Leaving amp on and other Q's

[dazed&confused]

I bought a second hand Cyrus 6vs. I run my AV amp pre-outs through the Cyrus, using my Yamaha S1500 DVD player for CD’s. There is a vast improvement using the Cyrus as a power amp only, and I’m surprised how little additional improvement there is when running the CD/DVD player direct to the Cyrus to make use of its pre-amp stage.

Stereo imaging is far better than before, with a much wider sound stage, instruments separated out and accurately placed, and a little added three dimensional depth. There is far more detail throughout the range of frequencies and music coming out of my Castle Compact satellites no longer sounds like its been squashed into small boxes and suffocated. Things that were barely even noticeably there before, never mind unclear – for example the conversations between songs on Nirvana Unplugged – have become clear. Pace, on Sade for example, has also really improved, and life and excitement has been breathed into some 60’s soul era jazz that was previously a tad too laid back.

I really don’t want sell the amplifier on but all this substantial improvement has come with a cost. Certain music, for example the first track of Radio Head OK Computer and of the Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles, sound extremely harsh and abrasive. Janes Addiction is similar. Beth Gibbons vocal on Portishead Dummy are, in places, abrasive to extent of not sounding right. I think it’s probably the characteristics of the amp and speakers together, both with quite forward treble, rather than harshness caused by the amp struggling to dive the speakers.

However, I have noted considerable improvement – and seemingly still continuing improvement - after leaving the amp switched on continually for about five days. This is not an effect of ‘burning in’ as the amplifier is second hand.

Here are several questions I hope people will be able to answer. Please have a go at any you can.

1) Will I get the same improvement by leaving the amplifier in ‘standby’ mode rather than ‘on’ mode – or is something additional happening in ‘on’ mode? Is it OK to leave the amplifier on indefinitely, or should I give it a rest once in a while?
2) I’m probably going to by Castle column floor standing speakers, to replace the satellites. The Columns are very similar: they have the same 20mm soft dome tweeter and two instead of one 110mm bass/mid drivers (which probably makes them harder to drive. If at all different, are the Columns likely to sound more or less harsh than the satellites?
3) To what extent is the harshness likely to be caused by the DVD/CD player? Would things improve with a dedicated CD player like the Cyrus 6? Or maybe even get worse, if the CD player has more top end than the DVD player?
4) What reasonably priced white coloured speaker cable could I try to temper the harshness without loosing any detail? I am currently using Gale.
5) What else could I try besides changing the speaker cable? I am currently using Mark Grant stereo interconnects and Mark Grant coax digital cable. Both units are plugged into a £40 Maplins mains block with a conditioning filter built in.

Many thanks in advance,
David.

[marcm09@hotmail]

hey,I have just finished doing up a mission cyrus 2 which ive done up for a work mate. As we speak I am listening to it thru the preouts of my home theater amp - (NAD 573). The cyrus, even thru the preouts smokes the NAD the difference is stunning and the cyrus 2 is over 18years old, however I have modified it by replacing the cpas with 105C panasonic FC;s which are bypassed with polycaps. We also repowder coated the case in black and also threw in a blue led power light, (my signature that i've modded it !)

For a 18 yo amp I am very impressed and guess that the newer version will be even that little bit nicer again !!!

good luck , I rate the cyrus very highly almost want to keep it, I think I'll look for a slightly newer musical fidelity XA1 or something though to match my MF xcan headphone amp !!!! - modded as well of course ! thanks

[dazed&confused]

Perhaps I asked too many questions at once

How about any answer to the first one. Would leaving the amp permenantly powered in the 'on' mode, as I have been doing, add any more benefit than leaving it in 'standby' - or vice versa, would there be a benefit to leaving it in 'standby' ? Should I give the amp a rest and switch it off completely once in a while?

Thanks,
David.

[dazed&confused]

I bought a second hand Cyrus 6vs which sounds much better if it is always left on, as this takes away most of the harshness at the high end. So far I have had the amp permenantly in the 'on' position for about two weeks.

Would I get the same improvement leaving the amp on 'standby' and would there be any benefit to doing this (or indeed any benefit to leaving in the 'on' position as I have been)?

Secondly, should I gev the amp a rest once in a while and switch it of totall? How often?

Thanks.

[analogueaddict]

Hi David,

Given wht you've mentioned with regards to your system, my initial finger of blame for the harshness would be the Yamaha DVD player. They're great pieces of equipment, but that Cyrus is a revealing piece of hardware, and the S1500's high frequencies are not refined enough given the amplification you're using.

You have a couple of options, the first is to hook a DAC up to the Yamaha and take the analogue stereo feed from the DAC to the amp, the second option is to buy a dedicated CD player. Both of these should refine the high frequencies and remove this harshness you're now hearing.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Dave

[mr_seanstanley]

Hi again. Id recommend the DAC or Cd player route. Spending a bit of money but you will end up with something that will bring you other benefits as well as taming that treble. Maybe have a look on ebay for a second hand arcam cd player. My friend is running a cd82 (which he got from ebay for about £200) though his cyrus 3 and the treble sounds very nice.

[Drew2]

Originally Posted by dazed&confused

Perhaps I asked too many questions at once

How about any answer to the first one. Would leaving the amp permenantly powered in the 'on' mode, as I have been doing, add any more benefit than leaving it in 'standby' - or vice versa, would there be a benefit to leaving it in 'standby' ? Should I give the amp a rest and switch it off completely once in a while?

Thanks,
David.

Personally I leave mine on - why?

Well, how well do you work as soon as you are woken up?, How well do you work at 11.30am " on the ball " well so is your amp!

I would recomend you put the volume to zero though! Apart from that you'll spend an extra quid a month on your 'lecy bill...

[Drew2]

You again!!

In short, if you notice a difference leaving it on then "do it".

If you go on holiday or extended trips then switch it off.

Most standby modes power the whole unit off - you would need to ask Cyrus if it keeps critical circuits 'hot'.

[ell-tell]

I had a Arcam Delta 290 way back when,had it for about 9 yrs and it was switched on for most of the time.no probs.