Reviews by Maelob
I guess now is its my turn for a review on the Cyrus One HD. Thanks to Robert from Amerricahifi for the opportunity to review this unit. This was a good experience for me since this is my first review of anything. I would like to say that I don't really envy the job of reviewers it is definitely tougher than i thought. Also now I understand the whole pain of packaging and the condition of boxes. The poor box will probably be unrecognizable when it gets back to America HIFI.
As far as the review goes, I won’t go into details of specs, usually people will do their own research for specs. But what people wants to find out is how it sounds.
Bottom line upfront- The unit sounds great with both Headphones and Speakers in a desktop environment. This will definitely be a great all around unit for somebody looking for a one box solution. Now, I honestly feel like i really wasted lot of money in getting a 5k Tube amp. Now I understand all the craziness in this hobby where we keep spending and spending and at the end what you gain is minimal.
Equipment - I mainly used the ONE in a desktop set up connected to a Schiit Bitfrost 2 DAC via SE connection. I compared the unit to an LTA Z-10 (5K USD) integrated tube amp.
Source - TIDAL -IMAC- IFI I galvanic - bitfrost 2 - ONE
I compared to the Z-10 also conected to the Bitfrost via XLR.
Headphones - ZMF VERITE, and Sony ZIR
Speakers - Mark Sota Cesti MB bookshelf speakers
Build Quality -Ergonomics
I love the look of the amp with the half size, always been a fan of Cyrus since i started reading Brit HIFI MAGS such as Hifi Choice and What HIFI - Cyrus products would always get great reviews. Nice heft and solid chassis. Not a big fan of the glossed face since the led reflects on it making it hard to see. I can hardly see the inputs on my desk but to be honest i am not switching outputs so no big deal. Also I didn’t use the remote app. Overall seems like good quality.
Music - These are some of the tracks and records I used - Bill Friselll (You only Live Twice), Billie Eilish (No time to Die), Peter Frampton Comes Alive (Do you feel like I do), Gogo Pinguin (Murmurs), Henri Texier Les La-bas, Beethoven The Symphonies Ricardo Chailly -Gewandhausorchester Leipzig - some modern pop indie, Twenty One Pilots, Saint Motel and Green Day (Brain Stew) - plus many more
Sound Impressions - Based on this experience I think sometimes in this hobby reviewers dont really highlight that sometimes differences in equipment are really really minimal especially when referring to amps. So dont expect to hear destroy, or night and day thing.
After listening for two weeks to the ONE and the LTA-Z10 I was shocked about how little difference between these two amps, I was not expecting this to be honest. The LTA is 5K and I am still paying my credit card.
HEADPHONE AMP - The main reason I bought the LTA amp was because of the great headphone amp performance with great reviews. I alway wanted a high end Tube amp and I bought it blind. Moving to the ONE not kidding I was in shock, the tonality of both amps were very very close. Didn’t notice any major changes in soundstage, I kept going back and forth and I could not believe it. By the way I have really good hearing had my ears tested a year ago.
I would call the ONE headphone amp really well rounded balanced sound, good detail, good punch quiet background. But nothing overly done. Like i said when using my LTA as a reference, they are very close. I wrote on my notes, that i would probably would have a hard time doing a blind testing between the two amps. It is that good in my opinion. Good overall balance sound. Dont think this amp gets in the way of the headphones. Both the ZMF and Sony sounded really good. The only thing that LTA did better was the 3d sense, slightly more tactile and natural like been there feeling but like i said very very minimal. I am questioning why I needed to spend all that money. Unless you are planning to get the most inefficient headphones out there, this is a great solution. I would be happy with this unit to drive my current headphones.
SPEAKER AMP -
Since I am using in a desktop set up, I am a fan of nothing overly done that can get tiring. Thats what I like about the Cesti MB speakers they are somewhat little recessed non fatiguing but great imaging and soundstage and a warmish tonality. As a background I've have used over the years Mini Maggies, Audience The One and ATC speakers. For amps I have used over the years include - BEL CANTO, Emotiva, Mcintosh, PS audio S-300. Most recently the LTA Z-10 (only 14 watts) but I really like it, very detailed but non fatiguing sound, natural sounding.
Shifting to the ONE, the differences were more noticeable than the headphone amp. I found the ONE to also have very good balanced sound, good punch, nothing overly done. Highs were detailed and had more splash than the LTA amp but still within the non fatiguing sound. Really good detail on the bass and faster than the LTA, very well controlled. This is one of the weakness of the LTA amp, as far as midrange the ONE was really great. Very good vocal clarity. I was really impressed with Vocals - also imaging was really good and good soundstage. The LTA has a somewhat more delicate sound and the 3d tactile aspect was more noticeable on the LTA but again not really a night a day type of thing. If i had only the ONE i would not even care honestly.
In closing, If i had to do it all over again the ONE would be in my top 3 list for a good all around one and done one box solution. This is great overall performer, highly recommended.
As far as the review goes, I won’t go into details of specs, usually people will do their own research for specs. But what people wants to find out is how it sounds.
Bottom line upfront- The unit sounds great with both Headphones and Speakers in a desktop environment. This will definitely be a great all around unit for somebody looking for a one box solution. Now, I honestly feel like i really wasted lot of money in getting a 5k Tube amp. Now I understand all the craziness in this hobby where we keep spending and spending and at the end what you gain is minimal.
Equipment - I mainly used the ONE in a desktop set up connected to a Schiit Bitfrost 2 DAC via SE connection. I compared the unit to an LTA Z-10 (5K USD) integrated tube amp.
Source - TIDAL -IMAC- IFI I galvanic - bitfrost 2 - ONE
I compared to the Z-10 also conected to the Bitfrost via XLR.
Headphones - ZMF VERITE, and Sony ZIR
Speakers - Mark Sota Cesti MB bookshelf speakers
Build Quality -Ergonomics
I love the look of the amp with the half size, always been a fan of Cyrus since i started reading Brit HIFI MAGS such as Hifi Choice and What HIFI - Cyrus products would always get great reviews. Nice heft and solid chassis. Not a big fan of the glossed face since the led reflects on it making it hard to see. I can hardly see the inputs on my desk but to be honest i am not switching outputs so no big deal. Also I didn’t use the remote app. Overall seems like good quality.
Music - These are some of the tracks and records I used - Bill Friselll (You only Live Twice), Billie Eilish (No time to Die), Peter Frampton Comes Alive (Do you feel like I do), Gogo Pinguin (Murmurs), Henri Texier Les La-bas, Beethoven The Symphonies Ricardo Chailly -Gewandhausorchester Leipzig - some modern pop indie, Twenty One Pilots, Saint Motel and Green Day (Brain Stew) - plus many more
Sound Impressions - Based on this experience I think sometimes in this hobby reviewers dont really highlight that sometimes differences in equipment are really really minimal especially when referring to amps. So dont expect to hear destroy, or night and day thing.
After listening for two weeks to the ONE and the LTA-Z10 I was shocked about how little difference between these two amps, I was not expecting this to be honest. The LTA is 5K and I am still paying my credit card.
HEADPHONE AMP - The main reason I bought the LTA amp was because of the great headphone amp performance with great reviews. I alway wanted a high end Tube amp and I bought it blind. Moving to the ONE not kidding I was in shock, the tonality of both amps were very very close. Didn’t notice any major changes in soundstage, I kept going back and forth and I could not believe it. By the way I have really good hearing had my ears tested a year ago.
I would call the ONE headphone amp really well rounded balanced sound, good detail, good punch quiet background. But nothing overly done. Like i said when using my LTA as a reference, they are very close. I wrote on my notes, that i would probably would have a hard time doing a blind testing between the two amps. It is that good in my opinion. Good overall balance sound. Dont think this amp gets in the way of the headphones. Both the ZMF and Sony sounded really good. The only thing that LTA did better was the 3d sense, slightly more tactile and natural like been there feeling but like i said very very minimal. I am questioning why I needed to spend all that money. Unless you are planning to get the most inefficient headphones out there, this is a great solution. I would be happy with this unit to drive my current headphones.
SPEAKER AMP -
Since I am using in a desktop set up, I am a fan of nothing overly done that can get tiring. Thats what I like about the Cesti MB speakers they are somewhat little recessed non fatiguing but great imaging and soundstage and a warmish tonality. As a background I've have used over the years Mini Maggies, Audience The One and ATC speakers. For amps I have used over the years include - BEL CANTO, Emotiva, Mcintosh, PS audio S-300. Most recently the LTA Z-10 (only 14 watts) but I really like it, very detailed but non fatiguing sound, natural sounding.
Shifting to the ONE, the differences were more noticeable than the headphone amp. I found the ONE to also have very good balanced sound, good punch, nothing overly done. Highs were detailed and had more splash than the LTA amp but still within the non fatiguing sound. Really good detail on the bass and faster than the LTA, very well controlled. This is one of the weakness of the LTA amp, as far as midrange the ONE was really great. Very good vocal clarity. I was really impressed with Vocals - also imaging was really good and good soundstage. The LTA has a somewhat more delicate sound and the 3d tactile aspect was more noticeable on the LTA but again not really a night a day type of thing. If i had only the ONE i would not even care honestly.
In closing, If i had to do it all over again the ONE would be in my top 3 list for a good all around one and done one box solution. This is great overall performer, highly recommended.
After listening for two weeks to the ONE and the LTA-Z10 I was shocked about how little difference between these two amps, I was not expecting this to be honest. The LTA is 5K and I am still paying my credit card."
Gosh this SO! refreshing to hear absolutely agree here.....so little differences in amps......unless your on the extreme edges and totally mismatched in impedance etc.