40 CD - integrated CD player - CYRUS

CD players - Digital source devices

The silver disk is not dead - it only sounds great if the drive allows it. And this is where the story of the Cyrus 40 CD begins: a CD player that treats the silver data carrier with all the technical seriousness it deserves - and at the same time marks a radical new beginning for one of the UK's most traditional hi-fi brands. Cyrus Audio from Cambridge celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024. To mark the anniversary, the 40 Series will be released with four completely redesigned components - and the 40 CD is the centerpiece for anyone who sees a physical music collection not as nostalgia, but as a sonically superior source.

It is the 28th CD player in the history of Cyrus, and at the same time the most technically ambitious. It is built on the company's Servo Evolution Platform - a proprietary drive technology that allows the laser to read at a reduced disc speed to capture information with the highest accuracy on the first pass. Fewer read errors means less error correction, error correction means digital noise, digital noise means loss of sound. Cyrus breaks this chain at the root - and combines the result with the most advanced DAC the brand has ever installed: the ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M with HyperStream IV dual DAC technology and a signal-to-noise ratio of 117 dB.

What sets the 40 CD apart from other devices with an identical DAC chip is hidden from view: the power supply unit. Cyrus has completely redesigned the power supply and segmented it into nine independent supply stages - each circuit section has its own regulated branch. DAC, clock generator, analog output stage, display and drive control are supplied strictly separately from each other. As a result, digital switching interference does not penetrate the sensitive analog section and the noise floor drops to a level that is equally impressive in the test lab and in practice. The ESS chip can also be found in significantly cheaper devices - the difference is not the chip, but the surrounding technology.

There is also another tool for the sonically curious: eight selectable digital filters, which can be accessed in the menu of the 40 CD. The differences are subtle but real - reviewers unanimously recommend the Minimum Phase or Linear Phase modes in the Slow Roll-Off setting as the most natural starting point. If you know your system and your listening preferences, you will find a fine tuning tool directly in the device, without external accessories.

The housing follows the iconic half-width format for which Cyrus has been known for decades - with one decisive difference: the design of the 40 CD has been given a contemporary makeover. Brushed, black anodized aluminium, an edgeless glass front with a 3.5-inch TFT color display and an illuminated Cyrus logo, which glows red in standby mode and white in operation, give the device an elegance that goes far beyond its price. The display is easy to read from the listening position, smaller menu items require you to stand up briefly - a minimal concession to the compact dimensions.

Critics from renowned specialist magazines are rarely as unanimous as they are with the 40 CD: What Hi-Fi? praises the device as exceptionally capable and gripping, with precise rhythmic control and a powerful foundation. The Ear describes it as one of the most sophisticated devices in its price range - with a muscular, energetic sound that combines forensic microdynamics with expressive playfulness. Pursuit Perfect System honors it with the publication's highest award and aptly sums up the 40 CD's unique character: not the latest in resolution and sharpness, but a presentation that smooths without blurring - the music flows, the foot bobs along, the energy remains intact. The Ear ends its test with the sentence that many buyers were hoping for: Cyrus may take a bow.

A particularly remarkable change for long-time Cyrus connoisseurs: the 40 CD sounds younger and more direct than its predecessors. The earlier, slightly dense and warm British sound has given way to a fresher transparency and immediacy - with full musical weight. Anyone who owns a Cyrus from the 1990s and switches to a 40 Series system will notice a clear change in character - and in the majority of cases will experience it as a gain.

The connections on the 40 CD have been deliberately kept lean: two analog RCA outputs and one digital coaxial and one digital optical output are available for system integration. The USB-A and RJ45 sockets on the rear are exclusively for firmware updates - audio playback via these inputs is not possible. If you want to integrate external sources via a DAC or play files, you will need the Cyrus 40 ST Streamer as an addition to the system. The 40 CD only plays CDs - SACD playback is not provided. Anyone with an extensive SACD collection should check this in advance.

The device can be fully integrated into the 40 Series ecosystem: The optional Cyrus 40 PSU external power supply unit can be connected via a single cable and provides the 40 CD with an even quieter, much more decoupled power supply - with a dedicated supply for the master clock and analog DAC section. Add the 40 AMP and you have a one-stop system with natural sonic synergy. The supplied remote control operates all four 40 Series devices - a practical convenience for those who are gradually expanding the system.