Cyrus x200 bi-amping or x300

I think either will give a definite improvment. The reference series are renowned for needing as much current and wattage as possible.

If it was me I would probably go for the singe X300 pair rather than biamping with the X200, but I would want to demo both options before spending the money.

Does it have to be Cyrus power amplification? You could get a Bryston 4BSST for similar money, and they go really well with the Kef's.

I have only heard the X200's, but I gather (from lurking over at cyrusunoffical forum) that the X200's and X300's are voiced a little differently to each other, so if you havent already heard both side by side, it would be wise to check that you prefer the voicing of the X300's to the X200's, if that makes sense. 

We've demonstrated and supplied many Cyrus systems like yours with Reference 205/2's with Mono X200 or Mono X300 power amplifiers, normal and bi-amped.

I suppose it depends what you want to leave yourself open for in the future - you can add another pair of X200's, and if you want to, even add a third pair if you want to be extravagant. Or, you could replace your X200's with X300's which will allow you at a later date to add another pair or another two pairs of X300's. Of course, you can mix and match - You could use the X200's for the UniQ driver and a pair of X300's for the bass drivers (or vice versa).

I'd be tempted to add a pair of X300's, try the combinations out (X200 UniQ, X300 bass/X300 UniQ, X200 bass). From there you can decide if the X300 is a big enough step up over the X200 for you, and if it is, decide whether to move over fully to X300's or mix and match.

Either way, the DACxp+ with Mono X*00 power amps work fantastically well with the 205's, with many of our customers having moved to bi-amping or tri-amping (after trying in their own system).

I had major electrical buzzing issues with the 300's when using XLR balanced inputs. If you make the switch from 200's to 300's then go for RCA's over balanced. I had 3 pairs of 300's, all of which buzzed under XLR input.

I had major electrical buzzing issues with the 300's when using XLR balanced inputs. If you make the switch from 200's to 300's then go for RCA's over balanced. I had 3 pairs of 300's, all of which buzzed under XLR input.

Ours have never buzzed with XLR cables.

We've used X300s on a regular basis over the last year or so, and have never had issues with buzzing on XLR. Our main preamp is a Bryston BP26 but we've used many others too. It sounds like there may be some other issue in your system.

Hi POR10

Rather then adding additional Cyrus Mono X 200's or substituting Mono X 200's for Mono X 300's I feel that in the first instance you'd be better off in looking to get greater performance from your existing Mono X 200's by using alternative pre amplification. DAC/pre amplification such as Resonessence Labs Invicta and Antelope Audio's Zodiac Gold 384 kHz are worth a look.

http://resonessencelabs.com/

http://www.antelopeaudio.com/en

What is/are your source/s please?

Btw, i just want to be clear that we don't stock Resonessence Labs or Antelope Audio products.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

To the OP. I wager the previous non Cyrus retailer telling you your pre is rubbish hasn't even heard a DACxp+ (and even if he's has, not long enough to form a reliable opinion). We use the DACxp+ with Mono X200's and MonoX300's driving not only the Reference 205/2's, but also speaker like the ProAc K6's and KEF Blades - if these speakers don't show any shortcomings of the DACxp+, the Reference 205/2's won't either. We have customers who have purchased four, even six, to bi-amp and tri-amp KEF products, and are extremely happy, and have not once questioned the extensive capabilities of the DACxp+.

He uses these regular scare tactics when someone isn't using products he doesn't sell, or seemingly to undermine a brand or product.

This is an example of a bad post fyi and in my opinion.

No where did he rubbish the existing pre amp.

He does it all the time. In his opinion, anyone who has a Cyrus pre should change it, regardless.

David, may i ask the opposite, have YOU actually listened to the products suggested by Rick? and compared it to the Cyrus pre? and what about Benchmark dac/pre? Bel Canto dac3.5VB mkii? you might be sure dac xp is so great, until you hear something much better..

Exactly , his opinion that's all. There are other pre amps available. Some may be better some may not. It's worth looking at changing pre amps I know I am with my mono x's.

I think you're missing the point. There will always be a better pre-amp out there than the one under discussion (whatever that may be), so anybody who asks a question on here, you could reply with "change your pre". I could recommend a Classe CP800, and yes, it'll be better, but in this case that isnt really helping the OP in his quest to drive the speakers properly. Rick always recommends something else when someone has a Cyrus pre, regardless, whether it be their entry level one, or their top of the range DACxp+ (with or without PSX-R). 

The DACxp+ has been improved a couple of times in the past 5 years, and Rick hasn't been a Cyrus dealer since he started Musicraft, so he hasn't had any meaningful hands on time with the product (if at all). Not only that, but if he doesn't deal with these recommended brands, it is unlikely he has compared them directly. Once again, an invitation is open to those who want to pop along to hear how good the DACxp+ really is.

If anyone had heard a DACxp+, they will know that this pre-amp IS more than good enough for use with the Mono X200 and Mono X300 power amplifiers, and is at home in a full Cyrus system running revealing speakers costing £10,000-20,000 (as well as a more simple Cyrus system). That is not the sign of a pre-amplifier that needs to be changed. 

I have heard the DACxp+ compared to other pre-amplifiers, and we feel it is better than the Bryston BP26, which is around the £4.5k mark. The Bryston itself isn't an under par product, which says a lot for the DACxp+.

It just winds me up when someone states that a product isn't good enough, when they don't really know whether it is or not.