Flagship Brains, Real-World Price: The Cyrus i7 XR

Some amplifiers shout. The Cyrus i7 XR just quietly out-resolves the competition. This staff trade-in — like new — shares the same advanced XR-Series architecture as Cyrus's flagship i9 XR, sacrificing only external PSU-XR compatibility. In other words, you're getting reference-grade British engineering with barely an asterisk. Precision, power, and pure musical performance, in the famous half-width Cyrus shoebox that punches so far above its size it borders on cheeky.

A DAC and Preamp Borrowed From the Top of the Range

At its digital heart sits the 2nd-generation QXR DAC built around the ESS ES9038Q2M chipset, with a re-designed reconstruction filter and ultra-low-noise power supplies for breathtaking resolution and depth. Seven selectable digital filters let you fine-tune the sound to taste, while USB handles hi-res audio up to 384 kHz and DSD256. On the analogue side, the transparent preamplifier borrows circuitry from Cyrus's flagship Pre-XR — a relay-based input selector and a short, high-performance signal path — and a wideband power stage flat from DC to beyond 100 kHz keeps the audible band free of phase distortion.

Vinyl Ready, Properly

Spin records? The built-in moving-magnet phono stage carries DNA from Cyrus's award-winning Phono Signature, with low noise and wide dynamic range that treats vinyl as a first-class source rather than an afterthought. Add four line inputs plus a full suite of optical and coaxial digital connections, and the i7 XR anchors a serious system on its own.

Why You'll Love the Cyrus i7 XR

• Flagship-derived architecture — the same XR platform as the range-topping i9 XR
• 2nd-gen QXR DAC — ESS ES9038Q2M with USB to 384 kHz / DSD256 and seven filters
• Reference preamp circuitry — short-path analogue stage borrowed from the Pre-XR
• Serious MM phono stage — Phono Signature DNA for low-noise vinyl playback
• Wideband power amp — DC to 100 kHz+ for ruler-flat, phase-accurate response
• Like-new trade-in — flagship sound at a friendlier price

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the i7 XR different from the flagship i9 XR?

The i7 XR shares the i9 XR's core XR-Series architecture and QXR DAC. The main difference is that the i9 XR adds compatibility with Cyrus's external PSU-XR power supply for further upgrades. Sonically, the i7 XR delivers the vast majority of the flagship experience.

Does the Cyrus i7 XR have a phono stage for a turntable?

Yes — a dedicated moving-magnet (MM) phono input with circuitry derived from the Phono Signature, so you can connect a turntable directly without a separate phono preamp.

What does "staff trade-in, like new" mean?

This particular unit was a staff-owned amplifier, returned in like-new condition. It carries the full performance of a new i7 XR at a reduced price — ask us about warranty details.

Cyrus i7 XR Technical Specifications