Techno gadget

Most modern hi-fi amplifiers pack quite a punch with lots of reserve power to spare. However, compared with the Goldmund Telos 5000, that’s not even scratching the surface of this towering monster! This limited-edition product from the Swiss company is in a different league altogether. It’s capable of delivering distortion-free power up to a whopping 5,000W and 6,050W for continuous and peak output, respectively. That’s on top of its ultra-high-resolution digital-to-analog converters and wide array of analog and digital inputs. The 200kg 940mm-tall Telos 5000 has an extremely low noise output that surpasses premium hi-fi equipment, as well as a frequency response extending up to 2.5MHz. For the record, the latter is well beyond the normal audible sound spectrum of human ears. There’re only 25 units produced at approximately US$189,600 each. According to Goldmund, most of the stock has already been pre-sold. Well, it seems like the high-end audio market is quite resilient to recession.

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Hi its about new Onkyo’s HT-RC180 is THX Select2 Plus Certified and that’s always a good sign. A bevy of features including an Ethernet port that enables the HT-RC180 either to receive and output audio tracks playing on your PC, or to bypass your PC and directly stream Internet radio stations such as Rhapsody and Pandora. There’s five HDMI 1.3a inputs and the ability to upscale any video input to 1080p via Faroudja DCDi Cinema. You’ll soon get the complete scoop in the full HT-RC180 review I did with Matthew Moskovciak. To more fully exploit the HT-RC180’s potential I played some of my favorite SACD and DVD-Audio discs. Take the Talking Heads DVD-A for example: the seamless 5.1 channel surround mixes were phenomenal. So much so I never felt a need to use the HT-RC180’s seven channels. The band’s dynamic range was impressive, and Tina Weymouth’s funky basslines were especially easy to follow. You won’t hear me say this too often, but once I heard the Talking Heads in surround, the stereo mixes sounded claustrophobic. The HT-RC180 is the best-sounding receiver I’ve heard in its class. Highly recommended.

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CYRUS AMPLIFIER UPGRADES are hard to spot. Each new generation from the 3 integrated of the early 90’s to the recently dicontinued 8vs2 has looked identical. The 8Xpd uses the same magnesium alloy die-cast casing too- though the LCD display suggests something more significant than the usual evolution has happened.

The ‘D’ in the name means the amplifier has a built in DAC. This is broadly similar to the circuitry used in the much respected CD6se CD player and somes with no fewer than five inputs: two coax,two optical and one USB.

Other changes include new preamp circuitry based on cyrus’s high end DAC Xp, a digital to

“So how does the cyrus sound? In a word, wonderfull”

analogue/preamp combo of much talent, and a more elaborate power supply arrangement to prevebt the control circuitry spoling sonic perfomance.

The usual cyrus traits are evident: the 8XPd is immensely fast and precise.

A bit of character is desirable in people, but not such a welcome trait in hi-fi. That transparency allows the recording to take centre stage, as it should. The 8’s treble, too,positively sparkles,while never erring to harshness,leanness or aggression. Partner this amp with capable and neutral speakers such as the ATC SCM 40s or spendor A6s along with say, a CD8se CD player and you’ll have an astonishingly  capable system for the money.

The on-board DAC is a good one,giving impressive results through all inputs. It makes even our aged Acer laptop sound like a reasonable hi-fi source.

Cyrus is no stranger to producing class-leading products. It is expected Rs 1,50,000

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