Pre Amp on no Pre Amp that is the question.

[moonigan]

My long serving Cyrus setup took a turn for the worse last week when my 8vs integrated AMP died. Cyrus will repair it but it will cost £300 so I'm exploring the option of buying something new. My current setup is:

Cyrus 8vs Integrated Amp
Cyrus CD8
Cyrus Smartpower Power Amp for Left Channel
Cyrus Smartpower Power Amp for Right Channel
Technics SL1200 MK II
Project Phonobox SE
Sonos Connect
Dynaudio 52SE Speakers

Options:
1. Repair the 8vs - Most cost effective but as this is PH i've discounted it.
2. Replace the 8vs with a pre-amp/dac options being touted are Cyrus Pre2 DAC as this would fit in with the rest of my kit.
3. Sell the Smartpowers and Phono stage and get more upto date integrated amp with Phono and DAC. This is unfamiliar ground for me so Ive no idea of what products to look at.

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

[markiii]

option 2

[Tony1963]

Budget?

And don't say as little as possible!

[moonigan]

Tony1963 said:

Budget?

And don't say as little as possible!

£1200 - top end but would rather pay less. Started looking at some of the high end offerings from the Japanese brands (Denon, Pioneer) as the DAC in the Cyrus isn't meant to be that great.

http://www.pioneer-audiovisual.eu/eu/def/products/...

https://www.denon.co.uk/uk/product/hifi/amplifier/...

[P700DEE]

Really??
You have a traditional Hi-Fi system from a single manufacturer that you then add a Project phono stage to. You also have an integrated amp with additional power amplifiers.
By all means go listen to some high end Japanese integrated amp/dac combos but I think you may be disappointed.
The £1200 budget might well be stretched on option 2 unless you go pre-owned.
Its probably worth fixing your existing integrated for £300 that's around what second hand versions are advertised at. It probably includes an upgrade.

[moonigan]

P700DEE said:

Really??
You have a traditional Hi-Fi system from a single manufacturer that you then add a Project phono stage to. You also have an integrated amp with additional power amplifiers.
By all means go listen to some high end Japanese integrated amp/dac combos but I think you may be disappointed.
The £1200 budget might well be stretched on option 2 unless you go pre-owned.
Its probably worth fixing your existing integrated for £300 that's around what second hand versions are advertised at. It probably includes an upgrade.

The Pre2 Dac is only £1145 RRP so within budget but I've seen comments from owners who have been disappointed with the Cyrus DAC even the high end one. I've already had the discussion with Cyrus and the broken amp, wont be upgraded so its bordering on uneconomical repair.

Edited by moonigan on Thursday 26th October 09:26

[TonyRPH]

You can't really go wrong with the Japanese stuff in terms of reliability.

And it usually sounds good too.

Ironically, I've only ever seen UK HiFi kit just fail* (without being abused).

It's almost as if some UK manufacturers don't have the ability to build reliable HiFi, even in the 21st century.

Whereas there's so much Japanese stuff out that still going strong after 30 years...

• Usually silly faults like noisy transistors and so on.

I speak from experience, I once owned a Cyrus ACA 7 preamp and yes, it went noisy on one channel.

Was a pig of a fault to find too...

[telecat]

I would say that getting it fixed would be my option. Either that or upgrade to the Pre for that system, (if feasible). My take is that UK HiFi is built to perform and as such it does fail every now and again. However mostly it is better Sound quality wise than Japanese kit that is not repairable. My experience of HiFi from Japan at this price level is that it is hard to get it repaired and it can go wrong.