40 ST

The Cyrus 40 ST is a dedicated network streamer: a source component with no amplifier and no speakers, meant to feed an existing hi-fi system.

Cyrus builds in half-width cases, which is why its components look unlike everything else on a shelf, and the 40 Series is the company’s current flagship line. The 40 ST runs BluOS, the streaming platform shared with Bluesound and NAD, and it decodes MQA.

What Apple Home actually does with it

This is an AirPlay 2 device rather than a HomeKit accessory.

• It shows up in the Home app as a speaker you can play to, and as an AirPlay target in Control Centre.
• You can assign it to a room and group it with HomePods for synchronised multi-room audio.
• Siri can send music to it by room name.
• It can be the audio output in a scene or an automation.

It is not an accessory you switch on or set the volume of from the Home app. Power, input selection and volume stay with the unit, its remote and its own app.

Before you buy

BluOS is the thing to weigh. It is a mature multi-room platform with good library handling, and it supports AirPlay, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect and internet radio. It does not do Bluetooth or Chromecast, which is a deliberate choice rather than an oversight.

A streamer only makes sense if you already have an amplifier and speakers you are happy with. If you do not, a streaming amplifier does both jobs for less.

Cyrus also sells the cheaper Classic STREAM and the Stream XR.

Specifications