The Cyrus Phono Signature
A jewel in the crown of my Vinyl playback chain. The Cyrus Phono signature has been a truly revelatory addition. After deciding to bring the Analog playback capabilities of my system up to par with the digital, I came to realize that I would need to set some ground rules down. My system needed to sound good and required an ease of use and convenience that many of my previous systems lacked. I also desperately wished to have one phono stage that had multiple inputs. My contenders after doing my research were The Luxman EQ-500, The Gold Note PH-10 and PSU-10 and lastly the Cyrus Phono Signature and Psx-r(2) power supply.
Out of the three, I was able to hear and demo two in person. A good friend of mine owns the Gold Note combo in gorgeous metallic red and I was able to pry it from him for a weekend of listening. It looked like Ironman and I enjoyed it very much. I was sure that it would be my next phono pre and it too deserves a write up. However, I happened upon a fine Canadian fellow selling his near new Cyrus Phono signature. For the price he set and CAD to USD conversion, it was a risk I had to take. I figured if I did not like it, I could move it along and be out little if anything on it.
Before I get ahead of myself, I did manage to hear the Luxman EQ-500 at the NY audio show 2 years in a row. An absolute gem of a phono pre that deserves a proper demo and write up. I really wanted to buy this Phono preamp. However, at an MSRP considerably higher than the other two contenders and more than both combined. I just could not bring myself to layout that much of my money. Therefore, I still admire it very much and would love to try it out someday. It will exit stage left from this write up.
The Stats of the phono signature are very impressive. The company’s official page on it is here: The award-winning Cyrus Phono Signature Phono Stage . Stats are:
Type: Solid-state phono stage
Inputs: 4× RCA stereo pairs for individual cartridge inputs, multi-pin PSX-R2 input
Outputs: XLR balanced and RCA single ended stereo line level outputs, MC-Bus RCA in and out
RIAA filter accuracy: ±0.5dB
MM input sensitivity: 4mV,
MM input impedance: 47kΩ
MC input sensitivity range: 120µV-4mV
MC input impedance values: 11Ω, 16Ω, 33Ω, 47Ω, 100Ω, 150Ω, 333Ω, 500Ω, 1kΩ, 47kΩ
MC capacitive load options: 220pf, 1nF, 2nF, 3nF
Dimensions (W×H×D): 2.5×7.5×36.5cm
Weight: 4.1kg
The Cyrus Audio Phono Signature is a discrete phono stage. It features four completely independent RCA inputs and all four inputs are configurable by remote control! Output goes through either XLR or RCA lineouts. While it does not offer alternative EQ settings, it does allow the user to change impedance and capacitance and store those settings. This is adjustable on the fly either from the front panel or by remote. The Phono Signature is extremely nimble in terms of cartridge matching. Resistance and capacitance are adjustable, as well as gain. The phono signature is able to increase gain from 40dB to 70dB! There are 160 different permutations of these three parameters available to the user. No dip -switches or internal jumpers here! It is all right up front for you to adjust and store. All this capability placed into the distinctive cast half-width Cyrus casework, designed to match with other Cyrus components perfectly. Such as the external power supply.