Cyrus 40 PPA Phono Preamplifier

The Cyrus 40 PPA is a dedicated phono preamplifier from the flagship 40 Series — built for listeners who place vinyl at the centre of their system and refuse to compromise on what a phono stage can and should do. With four independently configurable inputs, support for both Moving Magnet and Moving Coil cartridges, and the full 40 Series build quality throughout, the 40 PPA sets a new standard for what a phono preamplifier at this level is capable of delivering.

Four Independent Inputs

Where most phono stages offer one or two inputs, the 40 PPA provides four — each independently configurable for cartridge type, gain, loading resistance and capacitance. MC gain is adjustable in 5dB steps per input, allowing precise optimisation for each cartridge in use. This matters because correct loading is not a refinement — it is a fundamental requirement for accurate cartridge performance. A poorly loaded cartridge will never perform at its best regardless of the quality of the downstream components. The 40 PPA removes that variable entirely, and for those running multiple turntables or a collection of different cartridges, it is an extraordinary degree of flexibility in a single component.

RIAA Equalisation and Power Supply

The RIAA equalisation network is the technical core of any phono stage, and Cyrus have given the 40 PPA a precision implementation that maintains accuracy across the full audio band. The circuit is built around a high-capacity, low-noise DC power supply engineered to deliver the wide dynamic range that vinyl demands — particularly on large-scale classical recordings, where dynamic swings are extreme and headroom limitations are immediately exposed.

A warp filter reduces bass excursion caused by warped records, protecting loudspeaker drive units from unnecessary mechanical stress. A ground lift switch addresses ground loop hum at source — a practical detail that is easy to overlook in design and genuinely disruptive in use.

Balanced and Unbalanced Outputs

The 40 PPA offers both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs, ensuring compatibility with virtually any preamplifier or integrated amplifier. Where your downstream amplification accepts balanced inputs, the XLR connection delivers the lowest noise and the greatest rejection of common-mode interference — a meaningful advantage at the signal levels a phono stage is working with, which are among the smallest found anywhere in an audio system.

Display, Controls and Remote

The full 40 Series fascia is carried through to the 40 PPA: a 5-inch high-resolution TFT display, toughened glass front panel, and hidden-until-lit capacitive touch controls. Stereo output meters with peak hold functionality allow MC gain to be set accurately by eye. The included remote provides full control of the 40 PPA and integrates with other 40 Series components for unified system operation.

The 40 PSU Upgrade

The 40 PPA accepts the optional Cyrus 40 PSU external power supply — and for a phono stage, this upgrade is particularly meaningful. The signals being amplified by a phono stage are the smallest encountered anywhere in a domestic audio system, and the sensitivity of the circuit to power supply noise is correspondingly high. The 40 PSU addresses this directly, delivering a cleaner and more stable supply to the 40 PPA's signal circuitry with audible results on noise floor and low-level resolution. It is an upgrade worth planning for from the outset.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The 40 PPA is for the serious vinyl listener who has invested in one or more quality turntables and wants a phono stage that will not be the limiting factor in the chain. It suits those building a complete 40 Series system and anyone whose existing system has outgrown a built-in phono stage. For those running a high-output MM or a low-output moving coil cartridge — or both simultaneously — the independent per-input loading options make the 40 PPA an exceptional solution. It pairs naturally in a 40 Series system alongside the Cyrus 40 CD and the Cyrus 40 PSU.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. Dave and Chris know the Cyrus range thoroughly and can demonstrate the 40 PPA alongside a range of turntables and cartridges in our Norwich showroom. If you are considering the 40 PPA as part of a wider 40 Series system, or want to understand how it compares to other phono stages at this level, we are well placed to advise.

Contact us at [email protected], call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.