Ok, the gear list:-

 

XTZ 99.36 Speakers

Cyrus Pre XPd Pre-amplifier with onboard DAC

Cyrus 8 Power x 2

Cyrus CD8SE2 CD Player

ProJect RPM10.1 Turntable

Ortofon 2M Black MM

Primare R32 Phono Pre-Amplifier

Sony HAP-Z1ES Digital Music Server

 

Sony KD79X9000 79" 4K TV

Apple TV

Mini X8-H Plus 4K Media Player

 

 

 

 

 

 

More pics to come.

Edited October 22, 201510 yr by Hydrology

Sony KD79X9000 79" 4K TV

^ Looks impressive!!!!   

Lovely looking system.  :D

The Cyrus gear looks great, there's a lot to be said for matching stacks from an aesthetic standpoint, never mind sonically.

Primare R32 Phono Pre:-

 

 

RPM10.1 and Ortofon 2M Black:-

 

NICE!

Really nice Hydro. Is that a beryllium tweeter?

I have to ask the question given the range and nature of the gear you've got: with the same music, how do you rate vinyl vs CD?

 

I haven't heard your speakers, but they obviously have a metal tweeter. I know the Cyrus gear is very revealing, so I suspect that the CD format is likely to sound hyper detailed in comparison, or is vinyl more 'lush' to your ears?

Great looking system. Would I be right in assuming you view your speakers as the weaker link? Turntable looks superb!

Really nice Hydro. Is that a beryllium tweeter?

 It is a ribbon tweeter.

I have to ask the question given the range and nature of the gear you've got: with the same music, how do you rate vinyl vs CD?

 

I haven't heard your speakers, but they obviously have a metal tweeter. I know the Cyrus gear is very revealing, so I suspect that the CD format is likely to sound hyper detailed in comparison, or is vinyl more 'lush' to your ears?

I love the formats equally, although I do find more extending listening tends to be more vinyl-based. But I would agree with your comment - vinyl does sound more lush.

Great looking system. Would I be right in assuming you view your speakers as the weaker link? Turntable looks superb!

I think we would all somehow consider our speakers the weakest link! I am constantly looking at options for upgrading - however finances right now just simply won't allow it! As it is Im a big fan of the XTZ speakers. Previously was running ELAC, and these were a step in the right direction at the time. 

I think we would all somehow consider our speakers the weakest link! I am constantly looking at options for upgrading - however finances right now just simply won't allow it! As it is Im a big fan of the XTZ speakers. Previously was running ELAC, and these were a step in the right direction at the time.

No for me I'd be replacing every other component before speakers.

New Leather/Cork mat from Tonar in place:-

 

A new addition to the setup, the Sony HAP-Z1ES Music Server

 

 

And a better look at the 79"

 

Nice! How does the sony server compare to your Cyrus CD player?

Nice! How does the sony server compare to your Cyrus CD player?

 

I'll be honest, I love my Cyrus, but I think I've found the product that now makes it redundant. I'll still buy CDs (I do like the ownership, collect-ability and the fact you have something tangible to touch/feel) but I will simply rip the CDs uncompressed and place on the Sony server. The Sony has a very organic sound, doesnt feel cold and sterile like some digital music can.

Edited October 10, 201510 yr by Hydrology

I'll be honest, I love my Cyrus, but I think I've found the product that now makes it redundant. I'll still buy CDs (I do like the ownership, collect-ability and the fact you have something tangible to touch/feel) but I will simply rip the CDs uncompressed and place on the Sony server. The Sony has a very organic sound, doesnt feel cold and sterile like some digital music can.

 

I used a series of very expensive Naim CD players up until about five years ago. I was very pleased to switch to a VortexBox and a streamer and sell the CDP. Much better quality and no problems finding the CD (or finding the box and then learning it has the wrong CD in it) any longer. That Sony looks like a useful bit of kit. Is it easy to back up the rips? I'm obsessive about backing up my VortexBox as I am aware just how nasty a job re-ripping all those CDs would be.

I used a series of very expensive Naim CD players up until about five years ago. I was very pleased to switch to a VortexBox and a streamer and sell the CDP. Much better quality and no problems finding the CD (or finding the box and then learning it has the wrong CD in it) any longer. That Sony looks like a useful bit of kit. Is it easy to back up the rips? I'm obsessive about backing up my VortexBox as I am aware just how nasty a job re-ripping all those CDs would be.

Im in the middle of re-ripping my entire CD collection as WAV (up from 320Kbps previously) and when complete the entire collection will be housed on the Sony, with a duplicate drive as backup. Its labourious but kinda fun at the same time, as Im listening to albums that I haven't for years. The missus, while giving me her blessing, was still none-too-pleased when we had a "solution" that seemed to work, but when I showed her the iOs/Android app she was hooked immediately.

 

Think I'll be putting my Cyrus CD8SE2 for sale soon... 

Nice looking system, glad the Sony is working out for you.

 

Think I'll be putting my Cyrus CD8SE2 for sale soon...

Dun be such a hurry to sell your disc player yet.

The Sony inverts absolute polarity in the digital domain.

(Affects both RCA and XLR outputs)

You would want to keep something in the house to play back digital music in the correct absolute polarity, wouldn't you?

Dun be such a hurry to sell your disc player yet.

The Sony inverts absolute polarity in the digital domain.

(Affects both RCA and XLR outputs)

You would want to keep something in the house to play back digital music in the correct absolute polarity, wouldn't you?

I want to keep something in the house that sounds good. Right now the Sony beats the Cyrus.

Good to hear you are enjoying the Sony. I placed an order for one last weekend so hoping it will arrive this week.

I was disappointed that Sony has dropped the TuneIn radio streaming. Not sure why but one can only hope they will either re-instate it down the track or do a firmware update to use another service.

Wasn't a deal breaker for me but it still stinks...

Good to hear you are enjoying the Sony. I placed an order for one last weekend so hoping it will arrive this week.

I was disappointed that Sony has dropped the TuneIn radio streaming. Not sure why but one can only hope they will either re-instate it down the track or do a firmware update to use another service.

Wasn't a deal breaker for me but it still stinks...

 

They dropped vTuner but implemented TuneIn radio, which works fantastic. Have a listen to More Digital when you get your unit - they are an Aus based digital radio station broadcasting at 32kBps (yes, not a typo, low quality bitrate!) and the sound quality through the Sony is amazing! (not my kinda music though!)

Edited October 28, 201510 yr by Hydrology

Ah! Good to hear. I thought it was vTuner but when I checked the user guide I downloaded it mentioned TuneIn so got my wires knotted.