Cyrus launches BluOS hi-res music streamers with support for MQA and Roon

Cyrus Stream-XR front panel
(Image credit: Cyrus Audio)

We were teased about potential Blu-OS-powered music streamers from Cyrus Audio for over a year and a half, and, finally, these streamers are now official. 

There are two new music streamers, the Cyrus Stream-XR and Cyrus Classic Stream. The first joins Cyrus's premium XR range of hi-fi separates, from which the CDi-XR is a five-star performer. The Classic Stream joins, unsurprisingly, the Classic range. Revived last year, it also includes the Classic Amp and Classic Pre separates.

Both retain Cyrus's customary half-width chassis footprint, with the main visual difference being that the Stream-XR has a display and a row of control/playback buttons on the front panel, while the Classic Stream is a more minimal affair with no display and a single power button adorning the front.

Both music streamers share plenty of features, from AirPlay 2, MQA decoding, Roon Ready certification and both wi-fi and wired ethernet connections. The tried-and-tested BluOS platform, which we've seen in various Bluesound, Dali and NAD products, forms the core streaming function of the two streamers, allowing playback from popular music streaming services such as Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Spotify and more through the BluOS controller app.

Cyrus Stream-XR back connections

(Image credit: Cyrus Audio)

Each model can handle lossless playback of high-resolution audio files up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM. The main difference between the two models lies in the internal DAC used. 

The Stream-XR uses the second generation of Cyrus's QXR DAC, which includes a "high-speed analogue buffer stage" and aims to deliver the analogue signal as accurately and precisely as possible. This DAC design is based on the ESS ES9038Q2M chipset, tuned by Cyrus's own engineering team to achieve the "highest possible performance". 

Meanwhile, the Classic Stream uses the first generation of this QXR DAC, which is also found in the Classic Amp integrated amplifier and Classic Pre preamp.

Cyrus Classic Stream front panel

(Image credit: Cyrus Audio)

In terms of physical connections, the Stream-XR has a pair of analogue line-level outputs, one optical and coaxial digital input apiece, and single optical and coaxial outputs. The Classic Stream has only single optical and coax outputs, and one pair of line-level outputs. Both models have provisions for adding Cyrus's external power supply, too (at extra cost).

The Cyrus Classic Stream is available now for £1995, while the Cyrus Stream-XR is yours for £2495.

MORE:

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Kashfia Kabir
Hi-Fi and Audio Editor

Kashfia is the Hi-Fi and Audio Editor of What Hi-Fi? and first joined the brand over 10 years ago. During her time in the consumer tech industry, she has reviewed hundreds of products (including speakers, amplifiers, turntables and headphones), been to countless trade shows across the world and fallen in love with hi-fi kit much bigger than her. In her spare time, Kash can be found tending to an ever-growing houseplant collection and shooing her cat Jolene away from spinning records.

  • Gecl999
    What Hi-Fi? said:
    Cyrus has launched two hi-res music streamers, one for the Classic range, another for the premium XR range.

    Cyrus launches BluOS hi-res music streamers with support for MQA and Roon : Read more
    It would be good if Cyrus released a streamer without the dac section as per the previous Stream X.
    I already have the QXR dac in my preamp and don't see the point of buying another!
    Reply
  • djh1697
    Cyrus has built support for MQA, a technology that has died; the same chipset in the device supports DSD; surely it would make more sense to offer DSD? Roon will convert PCM files to DSD, the change in the soundstage will blow you away!
    Reply
  • manicm
    djh1697 said:
    Cyrus has built support for MQA, a technology that has died; the same chipset in the device supports DSD; surely it would make more sense to offer DSD? Roon will convert PCM files to DSD, the change in the soundstage will blow you away!

    Roon doesn't convert PCM to DSD, it most likely does the opposite.

    MQA is a moot point because the BluOS platform supports it, whether Cyrus likes it or not.
    Reply
  • Gray
    Gecl999 said:
    It would be good if Cyrus released a streamer without the dac section as per the previous Stream X.
    I already have the QXR dac in my preamp and don't see the point of buying another!
    I've got the QXR DAC in an i7-XR.
    £2,495 for a streamer ⛔ that's the problem for me.
    Reply
  • manicm
    Gray said:
    I've got the QXR DAC in an i7-XR.
    £2,495 for a streamer ⛔ that's the problem for me.

    Even the cheaper model is 2k, quite high
    Reply
  • djh1697
    manicm said:
    Roon doesn't convert PCM to DSD, it most likely does the opposite.

    MQA is a moot point because the BluOS platform supports it, whether Cyrus likes it or not.
    5169
    Reply
  • manicm
    djh1697 said:
    5169

    Yes, but your DAC/Endpoint must have the capability. If it doesn't, it will leave it as PCM.
    Reply