Cyrus SoundKey portable DAC

[god-bluff]

Glad the default option is working for you - i struggled to be happy with the amount of clicks/pops and bangs,  hence my move Neutron...

Are you using the supplied OTG cable and have you used the Cyrus much? From my experience it seems to improve greatly with use not necessarily burn in type sound improvement but in functionality

 

[god-bluff]

I had a chance to do a brief comparison of the Soundkey to the Dragonfly today using my iphone 6 running Tidal as a source and powering an AKG Q701 Quincy Jones headphones. The comparison was done at a local audio store using their demo Q701 in quiet surroundings. Impressions were corraborated by two other patrons in the store.

Playing Macy Gray's "Stripped" which is recorded at a lower than typical level and the iphone volume at its highest setting the Q701 was driven to a comfortable listening level. Bass was extended, fast and tight without being thin. It was not the deepest, but was beautifully balanced with no trace of bleed into the midrange. The midrange had a nice neutral balance, a slightly forward presentation and excellent clarity. Treble was extended and clean with a very slight trace of brightness. I would characterize the sound as neutral and detailed without being lean or overly analytical ... if that makes any sense. Keep in mind though that this was with very well recorded material and there was simply no time to try other music.

Overall the match was excellent and I could easily see this as a very satisfactory, near end-game setup for those preferring a neutral presentation.

Unfortunately with the same setup and material the volume from the Dragonfly was so low that no meaningful comparison could be made. I don't really know why this was the case and will enquire as to the exact model of the Dragonfly the next time I visit the store.

I grow more impressed with the Soundkey every day.

When I had a Dragonfly I found the volume totally inadequate with normal (in my case android) apps. UAPP was needed. making it a very lmited device in terms of usability. Also very little if any improvement over my phone's excellent native sound. SoundKey is a different class at least against V1.2 Audioquest. Maybe the Red is closer but around double the retail price? no thanks!

 

[Jimster480]

Yes I can highly recommend at leat the original GeekOut (no experience of the V2) Can be picked very cheaply and represents possibly best value out there

As I hinted at though I find I use the soundKey a lot more. It's so tiny and efficient in terms of power consumption

I use it daily with my Z3C phone and usually my Sony 10rc on ears. A fantastic combination. So pure, open and refined. Hard to believe what I hear is coming from a relatively humble set up. The Cyrus is performing faultlessly with replacement cable.

Audioquest et al should be worried when this is released properly. That's if there's any justice which there often isn't on here. Many (often British) devices go ignored

I'm thinking I'm just going to do the Modi Multibit & the SMSL M8. Both should have comparable if not better output vs the LH system. I'm going to pair with a O2Amp and a Topping A30.

 

[LucQc]

How does the Cyrus sound with the Focal Listen?

Very interested in this phone. The Spirit Classic was my all time favourite spoiled by terrible cracking of headband (3 pairs before I gave Up)...

 
You can take what I wrote previously:
 

  SoundKey listening experience seemed better with Focal Listen and Grado RS2 after a couple of listening sessions. Today I made another test. I plugged both in the mp3 input of Cambridge Audio AV Receiver with JM Lab Speakers.
 
I listened to 3-4 minutes of those tracks:
 
Livingston Taylor - Isn't she lovely ( 24 bits - 96000 Hz )
Frederick Fennell-Dallas Wind Symphony - Beachcomber ( 16 bits - 44100 Hz )
Beck - Wow ( 24 bits - 96000 Hz )
Michel Jonasz - Le temps passé ( 16 bits - 44100 Hz )
Doug MacLeod - Chill on Cold ( 16 bits - 44100 Hz )
 
The vocal and whistling of Taylor were rendered more naturally with SoundKey. Same with Jonasz vocals. Bass seemed more tight on Beck's and Jonasz's songs. With Beachcomber it felt more like I was in the Concert Hall with the SoundKey, I guess the image is better. Winds, Strings and Percussions seemed rendered more naturally.
 
The K1 was getting closer with MacLeod's Chill on Cold. So for someone enjoying Blues a lot this might be a good choice as it is cheaper and pretty close to SoundKey. 

 
I really appreciate the nice controlled attack or punch of the Listen. The bass is rendered pretty well without hijacking the show. Decently neutral with plenty of details without going too over-analytical.
 
Compared with my Grado RS2, I think the listening experience is even more enjoyable ( scoring higher with Foot Taping Index ). Not sure what it is exactly, maybe more feeling like if I am there in the recording studio or concert hall.
 
If you add to this that the Listen are portable (can bring it in the backpack when commuting), isolating (co-workers are not going nuts because I am listening music) this more than compensate for a bit of discomfort (headband, pads a bit small). And by the way I would not even think of carrying the more comfortable RS2 in my backpack anyway...
 
Before posting I made another listening test between Grado RS2 + SoundKey and Focal Listen + SoundKey.
 
Livingston Taylor - Isn't she lovely ( 24 bits - 96000 Hz )
Mattias Wager - Toccata & Fuge in D-minor ( 24 bits - 44100 Hz )
 
What was more noticeable is that it obviously felt more like I was there at the recording session for Wager's performance with the Listen. Probably because of the bass and the feel of the recording room accoustics rendering.

 

[god-bluff]

For those that didn't back this project but are interested it looks like this may be available for general release next month
 
http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/cyrus-soundkey-dac-and-headphone-amplifier?gclid=CN_Kxcyr1tICFZIW0wodTdQHpw
 
Price £99
 
Also the warranty is claimed to be 2 years.

 

[duracek]

To the people who had their units fall apart, did you manage to find out which DAC chip was being used?

 

[god-bluff]

Does it matter what the name is on the DAC chip if it at the end of day it sounds great.

....and it does sound quite spectacularly good for what it is. A tiny and cheap device.

 

[duracek]

Does it matter what the name is on the DAC chip if it at the end of day it sounds great.

....and it does sound quite spectacularly good for what it is. A tiny and cheap device.

I have to agree, it does sound very good, in fact I think it is almost as good as my Meridian Explorer 2 except when playing MQA files obviously. I think it is just the kid in me wanting to know how stuff works lol.

 

[god-bluff]

It is odd though that they don't mention what chip is used. Can only conclude it's pretty basic and not worth bragging about or (unlikely) their own design.

They are tight lipped regarding what's inside their other hifi DAC's too.

 

[English Gent]

OK, after having a version that fell apart at first. new version I received seem ok so far
 
First thing I realise, is this USB powered stick can run some good headphones loud, I was going to use it with my SE 846 IEMs, but it runs my B&W p7s with ease.
 
Sound quality, well it's no Mojo, but that obvious, but for £65 (Kickstarter) it kicks ass of all the dragonfly's, and the other USB powered DACs Ive tried
 
With iPhone it's a pain with CCK needed, even with Lightning to Micro USB cables I've found problems
 
as for sound, lovely crisp but not harsh highs, great mids, and bass if you push with EQ (that's just my personal pref)
 
If it doesn't fall apart like first batch, Cyrus could be onto a winner, but a Lightning to micro USB cable would be the killer app with all the iPones with out jack
 
Let hope the build quilty lasts, sorry to say but some bad design at first.
 
TLDR.. better than Dragonfly if it doesn't fall apart.

 

[Jimster480]

I think that honestly they should tell you what DAC is inside...

 

[LucQc]

I do not care...

 

[Jimster480]

  I do not care...

Sure, but its alot to charge for something without any information on it...

 

[LucQc]

Try this with Apple... lol
 
Com'on seriously, give a break to Cyrus on this. This is VLSI chip...

 

[god-bluff]

Sure, but its alot to charge for something without any information on it...

Erm...even at the retail price of £99 this will prove to be one the best audio bargains out there. Try it.