Naim vs Cyrus

I think that's one you'd simply have to try at home. 

Without an extended home demo surely very risky?

Surely you must try before you buy? Though having heard Cyrus systems before albeit only at shows, I'm not sure where the attraction lies, but that's just me...

If a home demo is not possible, a shop demo can still be valid, taking your unit for comparison, provided that the amp and speakers are similarly revealing to your own. Listen to yours first, and get comfortable with the differences from how it sounds at home, then listen to whatever choices you are considering. In my case, on one occasion I carted my (large and heavy) IMFs to a dealer, to audition a CD player and an amp, and on another I took my source and amp to audition speakers, and source to audition a DAC where they had sufficiently comparable amp and speakers.

The total weight of the SU is almost 2kg more than the two boxes Cyrus combo. I wonder what kind of watts that is.

DIgital output stage apparently. Perhaps a bit like a Devialet - which some praise for their clarity and flat response. 

Perhaps it comes down to whether the OP prefers the PRAT emphasised Naim sound signature, or the neutrality  of the Cyrus. 

I wonder what's in it for the dealer?

Certainly don't make the swap based on the number of watts on the spec sheet - how it makes music is what counts.

You have to listen to it, and listen for a goodly time. The key for me is how many extra songs I want to play . . . I might sit down to listen to a couple, and after ten I'm still going, and then twenty, and then the evening's gone and I'm still loving it. Buy the hi fi that does that for you, and you won't go wrong.

Naim does that, and I can imagine, without having done long tests, that Bryston, Devialet and Rega have a similar effect. Personally, I like Cyrus equipment in the dealership, where it's very balanced and open, verging on analytical, but it doesn't make me want to listen to more songs. 

Whilst my main rig is all Naim, I also run a very modest Cyrus/ATC second system. Undoubtedly the Naim system has the performance edge but I really enjoy the Cyrus one and it is far better value for money in my opinion. If I had to do it all again I would be tempted to go the Cyrus route and put the saving into other hobbies. 

However,  you must have demonstrations of each brand to satisfy your own ears. 

I used to have a Cyrus MonoX based system with my first Naim source, CDX2/XPS2 and it was fantastic.. I drove then ATC SCM 12 speakers. It was very punchy and communicative and let the music through....I was intrigued by Naim amps at that time, not least because  I had started to participate on the previous version  of this  forum .. I listened to various Naim amps.. I liked the sound, but I felt it wasn't as punchy and detailed as the Cyrus MonoX system and something was missing that I had learnt to appreciate.. However when I finally moved to a 282/HiCapDR with 250.2 I felt I was definitely on new higher ground above what the Cyrus had been able to provide.. But for pure power and dynamics, the nod still goes to those Cyrus mono blocks .. But there is a lot more to audio than that as Naim illustrate.

Simon

I agree with Simon's above post. Naim isn't about power but detail. I have had Cyrus One, Two and 3i in the past and I currently have a Cyrus 2 + PSR combo  and although powerful they may be they are no for match my humble Nac12/120 for pure musicality. 

Based on the OP, not sure I would take any new hi-fi from a dealer that is not willing to allow a demo. I have recently moved from Cyrus to Naim (ok, it was older Cyrus pre/powers - a 3i as the pre with two power amps running as mono blocs all with additional PSX-Rs). ALthough the "rated" power was at least double that of the NAP200, upon comparison it was definitely the other way round in reality.

I did direct Naim/my Cyrus comparison at the dealer including hooking up a Cyrus 200 then adding in the Stream XP2qx.

I converted to Naim...maybe it's age...but could no longer get on with the Cyrus sound. 

Nothing wrong with Cyrus. I have always been a fan since their very first Mission days. But tastes now changed. I suggest you choose carefully.

Solid Air posted:

 

You have to listen to it, and listen for a goodly time. The key for me is how many extra songs I want to play . . . I might sit down to listen to a couple, and after ten I'm still going, and then twenty, and then the evening's gone and I'm still loving it. Buy the hi fi that does that for you, and you won't go wrong.

 

I agree with this advice from Solid Air. The problem with a dealer demo is that something may sound attractively different when you first hear it.  But you need to listen for some hours to know whether it sounds better, or just different.  Maybe a dealer will let you use their demo facilities for several hours on a quiet day, but it's a big decision to make without a prolonged listen in the right surroundings.

best

David

The thing I don't like about Cyrus are their cheap ass displays they use on their CDP's and the like.  Get into the current century and use nice dot matrix one like Naim do. 

Cyrus is supposed to be good but as the guys have said definitely arrange a home demo first.