Alphason
Cyrus
Goldring
Q-Acoustics

             "A short path to the finer things in life"

Delivering some of the best audio products engineered in Europe, 
developed using State of the art,

world leading technologies combined with years of highly regarded design expertise.

 

  Our confidence is your reward

Having distributed Cyrus Electronics since its inception we at Crestmore have gained a level of confidence
that has us thinking it's time we pass this on, and the only question is how?

After toying with local marketing campaigns in Australian magazines that reach a limited audience, the decision was reached that the only way to show you how much we believe in Cyrus components is to give you an extended peace of mind in the form of an extended warranty. Currently the base warranty period outside of Australia is 12 months, we had already extended this in Australia to a 2 year period, but now to make a serious statement we at Crestmore are offering a locally backed 5 year warranty on all Cyrus components.

A bold move but one easily justified by the calibre of equipment being produced by Cyrus Audio a world leader in quality Hi Fi components!

Effective as of the 1st of May 2012 any Cyrus component purchased and registered with Crestmore Pty Ltd via email at register@crestmore.com.au will be guaranteed 5 years of aural enjoyment, while we are confident that this is only a small portion of each components life expectancy. Now is the time to take a big step in reinvigorating the way you enjoy your music collection, the ultimate investment in therapy for your mind and soul!

Read more about what makes Cyrus a great choice..  More on Cyrus

 

Believe it or not a $1300 Cyrus transport

 How do they keep doing this, yet another milestone in the history of aural pleasure!

With the compliment of Cyrus electronics integrated and pre amplifiers all having the capacity to be fitted with a very capable stereo DAC, and the higher models having the option of a further refined dual mono DAC upgrade, it simply makes sense that there be a transport only option for those not ready to invest in the benchmark CDXtse2. As with the 'integrated' CD players, the CD8se2 has its slightly scaled back sibling the CD6se2 to allow the more budget conscious to hear those details lost in other systems, and now we have a junior sibling transport with the same philosophy although outside of the missing PSX-R input you couldn't pick it, and audibly this new member of the Cyrus family is simply stunning!

   Fitted with both optical and coaxial digital outputs there is no compromise when it comes to extracting information from this new transport, and my first tests giving it a whole lot of room to breathe in a system comprising of a PSX-R enhanced Pre XPd QX and four, yes four MONO X300's driving my heavily tweaked towers, the presence this supposedly scaled back unit was able to deliver was nothing short of staggering!!

Now is the perfect opportunity to get yourself a very affordable way to reinvigorate your entire CD collection, this unit is one of,
if not the most amazing value for money components to ever leave the Cyus production line!

Read more about what makes Cyrus a great choice..  More on Cyrus

 

Q7000 - 5.1

                          

Once again Q Acoustics 'moves the goalposts' with its new '7000 Series',
a beautifully styled 5.1 home cinema loudspeaker package with truly class leading performance.

The new 7000 Series is set to revolutionise the 'style' conscious home cinema system marketplace, not only have Q Acoustics developed an extremely attractive solution to meet the surround sound needs of anyone looking to venture into this realm or upgrade existing compact systems with a bit more focus on décor, but they have been able to achieve an aesthetically discreet system that has sonic performance set to have the competition wondering how this is possible.

Wall mountable with an integrated bracket the satellites, while this name belies their performance, are compact in size but deliver a huge sound that will satisfy even discerning stereo listeners, and for those not able to mark the walls there is an elegant stand available as an optional extra. The subwoofer which has been cleverly designed to hide all connections, and again much more powerful in performance than its size suggests, is able to be free standing or with the optional wall bracket can be mounted off the ground to increase the perception of space while not detracting from the earth rumbling bass.  

 

Streaming Audio -  High quality music with the ultimate in simplicity

Announcing the amazing new Streaming line up from Cyrus 

With the popularity of stored media growing, Cyrus have taken this opportunity to highlight its expertice in audio engineering once again. 

 Here we have three fantastic new components in which Cyrus have catered for every option, the  Streamline a fully capable stand-alone unit,
the 
Stream X a high-spec source only, and the  Stream XP a high-spec source with an equally impressive intergated pre-amp.

The first to be launched being the Streamline the all in one solution, this unit comprises all you need when partnered with a nice set of speakers to give you brilliant reproduction of your stored media whether that is on a upnp enabled NAS drive or simply your iPod/iPhone, aswell as offering internet radio giving you access to tunes and talkback from all over the globe. Scaled back slightly in performance from its two siblings to maintain affordability, the typically Cyrus very under-rated 30W of onboard amplification provides performance that rivals systems with much bigger numbers. Supplied with a multi function Wi-Fi and IR remote that is so intuitive that even the most un tech savvy person can use it (which is included with all models), making this solution at home in any room around the house or office.

With a range of inputs and outputs including a fully enabled iPod/iPhone USB connection nothing has been missed,  there is even an integrated wireless network adapter to get you playing tunes straight out of the box without the need for more cables. The amplifier again with the forward thinking Cyrus upgrade philosophy has the option of being turned off to squeeze out a bit more performance when used in conjunction with higher rated Cyrus power amps, while the pre outs give you the option to Bi-amp and drive more demanding speakers with an addition Cyrus power amp to share the load.

So many options, so easy to use, so many great words that could be written.. 

To read more visit to the  Cyrus  site, or better still take a trip to your local  Cyrus dealer to experience them first hand and then take home the key to truly experiencing your own personal library and the world of seemingly unlimited radio.

    

     

               W ith the popularity of the Q-TV2 it was only a matter of time before a larger version was made available to suit the increasingly prevalent larger format panels. 
Now with 2 models the Q-TV2 and the new Q-TV2X, the range of panels able to have their sound upgraded has been significantly increased. The Q-TV2 has a minimum span of 785mm with the satellites on a 90 degree angle and a maximum span of 1194mm with the satellites on a 45 degree angle, and the new Q-TV2X has a minimum span of 1051mm with the satellites on a 90 degree angle and a maximum span of 1460mm with the satellites on a 45 degree angle.

In the brochure text it suggests that the Q-TV2 will fit panel sizes from 30” to 42” and the Q-TV2X will fit 42” to 50”, but as we have seen with the screen surrounds getting slimmer those sizes are not quite the limit. So measure the overall width of your panel and odds are even if you have a 55” or above screen you will still be able to take advantage of the sound enhancement benefits offered by the Q-TV2X. With all the emphasis of panel manufacturers being put into picture perfection, to get the most enjoment from it the sound must reflect the pictures impact, and by adding a Q-TV2 at $799 or a Q-TV2X at $849 the package is complete,
all that's left to do then is sit back and enjoy!! 

Q-TV2 The Revolution in television entertainment and enjoyment!

With the ever popular flat screen TV's becoming a common place in all Australian homes, when making that all important descision primarily it is the picture quality that draws you to the unit you eventually take home. With todays technology these panels are getting better images on bigger screens however, have you ever stopped to think what it is you are compromising when you purchase this ultra slim, ultra sharp image producing device, most likely not as it is this picture that you are buying. So when you invest in a new panel, and you get it home, are you as happy with the sound as you are with the picture? My guess is not really, but what can you do? 

This is where this revolutionary new product from Q-Acoustics the Q-TV2 comes into the 'picture', a brand new product to the world is set to change the way you enjoy your television experience. This ultra compact system is an active 2.1 sound solution that will leave you guessing where this massive sound is comming from, powered by an underrated 100 Watts of onboard amplification shared between the ultra slim vibration free subwoofer, and a pair of inconspicuos speakers it really packs a punch. With the further refinement of Q-Acoustics own 'BMR' drivers, they have hidden 8 of these units in this compact package, and to say they have got it right is a very large understatement. No matter where you sit the enjoyment is the same, with these unique loudspeaker drive units not only delivering outstanding sonic performance, they also disperse sound across an exeptionally wide area.  

So looking at the picture it all looks too simple, and it is! The Q-TV2 simply bolts onto your television's standard wall mounting points (with a suite of bolts supplied) for the free standing option, and if you wish to wall mount then there is a special bracket designed to simply attach over the top to make wall mounting a breeze. Further to that they have thought of those wishing to have a bit of flexibility in positioning of your TV, with a cantilever bracket offering a massive 1245mm of reach which also offers a tilt to get it in exactly the right position. 

 Now connection wise it couldn't be simpler, coming with a suite of inputs a 3.5mm to connect to your PC's sound card or TV's Headphone output, a stereo phono / RCA and an Optical / Toslink connection. However you wish to connect it, it is as simple as plugging it in and turning it up. But that is not where the story ends, further to this there are a few extra features worth a mention. When setting up you Q-TV2, there are two minor adjustments that will make your listening experience the complete experience. Clearly to those in the know room acoustics are going to play a part in how the Q-TV2 sounds, and that is why Q-Acoustics have built in 3 seperate 'EQ' settings to compensate for placement, Freestanding mode, wall mounted mode and corner mode. Additionally something we are forced to live with on a regular basis is also able to be overcome with the clever engineering in the Q-TV2, Lipsync, something that until you are aware of being able to correct you tend to not think about too much. But when you get your Q-TV2 home, set it up and turn on the TV, flick the switch located conveniently on the top of the unit, and with the supplied remote adjust up or down until the words comming out of the persons mouth sound so accurate you could swear they were talking directly to you, then flick the switch back to normal mode and let the real enjoyment begin.   

Last but not least you probably want to know the price, and this is where you are set to be surprised! The Q-TV2 (including TV mounting gear) is only $799.00, the optional wall bracket is $129.00, and the cantilever bracket (which is supplied with the wall bracket to fit on the Q-TV2) is $449.00, due for release early october these prices relate to the mid sized unit that will fit any panel 30 - 42". Later in the year a larger version for 42 - 50" and early in the new year a model to suit 15 - 30" (prices for larger and smaller units will be advised as soon as we know)

Watch a video about Q-TV2 on YouTube

Read the Gadget Guy Review

What Hi Fi Review

  

Once again Cyrus has put its best foot forward, to complement its already highly acclaimed servo evolution range of CD players and transport, Cyrus have taken what were superb pre and integrated amps and completely redesigned them to squeeze even more from this understated an meek looking product. The new line up from Cyrus known as the XP series takes Cyrus to an entirely new level in performance, as was previously reported in reviews of the ‘se’ products, Cyrus’ CD platform now offered more than could be realised by much higher levels of control and amplification. So this sparked the plan and gave Cyrus that nudge to bring its line of integrated and pre amplifiers up to meet the calibre of its own revolutionary ‘made for CD’ CD players. This took more than past efforts where the basic concept remained the same, and incremental improvements were incorporated to keep its line up at the top of the pack in its price point. This was a whole new approach, scrap the previous blueprints and start afresh! So what goes into the new ‘XP’ products that make them so special? Well without going into the real nuts and bolts the changes themselves say enough, on the face of it the new XP series has a new front panel accommodating a new display, based on that of the flagship DAC XP this new user interface gave Cyrus the ability to not only give the user more inputs and options, it also enabled them to give you a fully independent 2nd zone.

With many configuration options for now I’ll reference the top spec'd integrated amp, the Cyrus 8XPdQX (pictured above) so keeping on the face of it, what does this new user interface offer you? The biggest gain would have to be the increase in available inputs with the new digital version offering 11 inputs which are comprised of 6 analogue, 2 coaxial digital, 2 optical digital and a single slaved USB. Yes I’ve jumped to the back but it’s what the new interface allows you do with these inputs which is rather special, where each input now has the facility to be customised by a library of inbuilt names, aswell as that they can all be fine tuned in offset levels so all your sources come out at the same volume level regardless of their output. Unfortunately this doesn’t mean you can name one phono and wind up the gain to that degree, but enabling you to switch between sources without having to play with the volume each time. Additionally with one of the inputs named AV Bypass this offer you a mode where this unit can be attached to any AV reciever with all the bells and whistles, and when selected the AV Bypass input is exactly that, it bypasses the Cyrus' volume control and makes it a pure power amplifier for you AV systems front speakers. Then when you go back to your 2 channel sources on your Cyrus it takes control again and delivers its astonishing stereo performance.

Another little perk as mentioned above is the introduction of a second zone, this utilizes the fixed level tape output on the back of the unit, which if you still use a tape deck also offers benefits in that you can listen to one source and tape another. This second zone is independent of the main zone, with the slight limitation that only one digital source can be referenced at a time but that still leaves you the other 6 analogue inputs to use if the main zone is using a digital source, and of course if you want to listen to the same source in both zones then that isn’t a problem.

Under the bonnet so to speak, the engine of this generation is quite a different picture, the main circuit board has grown to use every available bit of space in this compact casting. There has been another toroidal transformer squeezed in to power the non audio parts, but the key to the success here is the new approach to the audio paths. A pre amplifier based around the one used in the reference DAC XP, and to get the signals to it Cyrus have taken another step in channel separation by dividing left and right channels with separate input selection devices.

Power wise on the face of it there doesn’t seem to be any real difference, but this is where all the new input and volume control circuitry shines through. With a huge jump in detail and definition, the perception of power would have you think Cyrus have atleast doubled each units capability if not more, being able to drive more demanding loads with more information to boot. Here is where the above unit gives that little bit more, not only does it now offer a suite of digital inputs, but those inputs can also be further improved with addition of a dual mono ‘QX’ DAC either ordered factory pre fitted or retro fitted here in Sydney. This DAC takes the digital sources, and with the aid of a few extra levels of power filtering and regulation driving well isolated DAC componentry gives them a push to a level well beyond what would be thought capable of a unit of this size and understated appearance. To go one step further, put into the mix one of Cyrus’ highly regulated intelligent PSX-R power supplies and it opens another layer in this unit you would never have thought even possible.

Configuration options again in keeping with the Cyrus upgrade philosophy have been broadened significantly, at present the ‘off the shelf’ options we in Australia can offer are 6XP, 8XPd, 8XPdQX, PREXPd & PREXPdQX, although Crestmore service department can offer upgrades to take the 6XP right through the different levels up to PREXPdQX for effectively the difference in initial unit cost.

So that’s a lot of words, but they are mine! To see, or more importantly hear what all this is about, talk to your nearest dealer and audition some of the fantastic new products Cyrus has put forward to tempt your ears.

Read more about what makes Cyrus a great choice.. 
More on Cyrus

 

 With the world in a spin, now is the time to look at how we spend our hard earned cash. This is why we as a company are so impressed with what Cyrus have to offer, not only is their goal to provide you with the opportunity to get deeper into you favourite artists recordings, but to do this in a way that minimises impact on both you and our environment.

Cyrus have recently taken the reproduction of music to the next level in an affordable CD platform, the ‘SE’ or servo evolution players with their heart tuned for CD playback.

Cyrus chose not to conform to a mass marketed brand drive with a fancy DAC as is the case with a majority of gear, with their highly trained team Cyrus has hand built the new drive which sets the scene for what is a very impressive player at a very impressive price.

Understanding that it is generally not the case that we can jump in a buy the best that Cyrus has to offer off the cuff, Cyrus with their superbly thought out upgrade paths make that high end system an option to anyone buying into Cyrus at any level down the track. With the amazing flexibility of being able to take models of up to around 4 years of age and give them a new lease on life, Cyrus has put together upgrade packages that enable these components to be upgraded to full current model specifications. This along with their carefully structured system component upgrade paths, where each component is tailored to give the best in its original form aswell as harnessing each upgrage to assist the next. As an example a Cyrus 8, 8vs or 8vs2 have power routed so that when a PSX-R is added to upgrade its performance the Pre amplifier section gains the benefits, which are also passed on if you decide to add additional amplification to bi amp. So when you look at your CD player that you have had for few years and hear all the great press on what is now available, if it’s a Cyrus player you have then you have the option to upgrade for a fraction of the cost of a new player. This is true for many Cyrus components however there is a point in any components life where technology has got so far ahead that it necessitates the replacement of everything but the cast magnesium alloy chassis and at this stage although not quite as environmentally friendly trade ins are always a welcomed second option so have a chat with your local dealer and see what Cyrus can do for you today.   

The 'Servo Evolution' revolution in CD players is finally here!!

Yes I do dare.....Finally the long journey is over and to be a little bold these players will amaze even the owners of machines several times the cost of these 'singing shoeboxes'. With the law of diminishing returns kicking in at a few thousand dollars, I would think that Cyrus now has the competition worried as the new benchmark puts a big divide between what Cyrus have developed and a competitors unit with even a slim chance of giving it a run, not to mention the hit this challenge would give you in the hip pocket. 

Cyrus has spent a long time on developing this new technology, delivering more of what Cyrus is renowned for and a fair bit more at that! The story of painting with music has somewhat hippie connotations but in reality is what we should be striving to achieve, as most artists put a whole lot of passion into what they record and now it's time to really hear what they worked so hard to get across.

The new “servo evolution” transport developed specifically for music endeavors to draw every last bit of the recording from your favorite discs. This is predominately achieved by reducing the problems associated with the current configuration of transports used in today’s CD players, these problems such as reading errors require complex circuitry to attempt to rectify them. Although there have been many advances in this process, it is still only masking the problem along with a requirement for more components with their own sonic signature that impacts directly on what you hear. The outcome of what Cyrus has achieved is the realisation of more information, which relates directly to more of what makes music truly amazing, Emotion!

With compact discs having around a quarter of a century in history, the vast and eclectic collections stashed around the homes of every music lover would be very grateful to get a spin in one of these new machines. The joy for me of being involved in such an evolutionary brand has been a mystical journey through my ever growing collection, with some of those albums previously relegated to the dust collection section getting another chance whether it be my age, appreciation for recordings or a culmination of those, I know for sure the superb players I have had the privilege to audition have every step of the way shown a little more of what makes those recordings music!

So be sure to  audition  the new “se” players, and join me in revisiting those collections and enjoy that rollercoaster ride they have to offer!

Albums such as Jeff Waynes “War of the Worlds” and Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” a couple of my favorite movies to watch with my eyes closed……  

Read more about what makes Cyrus a great choice.. More on Cyrus