The PSX-R2 from Cyrus is a regulated external power supply, successor to the PSX-R. It powers existing Cyrus devices while improving their performance without modifying internal components.
The PSX-R2 is built around a 300VA toroidal transformer, chosen specifically for its colossal current delivery capability. This centerpiece feeds split-foil reservoir capacitors with a total capacity of 30,000 microfarads, ensuring a particularly low equivalent series resistance (ESR) and wide bandwidth. These technical characteristics translate into a remarkably stable DC power supply, completely freed from disturbances present on the domestic mains.
The intelligence of the PSX-R2 lies in its self-configuration capability. The system automatically detects the connected device and adjusts its output parameters accordingly. Depending on the specific needs of each device, the power supply delivers ±35.5 VDC for integrated amplifiers and stereo power amps, ±18–30 VDC for monoblock amplifiers, or ±21 VDC for low-power applications. This adaptability allows the PSX-R2 to efficiently serve a wide variety of devices in the Cyrus range.
The fundamental principle of the PSX-R2 is to isolate the power supplies of different sections within a device. In a CD player, for example, the motors and digital circuits are powered separately from the sensitive analog stages, eliminating any cross-contamination. This physical separation of power sources significantly reduces noise throughout the system.
When connected to a compatible amplifier such as the Classic AMP, the PSX-R2 takes over powering the analog preamplifier stages, allowing the device’s internal power supply to focus exclusively on other functions. This division of labor reduces the load on the internal transformer, which can then operate under optimal conditions to power the display, control circuits, and auxiliary functions.
True to the Cyrus tradition established since 1992, the PSX-R2 is housed in a die-cast aluminum alloy chassis. This dense, non-resonant construction minimizes microphonic effects while serving as a passive heat sink. The compact dimensions (73 x 215 x 360 mm) allow two Cyrus units to be placed side by side in the space of a single traditional hi-fi component, a practical consideration particularly appreciated in installations where space is at a premium.
The front panel remains minimalist with a simple power-on LED, while the rear hosts a mains socket, a switch, and the high-quality XLR umbilical cable, permanently fixed to ensure an optimal connection. This apparent simplicity conceals considerable technical sophistication, the fruit of decades of evolution since the first PSX launched with the Cyrus Two in the 1980s.
PSX-R2 users consistently report substantial improvements in several areas. The soundstage gains width and depth, with more precise localization of instruments in space. Low frequencies gain authority and definition without sacrificing rhythmic agility. Transients become faster and sharper, imparting a heightened sense of life and immediacy to the music.
Fine details, often masked by residual background noise, emerge with newfound clarity. Instrumental textures reveal their full complexity, allowing subtle harmonics that give each instrument its characteristic timbre to be distinguished. Dynamics, both in large-scale swings and in the most delicate nuances, are expressed with renewed freedom.
The PSX-R2 integrates seamlessly with current Classic range products, including the Classic AMP, the Classic PRE, the CDi, and the Phono Signature. It also remains compatible with many older models equipped with Cyrus’s distinctive external power port. This backward compatibility illustrates the manufacturer’s commitment to loyal customers, allowing them to upgrade their system progressively without forced obsolescence.
It should be noted that the PSX-R2 represents the external power supply for the Classic range, while the high-end XR series benefits from the more sophisticated PSU-XR, microprocessor-controlled and offering five independent regulated power supplies. This distinction allows Cyrus to offer upgrade solutions tailored to different performance levels and budgets.
No, the PSX-R2 operates in tandem with the internal power supply. It takes over specific sections of the device (typically sensitive analog stages) while the internal supply continues to power the other circuits. This distribution optimizes the performance of each section.
The PSX-R2’s intelligent self-configuration system automatically detects the connected device via the XLR cable and adjusts its output parameters accordingly. No manual configuration is required.
A single PSX-R2 can power only one device at a time. If you own multiple compatible devices, you will either need multiple PSX-R2 units or move the unit between devices according to your listening needs.
The PSX-R2 incorporates the filtering improvements developed for Cyrus’s Anniversary system. The capacitors and regulation circuit have been optimized to provide an even more stable and quieter power supply than the original model.
Double-blind tests and user feedback confirm perceptible improvements in dynamics, bass definition, soundstage width, and the resolution of fine details. The extent of the improvement depends on the resolving power of the rest of your system.
Joris Raf Liliane
After two weeks of testing and enjoying the Cyrus psxr2 is a big improvement vs the psx-r first generation especially in combination with my Cyrus Qxr DAC amp: more soundstage in mid low and low and better vocals
It's a high-end combination now in amplification!
I love it
Comment from April 23, 2026 — Experience from April 12, 2026
