turn of the larger 19-XR. Four RCA line inputs and a moving-magnet phono stage are fitted, along with a pre and line out.
Cyrus ¡9-XR

It's joined by a digital board that offers two optical, two coaxial and one USB input. The sample rate handling is excellent, with 768kHz PCM and DSD512 supported via USB while the coaxial connections stretch to 384kHz. With 10 inputs in total, there's not much that you can't connect to the Cyrus, although some may find the omission of Bluetooth an annoyance.

The key difference between the 19 and the smaller amplifier is the power output. This is now 91W into 6ohm, which is a significant improvement over the 52W of the i7.

Sound quality

Initially, I employ the i9-XR in the same manner I tested the i7, with a USB feed from a Roon Nucleus connected to Focal Kanta's No1 (HFC 454) standmount. The Kanta is not a hard speaker to drive, but even allowing for this the i9-XR brings such an effortlessness and authority to the performance that it feels like a profound step forward.

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