Cyrus 40 ST review

The 40 Series represents a new dawn for Cyrus that promises much Tested at £2995 / $3995 / AU$4999

Cyrus 40 ST music streamer on wooden hi-fi rack in front of bookcase
(Image: © What Hi-Fi?)

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The 40 ST is a terrific performer that delivers a blend of detail, dynamics and rhythmic security that’s hard to better at the money. It’s upgradable too. Gaps in features could be an issue for some, though

Pros

  • +

    Expressive, punchy and exciting sound

  • +

    Excellent rhythmic drive

  • +

    Classy new casework

  • +

    Upgrade potential

Cons

  • -

    The BluOS streaming engine is currently limited to 24-bit/192kHz PCM resolution and no DSD

  • -

    No Chromecast or Bluetooth

  • -

    No USB Type B input

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Cyrus Audio sees the launch of its 40 Series as something of a new beginning. While the brand has produced plenty of exceptional products since it was founded in the early ’80s, it is also fair to say that it has struggled to hold onto the limelight in recent years.

Beyond the extraordinary success of its CDi CD player – an 11-time What Hi-Fi? Award-winner in its price category no less – and the Phono Signature phono stage, there is little else that Cyrus has produced over much of the last decade that has truly excited us. Even the recently introduced premium XR range seems more like a reheat of past efforts than a determined effort to take a step forward. The new 40 Series products are different, with an all-new design that looks firmly to the future. If our experience with the Cyrus 40 ST music streamer is anything to go by, this new range could well be good enough to kick-start the brand’s resurgence.

Currently, the 40 Series consists of four products: the 40 ST streamer we have on test here, an integrated amplifier (the 40 AMP at £3995 / $4995 / AU$6499) and a one-box CD player (40 CD costing £2995 / $3995 / AU$4999). The final member of the quartet is the 40 PSU (£2495 / $3495 / AU$4499) outboard power supply, which in traditional Cyrus fashion offers an upgrade path for the other three units. The company’s products have always tended to be upgradable and we’re thankful that Cyrus has continued to offer such an option. We have samples of the amplifier, CD player and PSU in our test rooms and the reviews will follow in due course.

Design & build

Cyrus 40 ST music streamer slight top down view showing screen and front panel

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Cyrus has used the same distinctive casework in its core hi-fi products since the early ’90s. That die-cast chassis has been much vaunted for its rigidity and clever design over the years and continues to see service in the brand’s Classic Series of components. But time, manufacturing techniques and technology move on.

Cyrus 40 ST tech specs

Cyrus 40 ST music streamer

(Image credit: Cyrus)

Outputs Line level x 2, digital coaxial and optical

Headphone output? No

Max file resolution 24-bit/192kHz PCM, MQA

Streaming features UPnP, AirPlay 2, internet radio, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Roon Ready

Dimensions (hwd) 8.8 x 22.0 x 38.5cm

Weight 4.8kg

The anodised aluminium casework for the 40 Series is all new and all the better for it. While it follows the half-width proportions associated with the brand, the designers have taken the opportunity to grow it just a little in every direction. This gives a little more volume inside, allowing extra leeway with the internal layout and componentry. While this increase of space doesn’t matter so much in something like the streamer, in the amplifier it proves extremely useful.

We like the look of the new range too. To our eyes, the styling looks clean and modern while still maintaining important links to the brand’s heritage. It feels solid, rigid and ever so classy. The 40 ST’s glass front is uncluttered while packing a pleasingly crisp 5-inch TFT screen that’s clear enough to read from the other side of our test room. Five touch-sensitive buttons run vertically on the left, with the Cyrus logo being the power-on switch. Neat.

On the right, you will see a control dial, which is beautifully precise in use with no sense of wobble on our review sample. It controls the 40 ST’s output level and has a neat LED ring around it that can be adjusted for brightness.

Features

Cyrus 40 ST music streamer on wooden hi-fi rack rear view showing connections

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Around the back, you will find an Ethernet connection (wireless is possible too), coax/optical digital ins and outs and two pairs of single-ended stereo analogue outputs. There is also a USB Type A port for playing music from a suitable storage device. Most of the 40 ST’s rivals also include a USB Type B connector so that a computer can be used as a source, but that’s not on offer here, and that’s a shame. That’s not the only omission. Also missing are Chromecast capability and Bluetooth. While we accept that Bluetooth isn’t necessarily the best quality way to get sound into your system, it is convenient and useful on occasions. Similarly, we would rather have the option of Chromecast, though the availability of AirPlay 2 softens that blow a bit. MQA and Roon compatibility are on offer though.

For a new product, the Cyrus 40 ST is surprisingly limited when judged by on-paper specifications. While it covers all the usual bases when it comes to playing music from NAS units over a home network, internet radio and streaming services (Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect are included along with Amazon Music, Qobuz and other less well-known alternatives) we’re surprised that file compatibility when streaming is currently limited to 24-bit/192kHz PCM with DSD not even on the menu. It is common for even budget streamers to include such features, let alone units at this premium price level, so that’s a disappointment.

Cyrus 40 ST music streamer on wooden hi-fi rack slight top-down angle showing rear of streamer

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

This is down to the use of a BluOS streaming module, also seen in streaming products from Bluesound, Roksan and Dali among others. In our experience, the BluOS app is one of the better ones on the market as far as usability and stability are concerned, but this limitation in terms of hi-res file compatibility may be a deal breaker for some. In mitigation, we suspect the module’s current capability will be fine for the vast majority of users – PCM files above 24-bit/192kHz remain a niche interest for the most part. The lack of DSD is a bigger issue for us, but we do know that updates to BluOS are incoming which will allow it to work with files up to DSD256. The timing of those updates is unknown at the moment, though.

We do know that at the heart of the 40 ST’s digital-to-analogue circuitry sits the latest ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M chip and that is specified to resolutions of up to 32-bit/768kHz PCM and DSD1024. There are eight user-selectable digital filter options, and as is usual the differences between them are subtle. The choice comes down to your system and taste, but we prefer Minimum Phase or Linear Phase filter options in Slow Roll Off mode. These sound the most natural and fluid to us.

Screenshot of BluOS app when using the Cyrus ST 40

(Image credit: Future)

In use, the Cyrus 40 ST proves a pretty slick operator, bar the odd clunky moment with the unit’s control software. It’s mostly good, but little things like the way the volume level indicator doesn’t quite work in perfect synchronisation with the control dial rob it of class-leading polish. Our sample is a very early unit and we’re sure things like that can be ironed out pretty quickly. As expected, the BluOS streaming app works well, and we are soon connected to our network, logged into Tidal and plumbed into the What Hi-Fi? reference system.

The bulk of our testing is done with the 40 ST feeding our Burmester 088/911 Mk III amplifier and ATC SCM50 speakers. We also try the Cyrus with its partnering 40 Series amplifier and PMC’s Cor integrated driving a pair of Epos ES-14N speakers. Audiolab’s Award-winning 9000N music streamer is warmed up for comparison and our usual Naim ND555/555 PS DR streamer is also included as a reference.

Sound

Cyrus 40 ST music streamer on wooden hi-fi rack in front of bookcase

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

As we work our way through our music collection it becomes clear that the Cyrus 40 ST is an impressively capable performer. It offers a level of clarity and precision that we haven’t heard bettered anywhere near this price. Comparisons with the excellent Audiolab 9000N (£2499 / $3499 / AU$5499) are interesting.

The Audiolab’s presentation is less forced, impressing us with its finesse, tonal neutrality and spaciousness. It is a subtle, even-handed performer that steps out of the limelight, leaving its focus firmly on the music. We’re reminded in no uncertain terms of why it won the Product of the Year accolade for music streamers in 2024’s Awards. Switching to the Cyrus is a bit of a shock. It sounds cleaner, crisper and more direct, finding another layer of textural detail in instruments and voices. Dynamically, it is impressively expressive, rendering low-level shifts in intensity elegantly, and delivering large-scale orchestral crescendos with real conviction, leaving the Audiolab sounding a little subdued in comparison.

As we listen to Beethoven’s 9th Symphony it is hard not to be impressed by the Cyrus’s performance. It sounds big and brawny when required but still has a lightness of touch when the music demands it. Despite the slight forwardness in its presentation, we have no issue with the tonal balance. Past Cyrus products, for all their talents, could sound a little bright and lightweight, but that’s not the case here. The 40 ST is essentially neutral and for all its crisp precision, delivers music in a natural and convincing way.

This streamer’s stereo imaging is wonderfully crisp. Its soundstage is focused and beautifully arranged, superbly conveying the layout of the orchestra, as well as the subtle clues that help to define the acoustics of the recording venue. There is a welcome sense of composure here too, with the 40 ST staying organised and in control even when the music becomes demanding.

This Cyrus also knows how to have fun, as our musical journey extends to the likes of Prince and Florence And The Machine. It goes full John Travolta (in his Saturday Night Fever days) when given appropriate source material and delivers songs such as Kiss and You’ve Got The Love with their infectious energy fully intact. When it comes to rhythmic drive and outright punch we can’t think of a rival that does better, though Naim’s ND5 XS2 would be in with a shout. That said, love the Naim as we do, we still think the 40 ST is the more precise and insightful performer.

Cyrus 40 ST music streamer on wooden hi-fi rack next to Cyrus 40 Series amp

Cyrus 40 AMP (left) and Cyrus 40 ST (right). (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Despite all the clarity of offer, this Cyrus has enough in the way of refinement to keep poor recordings listenable. We play Bruce Springsteen’s Terry’s Song – a lovely, heartfelt piece of music but a pretty coarse recording – and the 40 ST reveals all the rough edges while still rendering the music’s message with conviction. The Boss’s voice comes through with a full dose of passion and energy, just as it should.

Adding the 40 PSU outboard power supply has obvious benefits, which is a relief given the hefty price. With the power supply connected, the 40 ST’s sonic presentation gains in scale, power and authority. It all sounds notably more effortless, with dynamic contrasts delivered with greater muscle and the already impressive low-end stomping even harder. Pleasingly, there is no compromise in terms of agility or grip at bass frequencies. With the outboard power supply, detail levels improve and the 40 ST’s sound becomes more fluid and natural. The one slight downside is that the standalone streamer’s exceptional rhythmic abilities seem to take more of a back seat, but not to the extent where our enjoyment is affected significantly.

Verdict

Cyrus 40 ST music streamer

(Image credit: Cyrus)

We’re no strangers to fine-sounding Cyrus products, but this 40 ST streamer surprises us with its breadth of talent and even-handed nature. It doesn’t favour any particular type of music and is a strong enough all-rounder to shine in a wide range of systems. The gaps in specifications are an issue of course, and only you can decide whether they are enough of a negative to become an issue. We suspect that for most people they won’t be a problem.

Still, we can’t wait to hear the rest of this new 40 Series. If the amplifier and CD player match the streamer’s talents then this new range could really reignite the brand’s fortunes.

First reviewed: December 2024

SCORES

  • Sound 5
  • Build 4
  • Features 3

MORE:

Read our review of the Audiolab 9000N

Also consider the Naim ND5 XS2

Nick Clarke interview: Cyrus Audio's MD has an eye to the future

Best music streamers: top network audio players tested by our experts

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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  • Mrmason62
    It's beyond me how this product can get a perfect 5 star rating.
    I've been into cyrus for almost 30 years. I bi-amp with cyrus, have Psxr2 and their cd players.
    But this product is so lacking in connectivity and has limited codec support.
    Yes I know it's the best sounding in class and beyond. But that's not enough when paying this kind of money.
    I use a lumin network bridge with chord qutest DAC. I'll take chord over cyrus DACS every time. I I play via roon which is sublime
    I've got full connectivity and codec support.
    Such things are of paramount importance when streaming.
    Given this cyrus streamers inherent limitations surely the most this reviewer should give is 4 stars.
    Perfect rating should be for a perfect product.
    We see way too many perfect scores now when in reality there's no such thing
    Reply
  • malrdaw
    Was just about to write almost exactly the same comments.
    Reply
  • Steve B
    I agree with the all the above. I felt pretty abandoned by Cyrus over a lack of upgrades to the Lyric. It sounded nice - but streaming is all about convenience. Without Bluetooth or Chromecast how would I play Apple Music via Android on my phone?
    £3000 is ridiculous with so much missing.
    I now have the Ruark R410 so I can enjoy my music in a number of rooms. It is superb. £3000 would buy the R810. That boasts all levels of connectivity and if it sounds as good as the 410, it would be money well spent.
    Reply
  • Jasonovich
    Is it me, my male menopause kicking in but why does this Cyrus look so dated and seems half cooked or am I just being pedantic?
    If you want to encourage people to buy your brand and not the cheaper 'better' WiiM ultra, you need to come up with something special.
    No aces here, it will only attract people who have brand loyalty. Shame, it's an own goal.
    Reply
  • Jasonovich
    Mrmason62 said:
    It's beyond me how this product can get a perfect 5 star rating.
    I've been into cyrus for almost 30 years. I bi-amp with cyrus, have Psxr2 and their cd players.
    But this product is so lacking in connectivity and has limited codec support.
    Yes I know it's the best sounding in class and beyond. But that's not enough when paying this kind of money.
    I use a lumin network bridge with chord qutest DAC. I'll take chord over cyrus DACS every time. I I play via roon which is sublime
    I've got full connectivity and codec support.
    Such things are of paramount importance when streaming.
    Given this cyrus streamers inherent limitations surely the most this reviewer should give is 4 stars.
    Perfect rating should be for a perfect product.
    We see way too many perfect scores now when in reality there's no such thing
    Meh I never give credence to WHF reviews, their addiction to certain brands is admirable but it makes things opaque.

    FiiO has introduced their first streamer, not a product WHF is likely to review in the near future.

    p4OKmR2bwf4View: https://youtube.com/shorts/p4OKmR2bwf4?si=m7-WKgx_eToxXQoM
    Reply
  • Neiljbp
    Mrmason62 said:
    It's beyond me how this product can get a perfect 5 star rating.
    I've been into cyrus for almost 30 years. I bi-amp with cyrus, have Psxr2 and their cd players.
    But this product is so lacking in connectivity and has limited codec support.
    Yes I know it's the best sounding in class and beyond. But that's not enough when paying this kind of money.
    I use a lumin network bridge with chord qutest DAC. I'll take chord over cyrus DACS every time. I I play via roon which is sublime
    I've got full connectivity and codec support.
    Such things are of paramount importance when streaming.
    Given this cyrus streamers inherent limitations surely the most this reviewer should give is 4 stars.
    Perfect rating should be for a perfect product.
    We see way too many perfect scores now when in reality there's no such thing
    Hi-Fi mags come in all shapes and sizes.
    Some are for all (i suppose)
    Some are for the more able of mind
    And some are for the serious of thought or intellectual.
    Bearing in mind your concerns, especially the final one, you now have to consider
    the points I have laid out and decide what you need to do.
    I won't spell it out but you may need to upgrade.
    Reply
  • TimMel
    Mrmason62 said:
    It's beyond me how this product can get a perfect 5 star rating.
    I've been into cyrus for almost 30 years. I bi-amp with cyrus, have Psxr2 and their cd players.
    But this product is so lacking in connectivity and has limited codec support.
    Yes I know it's the best sounding in class and beyond. But that's not enough when paying this kind of money.
    I use a lumin network bridge with chord qutest DAC. I'll take chord over cyrus DACS every time. I I play via roon which is sublime
    I've got full connectivity and codec support.
    Such things are of paramount importance when streaming.
    Given this cyrus streamers inherent limitations surely the most this reviewer should give is 4 stars.
    Perfect rating should be for a perfect product.
    We see way too many perfect scores now when in reality there's no such thing
    I've been with Cyrus for nearly 25 years and I come at this from a different angle. I have recently bought the Stream-XR to complement my i9-XR - which it does incredibly well - and I read the WHF review of the 40 ST with bemusement. I quote:

    'there is little else that Cyrus has produced over much of the last decade that has truly excited us. Even the recently introduced premium XR range seems more like a reheat of past efforts than a determined effort to take a step forward.'

    Unless I missed something, WHF hasn't properly reviewed a single component of the XR line-up so how they make that judgment is beyond me. The technical specification of the 40ST is almost identical inside to the Stream-XR bar a tweak to the DAC: this might revolutionise its output but I doubt it. I personally think that the look of the 40 series is great - redesigned shoebox, colour screen, smaller zapper - but not to me worth twice the price I have just paid for the Stream-XR, which has dramatically widened and deepened the soundstage compared to my previous Musical Fidelity streamer, and improved every aspect of digital playback (Tidal) while allowing me to use the BluOS software (same as 40ST of course, with its same hi-res constraints).

    If you can afford serious external DACs like those made by Chord Electronics together with high-end streamers like Lumin AND want/need to play files bigger 192khz, then go in that direction: you lucky swine. But most of us will never want/ need to play files bigger than 192khz and until you listen to Stream-XR or 40ST you'll never know what an amazing combination they are with i9-XR or the new 40 integrated amp: I can only suggest you get down to your local Cyrus dealer for a listen so that you can make an informed choice.
    Reply
  • Mrmason62
    TimMel said:
    I've been with Cyrus for nearly 25 years and I come at this from a different angle. I have recently bought the Stream-XR to complement my i9-XR - which it does incredibly well - and I read the WHF review of the 40 ST with bemusement. I quote:

    'there is little else that Cyrus has produced over much of the last decade that has truly excited us. Even the recently introduced premium XR range seems more like a reheat of past efforts than a determined effort to take a step forward.'

    Unless I missed something, WHF hasn't properly reviewed a single component of the XR line-up so how they make that judgment is beyond me. The technical specification of the 40ST is almost identical inside to the Stream-XR bar a tweak to the DAC: this might revolutionise its output but I doubt it. I personally think that the look of the 40 series is great - redesigned shoebox, colour screen, smaller zapper - but not to me worth twice the price I have just paid for the Stream-XR, which has dramatically widened and deepened the soundstage compared to my previous Musical Fidelity streamer, and improved every aspect of digital playback (Tidal) while allowing me to use the BluOS software (same as 40ST of course, with its same hi-res constraints).

    If you can afford serious external DACs like those made by Chord Electronics together with high-end streamers like Lumin AND want/need to play files bigger 192khz, then go in that direction: you lucky swine. But most of us will never want/ need to play files bigger than 192khz and until you listen to Stream-XR or 40ST you'll never know what an amazing combination they are with i9-XR or the new 40 integrated amp: I can only suggest you get down to your local Cyrus dealer for a listen so that you can make an informed choice.
    If you've got roon and your dac and bridge can take it then you can take your files up to dsd512. I go to dsd256.
    This does make a difference. Native dsd256 files are silly sizes.
    I also don't use any streaming platforms like tidal as they aren't really good quality.
    All my cds are ripped and vinyl is ripped too.
    Native files are better than tidal etc
    I can still tell the difference between a digital and analogue source on my hifi.
    I started age 17 with hifi and it's taken decades to build up my hifi and upgrade. That's the beauty of hifi addiction isn't it.
    Young people wouldn't normally afford high end kit. It's something you slowly build up to. It's an aspiration.
    Unfortunately we live in the age where quality is secondary to convenience. People now think phones are hifi. They aren't
    Just about every independent hifi store I've used over the years have closed down now. Decent hifi stores are hard to find nowadays.
    A brilliant store around 20 miles from me went out of business recently after 40 years.
    Fingers crossed the industry can survive
    Reply