The CD Xt Signature is the most recent in a protracted line of Cyrus CD transports. Whereas it seems to be similar to the final one – the CD Xt SE2 – the corporate claims enhancements within the servo management software program, energy provide and electrical noise ranges.
Obsessives will discover the removing of the PSX-R socket. The PSX-R is an add-on outboard energy provide, and the usual suggestion to improve Cyrus merchandise.
It made enormous enhancements to earlier transports, however the Signature’s inner energy provide has been refined to the extent that the corporate now not feels the outboard unit provides important advantages.
Construct and design
The Signature is constructed neatly, mirroring the development of different Cyrus merchandise. It doesn’t give off a premium aura, although, which is what we’d hope for at this value.
Issues worsen after we load a disc – it feels agricultural quite than fantastically engineered, and is noisy with it. However as soon as the disc is spinning, the CD Xt Signature is quieter than most of its rivals.
Cyrus could be very happy with its transport mechanism, notably the software program that controls it, and has invested a fantastic deal in growing this CD engine. It’s designed to ship excessive efficiency in a house hi-fi setting – Cyrus claims a formidable 20 per cent fewer errors in disc-reading than the most effective OEM various.
However there’s a draw back. This transport is fussy about disc high quality. In case your platters are usually not in prime situation, or formatted to the exact Purple E book CD spec, it might battle to learn them.
Efficiency
For this assessment, we use a Chord Hugo digital-to-analogue converter to do the number-crunching. The sign then feeds into our reference Bryston BP26/4B SST2 pre/energy and ATC SCM50 audio system.
The last-generation of Cyrus transport was the best-sounding vaguely realistically priced unit we’ve heard. The Signature sounds cleaner, crisper and extra dynamic, even in contrast with its predecessor partnering a PSX-R.
We begin with the Broadchurch OST (from Ólafur Arnalds) and the Signature (with the Hugo) delivers astonishing element. Every instrumental strand is crisply drawn, notes cease and begin with precision, and subtleties, such because the dense texture of the growling low frequencies and the area across the sparse instrumental backdrops, are simple to listen to.
The soundstage is open and splendidly expansive. The imaging is steady, centered, and layered with nice care.
We’re additionally impressed by the mix’s wide-ranging dynamics; the best way the soundtrack’s seismic bass hits laborious but additionally the nuanced rendering of the piano and string notes. It’s the type of efficiency we’d discover laborious to raised even at double the cash.
With Gil Scott Heron’s I’m New Right herewe’re happy by the sound’s precision and drive. The complicated percussion on the opening of New York Is Killing Me is delivered with distinctive ability and readability.
Verdict
If you wish to hear how good your CDs can sound – and are proud of a separate DAC – the Cyrus CD Xt Signature is a terrific purchase.
MORE: Finest CD gamers to purchase
