Ayre Acoustics AX-5 Twenty

I agree on the VX-5 twenty.   Mine has driven Wilson Sophia 2s and Focal Sopra 3 without any issues.   The VX seems to have lots of current on reserve.

Keep us posted on your demo-  danimaz
Happy Listening!

Unless your speakers hang out in sub-2ohm territory power isn't a concern with that Ayre amp. 

I heard the Octave amp you are referring to with the Dynaudio C20’s and C30’s, and it was very impressive. I too am looking at the Ayre VX5 Twenty to drive a pair of Contour 60’s. I’m just not sure about the amount of power, although the Dyns are 4 ohms and the VX 5 doubles to 350 per channel at 4

Call Mike at Ayre...he knows everything about this stuff

That's very difficult to say. Dynaudios typically demo with Octave gear, so no doubt there's great synergy there. I heard the C20s with Primaluna, which also sounded great.  As for Ayre, if their entry level preamp is this good (K5xeMP), then I'd be highly surprised if the AX5-20 doesn't live up to expectations. However, as we all know, hyperbole aside...electronics reach a level of diminishing returns past a certain price point. Improvements, yes, but never night and day like people claim. But at that range, I think you should also check out Gryphon if possible.

Who knows! It may sound like a $50,000 amp.  It’s been my experience that at a certain level there is less of a correlation of price to sound quality.  

You should listen to as many amps as you can and if possible, work with a dealer that can let you do an in-home audition. 

Thanks for your responses guys!
I am about to setup an apt with a dealer here in Chicago to hear the ax-5 twenty. 
What I really want to know if this unit sounds like 14k$ amp paired with dynaudios. 
In the past i.heard a 9500$ int amp with C20s and it was really really good but the sound i heard was not worth 9500$! 

Btw I have the contour 20s and I heard the octave V70se well under 10k$ and that amp got my attention like no other amp so far! ( I'm sure there are amps out there that are equally good or better) 
V70se was dead.quiet transparent punchy all of the above.  

I want to find out if 7,000$ difference is worth it or not (ax-5 twenty)

I had been playing around with a pair of Cary CAD 572 SE monoblocks to drive KEF LS50s.  When I introduced an Ayre K-5xeMP it seemed to move the sound even with solid state amps a bit in the direction of the Cary tube amps.  I'm now using a KX-5 Twenty preamp with a VX-5 Twenty amp -- think of ab AX-5 Twenty as separates.  The sound is pretty much as nitewulf describes it.  BTW, the QX-5 Twenty digital hub is a superb addition, with DSD files from Acoustic Sounds sounding perhaps even better than the SACD played on my C-5xeMP.

db 

Sorry - to answer your question, I think if the speakers are somewhat efficient (don't know which model you're talking about), ie, like 87db and up, the Ayre would be a very good match for Dynaudios.

I own Ayre K5xeMP and owned Dynaudios (Focus 140) before. I wouldn't call Ayre dark, or Dyanudios lively.  In my experience, Ayre is dead quiet, noise free if you will, very open and transparent, and believe it or not, it's a bit sweet, I certainly enjoy it more than my previous tube preamp. It's super detailed, tight on the low end...sweet on the high end. I am very impressed by Ayre.

As for Dynaudios, Focus series was dark and boxed in, needed very high current and high volumes to open up. Once opened up, very nice sound. I like Dyns, they have a sweet top end, and an engaging low mid, high bass tuned type of a signature. Recently I heard the Contour C20s while speaker shopping...and they were very, very nice. I loved their big sound.

I am not hearing anything "dark" with the Ayre gear.  It's a perfect match for my Totem Element Metal speakers.  

It's all about synergy so take anyone's advice (mine included) with  a grain of salt.  

I have been through several integrated amps over the last 2 years including Luxman L-590 AX, Accuphase E-470 and E-600, Gato AMP-150 and Esoteric F-05.   The Ayre AX-5 Twenty sounds better than all these thus far.  

That s like comparing an Infiniti G37 to a BMW 550i. Great car but can't compete with a 550i there is no way! 
Btw I've heard the AX-5 and it was not 'supernaturally dark' don't know what that means. 
Anyone else ? 

That's interesting. The Ayre gear tends to be supernaturally dark and quiet, but Dynaudio tends to be a little lively, lots of detail at low volume.

If you want something a little less expensive, but kind-of like Ayre, try Arcam