Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty Streaming DAC

@kennymacc, The Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty Streaming DAC looks interesting.  What other more expensive DAC’s did you compare it to? How does its sound quality compare to these other more DAC’s?  I am considering the Ayre QX-5 Twenty DAC and would appreciate any other info you have regarding this DAC.  Thanks.  

An Ayre QB-9 Twenty owner here. And, I concur with your opinion.

Even the Codex was a very capable DAC for the money.

Ayre seems to offer a great products at great price points.

Bob

A DAC is truly a very personal item when it comes to high end audio and how it synergizes with the rest of your system.  I compared the Ayre QX-5 Twenty Streaming DAC to DCS, Cord Dave/Hugo, Weiss, MSB, Hegel's top DAC and others.  All were outstanding sounding DACs in their own way, but it was to Ayre that ultimately captured my heart.  Also, the Ayre was a great value compared to some of the other much higher priced options.  I purchased my QX-5 Twenty pre-owned which makes this word class, reference DAC an even greater value!!!       

For those owners of the Ayre QX-5/20,  look into the USB-2 upgrade if USB is your favored connection.

I had my DAC updated recently while my system was down due to moving to a new home.

Its a significant upgrade to an already outstanding product IMHO.

There is a detailed review on audiophilestyle if interested.

@emtrey, Thanks. Any comments on the sound quality of your Ayre QX-5 Twenty DAC? How does it compare to other DAC’s you auditioned? Thanks.

I found the QX-5/20 to be a game changer in my system even before the update,

I did buy it used rather than waiting for a QX-8 (my original choice) as I was hoping to stay around 5-6K. Once is saw the used Qx-5/20, I just bought it.

My dealer carried DCS and Boulder so I heard some very high end DACs over the years but at that time my main source was an ML390S and I was not thinking about streaming.  The Boulder was amazing but everything in that demo chain was at the top of their line..

I have to admit I am partial to the Ayre "house" sound" so my opinion in slightly tipped.  In fact, soon after I settled in with the DAC, I update my preamp to a KX-5/20 from an ML 380S.

Wish I could help you more. Jerry

On the upgrade,

Highs dramatically better, system has more bass with same speakers, and the soundstage is very , very well defined.

Did take a while to dial in speaker positioning considering the definition of the soundstage.  Finally decided I wanted it a bit wider than my initial setup and found bigger soundstage with little or no detail loss . This was  completed mostly  working with the toe in on my speakers.

Anyone here using the Ayre QX-5 Twenty straight into their amp, without a standard preamp in between? In a chat with someone at Ayre HQ, they don’t really call it a preamp, but it does have digital volume control. Is the digital volume control a compromise over the volume control in a regular preamp? The person I spoke to said that some think that the digital volume could be a slight compromise and *maybe" a slight reduction in SQ.

I am interested in it as an upgrade replacement for my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 DAC/preamp/headphone amp (a great value in its price range imo). I use headphones about 25% of the time and wonder how good the phones stage is on the QX-5. Opinions?

The alternative might be the new Boulder 812, just now shipping, which they say is a preamp/DAC/headphone amp. On some phones forums, some question the output power rating of the 812 phones section, saying it seems low for driving difficult phones.

Boulder 812 link

I am slightly obsessed with getting that Ayre sound... a good match with my Vandersteens. If the digital volume control on the QX-5 isn’t a compromise, I would run it straight into my amp without a preamp.

THX

Yes, in general, a digital vol control will degrade SQ. It does some “bit stripping” from what I understand. 

@patrickdowns, I experimented with my DAC going direct to my power amplifier.  The sound is good but NOT light-years better than using the preamp. My ’gut reaction’ is it might not be as clear, and the music does not seem as smooth.  So, an hour later, after more listening. when going direct, I felt the music was missing something.  The music was not as open or engaging when going direct to my power amplifier. The music felt more closed in.

When going direct, the sound was flat, lifeless and without an engaging factor.   The additional of the preamp brought things back to normal.  I am happy I did this audition so I now know and can forget about it.

For my application, and setup, I prefer the preamp since it is needed to help the music sound natural, clearer, and engaging.  My experiment is done.  For my system. a preamp makes the music sound better.

I know that other people prefer going direct from a DAC to a power amplifier. Based on my audition, my decision is based on my equipment, my environment and how I listen to music. There is no right or wrong answer since it just depends on the individual. Everyone has a different opinion on going direct to an amp or using a preamp.   The answer is it depends on the equipment and the sound you like.  

In some cases, it seems, if the DAC and amplifier are from the same company, going direct sounds might sound better. IN ALL CASES, an audition is required to make the right decision.  I hope this helps.

hgeifman

Thanks for the feedback!

I have (and will soon be selling) a QX-8 to upgrade to the. QX-5.

The 8 is so wonderful in so many ways but since my budget allows the improved performance of the 5 (which I evaluated in a wonderful setting) I am making the move 

Good move!!!!

@patrickdowns I have heard the QX-5 directly into Ayre reference mono amps and it was very good. I run mine into the AX-5 Twenty.

Ayre is about ready to ship my QX-5 to me after upgrading the USB and adding their new Ethernet board. Ayre is very excited about the streaming board and I can't wait to hear it.

Until now, I primarily used the QX-5 as an outboard DAC for my Ayre disc player; other streaming options were a distant second. I have a Node 2i as a way to use Apple AirPlay into the system. And I did occasionally stream Roon/Qobuz through the ethernet port, but it was lackluster. Given the setup is far from ideal, and streaming was somewhat better through the Node. Neither was anywhere close to the sound I get from the disc player, my primary source and features the best power cord and interconnect.

Once the new Ayre ethernet port is in, I'll work to upgrade that source with a better interconnect and more.

All of this is to say that the Ayre is a wonderful product, amazing sound and a bargain given that it can be upgraded as digital develops.

You know, there were times when I would look at my extensive collection of CDs, SACDs and DVD Audio discs and think, it might be fun to purchase a nice, used, universal player to play with.  You can buy pre-owned players now-a-days for a song-and-a-dance.  But, every time I sit down in front of my system and listen to how absolutely wonderful the music sounds, I just dispel the thought every time.  I stream and play ripped files exclusively, using the magnificent Shunyata Sigma ethernet cables into my (non-updated) Ayre QX-5/20 streaming DAC and Roon Nucleus Plus.   I do not use USB.  Not to mention, how convenient it is to operate and control my entire music library with the touch of a finger via my iPad.  The combination of sound quality and convenience always seems to win the day for me.  The key is to have very high quality streaming components so that you may experienced streaming at it's finest.  It made a believer out of me                

johnmcalpin

Good to find a fellow AX-5 Twenty owner. Which AYRE disc player do you own?

Do you still own Thiel Audio CS 2.3 loudspeakers? If so, feel free to join Us over on the Thiel Owners thread here.

Happy Listening!