I have a Ayre CX-7eMP. I bought it used after it had been upgraded to MP status. I have not been able to compare it to other players or even listen to it a lot yet, but I can say a couple things about it.
It is a big step forward in cd playback. I am very sensitive to digital glare, grunge, harshness or whatever you want to call it. The Ayre eliminates a lot of this distortion, greatly reducing if not eliminating listener fatigue.
I think you will hear significant improvement on most cds but it can't turn a bad cd into a remastered gem as some of the reviewers seem to beleive.
This is just the first implementation of this technology. I think that further development of minimum phase and apodizing filters along with other improvements will make cd sound good enough for everyone but hard core vinyl addicts.
I think that in the next few years these improvements combined with high res downloads stored on servers will make digital the best sound available for everyone except the most dedicated analog fans.
It is a big step forward in cd playback. I am very sensitive to digital glare, grunge, harshness or whatever you want to call it. The Ayre eliminates a lot of this distortion, greatly reducing if not eliminating listener fatigue.
I think you will hear significant improvement on most cds but it can't turn a bad cd into a remastered gem as some of the reviewers seem to beleive.
This is just the first implementation of this technology. I think that further development of minimum phase and apodizing filters along with other improvements will make cd sound good enough for everyone but hard core vinyl addicts.
I think that in the next few years these improvements combined with high res downloads stored on servers will make digital the best sound available for everyone except the most dedicated analog fans.