The Cypress chipset was highly regarded as of July 2005:
"Cypress is not recommended as a FIREWIRE chipset. However, Cypress is the INDUSTRY LEADER in QUALITY and RELIABILITY in USB chipsets. Cypress is WIDELY recommended as the best USB2 client, hands down. The better manufacturers combine an Initio or Oxford FIREWIRE chipset with a Cypress USB2 chipset. That is the winning combination in the higher quality single-drive enclosures."
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=28&threadid=496281
"Cypress is not recommended as a FIREWIRE chipset. However, Cypress is the INDUSTRY LEADER in QUALITY and RELIABILITY in USB chipsets. Cypress is WIDELY recommended as the best USB2 client, hands down. The better manufacturers combine an Initio or Oxford FIREWIRE chipset with a Cypress USB2 chipset. That is the winning combination in the higher quality single-drive enclosures."
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=28&threadid=496281