Cyrus 40 PPA

What Hi-Fi? is no stranger to Cyrus Audio’s phono stages.

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We have been using the company’s terrific Phono Signature in our reference system for almost a decade, thanks to its excellent sound quality and useful range of features. So when the company launched the ambitious 40 PPA, we were keen to have a listen.

It might be tempting to think of the Cyrus 40 PPA as simply the previous-generation phono stage in a swanky 40 Series casing; but while the two designs are clearly related, Cyrus's engineers have worked hard to improve the performance.

Beyond the lovely modern styling and large, clear display, the main circuit board now features a six-layer circuit layout rather than the previous four, to help minimise unwanted interactions between the circuit components and reduce noise levels. The internal power-supply arrangement has been revised, leading to a massive claimed 20 per cent reduction in noise levels.

As has become traditional for the brand, it is possible to add an optional outboard power supply to boost performance. The 40 PSU is hardly a cheap upgrade at £2495, but it is fair to say that it lifts the 40 PPA’s performance to a significant degree.

This is an impressively equipped phono stage, probably the best we have come across anywhere near this price. It has four inputs, and while this is probably excessive for most users, for those with multiple decks, it is a pleasure not to have to swap around cables every time another record player is used.

Each input can be tailored for a specific cartridge. With a gain range of 30-65dB in 5dB steps, the 40 PPA should be electrically compatible with all but the most extreme low-output cartridges on the market. It also offers a good range of moving-coil cartridge loading options (capacitance and resistance) to help optimise performance.