Mission Cyrus Two (c. 1983–1984)
The Mission Cyrus Two is the integrated amplifier that set Mission's "straight-line" approach in the early CD era. It was developed around 1983-84 with the then-new CD format in mind, and it has no frills. There are no tone controls and no balance knob - just an input selector, volume, mute, and a power button on the front. The idea was purity and uncomplicated signal paths, and the design was praised for exactly that.
Inside, it delivers a genuine 70W per channel into 8 ohms. The output stage is MOSFET, the circuitry is DC-coupled, and the power supply uses twin transformers. Frequency response is rated at 20Hz-20kHz ±0.5dB, with THD claimed at 0.005% and signal-to-noise above 90dB. Inputs cover phono (both MM and MC), tuner, CD, and two tape loops, with pre-amp outputs on the back. The MC stage was a point of pride. HiFi-Stereo (November 1987, p.165) singled it out as truly exceptional, designed with esoteric cartridges in mind and with close attention to noise and hysteresis factors.
The Cyrus Two had an upgrade path. It was designed to run from Mission's separate PSX external power supply, and once that was fitted the unit became known as the Cyrus 2/PSX. This modular approach was unusual for the period and reflected Mission's broader Cyrus-series philosophy.
The Cyrus Two retailed at £329 in both 1983 and 1984. It received widespread critical acclaim at launch, and period reviewers noted its crisp, controlled sound that brought out the best in CD players. It remains a well-regarded vintage integrated. Collectors should know about two common failure points: regulator failure, which stops the amp working entirely, and faulty switches and relays. Some spare parts are still available, though many have become obsolete.
Known specifications:
- Power output: 70W per channel into 8 ohms
- Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz ±0.5dB
- THD: 0.005%
- Signal-to-noise: >90dB (IHF A weighted)
- Phono MM sensitivity: 2.2mV / 47kΩ
- Phono MC sensitivity: 100µV / 100Ω
- Line sensitivity: 150mV / 22kΩ
- Dimensions: 430 × 105 × 330mm (W×H×D)
- Weight: 8.5kg
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