Any comments on my Ayre AX-7e vs Ayre EX-8 vs Simaudio Moon 340i Integrated Amplifiers

Only heard Ayre one time and found it too cool for my taste...BIG fan of SimAudio and I would own them if I ever left tubes again...

Have no worries about your Ayre.....it's built to last a lifetime.

I too own an Ayre ax7e and am quite in love with its sound and capability.
Now on one of my threads there was a member commented that he also owned both the ax7e and the new ex8 and his opinion was that the ex8 was a big step up and worth the money. That has to make it something else.

Personally I would go with the base model as you can then add whatever DAC and phono stage you like and change them easily , not so easy if all built in.

I was previously of the opinion that I needed a super integrated with all options but have since fallen back to a base integrated simply because it is so much easier to change the flavour with seperates.
But just my opinion.

Looking at the few pictures there are of its guts that are on the web, it's certainly not a conventional design.  Everything is pushed back to the rear of the unit, and there are no conventional heatsinks.  I wonder what Class it operates in exactly.

In my opinion, I would get the EX-8 with DAC, as I believe Ayre will offer the best they can in their new offering. Of course, I would also contact them directly and get their take on this.
The Codex (I own 2) is a very special DAC. I think it compares favorably with the Schiit Yggy. And, used, it is a great buy. With my Vandy Treo's and MXR's (non20), I couldn't be happier. (Though I am getting an AQ Thunder power cable for the Codex, Johnny Rutan said it will be a game changer).
I also own the AX7e which I use with a Codex for my Office system. 
I leave the AX-7 on 24/7. Even Ayre said it does no damage.
HTH, and I wish you good luck on your upgrades.
Bob

It does look like the ex-8 is something different again, an "integrated hub" as Ayre label it, so more along the lines of the Lyngdorf or Micromega super integrated do it all swiss army knifes that just a plain old integrated.

In that respect it may be as well to go "all in" as long as you accept that the sound will be all Ayre for every aspect.

Ayre EX8 first choice. 340i second.

AX7e is an old model. Things have changed since.

As you have a dealer, I would bring in your old amp and see if you can hear any improvement that is worth upgrading to.  I would not worry about the fact that your amp is old.  It's all about how it sounds. 

One could say I downgraded when I went from a Lyngdorf2170 to the ax7e.

However to my ears it was a definitive upgrade.

Never heard any other Ayre products, but currently running the Ayre Ex-8 (fully loaded) in my system to great effect. Unlike either the Simaudio integrated or your current ax-7e and codex setup, this has the not insignificant advantage of building in a superb and comprehensive streaming solution.
From my experience, the EX-8 is remarkably resolved and pacy without calling attention to itself or feeling unnatural the way my Devialet 220 did; the Ayre is no-holds barred superior in terms of overall musicality. While it does not have an in-built killer phono-stage or variable damping like my Gold Note IS-1000, by far the best single unit option for analog-led systems with high-efficiency speakers, but works better with my current speakers which are underdamped, inefficient, and a touch rich (but I love them). What the EX-8 also has is microdynamic excellence, a massive and highly detailed soundstage, natural timing, silky  but not oversweetened highs, and an uncanny absence of grain throughout. It is a remarkably wonderful sounding and very convenient system.
For matching with your LG OLED, the SPDIF on the EX-8 has a useful video mode (which cancels the asynchronous input in order to match your tv's native clock and video framerate).
I cannot recommend the Ayre highly enough for most systems. Would also look at the Gold Note or the new Hegel H590 closely if shopping in this price bracket for a super integrated (the prior for its use of its tube-like low damping setting with high-efficiency speakers, the latter for relentless drive and accuracy with any ridiculous difficult speaker load).