This ingenious power amp is compact, powerful and extremely musical. When used as part of our multi-room systems, the automated music sensing start/stop features allow it to be hidden away from view. This provides very high quality audio plus fit-and-forget functionality where the customer desires the components to be hidden. Despite its very compact dimensions, its performance is so good many customers use it as a main amplifier in our hi-fi systems. Used in AV system’s the audiophile credentials of its audio performance ensures LinkPower is ideal for all surround channels and a sophisticated centre channel upgrade through bi-amping.

Detail

The brief for the Cyrus Linkpower was to develop a versatile power amplifier to deliver Cyrus quality performance in applications beyond established Pre/Power or bi-amped audio systems. These applications would particularly include multiple amplifier systems such as those for multi-room or surround-sound, and essential features would include music-sensing and MC-Bus for ease of control in a larger system.

• Conservatively rated at 50W, the Linkpower brings Cyrus quality power amplification to systems where lower quality units would normally be used. The compact chassis, occupying less than half the space of most equivalent ‘big-box’ power amplifiers, is particularly easy to accommodate in a multi-amplifier system.

• The Linkpower features a sophisticated music-sense circuit with microprocessor control. When the unit is set to low-consumption Standby a high-sensitivity circuit will detect an incoming music signal and switch on the amplifier noiselessly ready for use. A precision timer in the control system will then hold the amplifier on for 10 minutes before resetting to a semi-Standby state. From this state the amplifier can be wakened instantly so that even subtle low-level background music or effects signals will not be lost as the amplifier exits standby. If music is not present for an extended period then the Linkpower will revert back to its true low-consumption standby state.

• As an alternative means of power control when used in a Cyrus system, the Linkpower includes connection for the Cyrus MC-Bus system. In this case the intelligence in the control system will detect that the user has chosen to use MC-Bus control and will de-activate the music sensing control system.

• For applications with systems where music-sense is not required and MC-Bus is not connected, the music-sensing system may be disabled, temporarily by holding the standby key down when first switching on the Linkpower mains power, or permanently by moving a small jumper connector internally on the PCB.

• The computer control system of the Linkpower also monitors the general status of the amplifier and can react quickly enough to protect it from accidental short-circuits, even when running at full power.

• With the main power amplifier circuit based closely on the class-leading Cyrus 8vs integrated amplifier, the Linkpower is equally at home in quality multi-room/surround systems or matched for bi-amping to a Cyrus 6vs or Cyrus 8vs amplifier. Chain output sockets enables the input signal to be easily passed to further amplifiers for bi/tri-amping purposes or where many amplifiers are required to run from the same input signal for sound reinforcement in large rooms or halls.

• The quality lightweight die-cast enclosure of the Linkpower has a myriad of advantages both electrically and mechanically. The integrated heatsink design enhances the thermal efficiency allowing higher performance to size ratio. Additionally, the non-resonant nature of the alloy minimises microphonic effects, while its non-ferrous composition provides an effective shield from external electro-magnetic disturbances. This also eliminates coupling of the power transformer stray magnetic fields to the sensitive audio circuitry.

Specification

Inputs - Phono sockets
Outputs - Bi-wirable Loudspeakers, Chain out
Power Supply - 180VA Toroidal transformer
Communications - MC-BUS™ System BUS

Power output - Stereo 50W/CH (both driven into 8 Ohms) 80W/CH (both driven into 4 Ohms)
Distortion - <0.004%, (1kHz into 8 Ohms) <0.01%, (20Hz-20kHz into 8 Ohms)
Frequency Response - -3 dB at 0.2Hz and 100kHz
Output Current - 15A peak
Sensitivity (RCA input) - 381mV (for 50W stereo into 8 Ohms)
Input impedance - 20Kohm
S/N Ratio - 111dBA (ref 50W)
Dimensions - (H x W x D) 73 x 215 x 360 (mm)
Weight - 4.6kg
Finish - Silver