Cyrus Audio is celebrating its 40th Anniversary and it is brand that does not get enough attention (still!) here in North America. We have covered the brand rather extensively over the years and absolutely loved two of its most recent offerings including the CDi-XR CD player and i7-XR integrated amplifier.
But where things get interesting with Cyrus is when you start focusing on its phono pre-amplifiers like the Cyrus Phono Signature/PSX-R2 which offers some of finest performance around with both MM and MC cartridges. This might actually be the best product in the lineup; clarity, detail, pacing, and overall presence are truly superb.
All of that begs the most logical question. Why don’t these guys manufacture their own turntable?
Ahem.
We come bearing gifts on this slightly chilly Wednesday.
The new $5,495 USD Cyrus Audio TTP features a belt-drive and extremely robust looking platter and plinth that have been machined from solid aluminum blocks to provide greater stability.
The aluminum platter is suspended on hardened steel axle which rotates on a new “ultra-percision” bearing that was created by the British manufacturer — with some help from another company in Germany.
The feet are both adjustable and replaceable (for those who might want to consider using anti-vibration cones or feet) on the chassis that features internal damping compounds to minimize the impact of vibration on the platter and tonearm.
The Cyrus Audio TTP also features electronic speed controls (33 1/3 and 45 rpm) that are changed using surface mounted buttons on the front of the chassis. Playback is still controlled manually and the entire package does look rather neat — in a very dark, utilitarian way.
The turntable also features a customized DC synchronous motor and this is where Cyrus’ expertise with power supplies might help this table outperform the competition. Reducing wow and flutter has a very positive impact on speed accuracy and potential owners should expect that from a table at this price level.
This wouldn’t be a Cyrus product if one could not upgrade the deck with the PSX-R2 external power supply and there is a socket on the rear panel for that. That upgrade will run you well over $1,000 for those who are curious — a better cartridge or phono stage would seem like a better use of your money.
For those who are wondering, Cyrus did not manufacture the turntable on its own.
According to Nick Clarke, MD at Cyrus Audio, “While not known for turntable design, we have partnered with a hugely skilled and vertically integrated German engineering company for the mechanical aspects while applying our skills to the PSU and motor drive to create what we believe is one of the best turntables at this price.”
The tonearm looks rather familiar and we’re not entirely surprised to see one of the most popular British designs bolted to the plinth.
That rather hefty price tag does not include a phono cartridge and whilst some might bristle at spending $5,495 on a deck that requires you to buy your own — that feels rather normal for turntables in this price range.
Rega, Vertere, Clearaudio, and Thorens offer decks that come with pre-installed cartridges in this price range, but there is usually a premium for that.
When you consider the options at $5,500 USD for a turntable in 2023, the Cyrus Audio TTP will have to be more than just “very good” to carve out some space for itself in a very crowded market.
For more information: cyrusaudio.com
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ORT
October 4, 2023 at 6:59 pm
They lost me forever at “hugely”. Beyond the plebeian and well into the realm of “stooopid”, that word and its use are beneath a follower of Gaius Petronius Arbiter*,
That would be…me. I have long held the man in high esteem and compare his barbs favorably to those of Swift for whom the world was a stable and the vast majority of both prince and pauper were sadly, the inbred relatives of the Houyhnhnms.
The best that can be said of this ‘table is that it lacks the hanging testicle of anti-skate device that is the choice of whatever Picasso designed all four of my Pro-Ject ‘tables.
Yes. I have damned the Cyrus with faint praise indeed and whilst this might appear shallow me, it ain’t.
Maximus ORTicus Ridiculus
* Best portrayed in the film “Quo Vadis”(1951) by the excellent thespian (steady now, lads!) Leo Genn opposite an equally superb display of in-thy-face-humor by Peter Ustinov as Nero.
Ian White
October 6, 2023 at 12:06 am
ORT,
As much as I really like Cyrus Audio’s electronics, I see this as a hard sell long-term. There are at least 10 tables between $3,000 and $6,000 that I would consider first and that’s just based on personal experience with them and thoughts about long-term reliability and parts.
Why acquire this when you could have a really high-end VPI, Clearaudio, Thorens, Rega, Pro-Ject, Vertere, or Michell.
IW
ORT
October 6, 2023 at 1:40 am
Ian, I agree.
It may be nice but at this price, it is not enough. And being me, I do not care for its looks all that much. I would sooner own the Pro-Ject A1 full frAutomatic.
I have enough turntables now to satisfy me. I hope. My favorite is still my walnut Pro-Ject 2Xperience and in second place is my Dual ‘cuz it is fully frAuto. Otherwise I am still a Beatles nut.
I cannot believe there are no other admirers of Gaius Petronius Arbiter or Jonathan Swift. Oh wait! I have seen the future and it has its pants down around its knees and thinks the only Swift that matters is a tailor. Their genius gives me pause to mull over the mysteries of the pUniverse.
For instance, scientists have decided that empty space be given a name: “Dark Matter”.
Pfffft!
I call it “Doesn’t Matter”. Kinda like some turntables out there, huh?
ORT
Dave
October 6, 2023 at 10:45 pm
Rubbish! I’ll stick with my Thorens……
Ian White
October 7, 2023 at 2:16 pm
Dave,
It’s not rubbish but I’ll be keeping my Thorens tables as well.
Best,
IW