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Ayre AX-7e vs. Belles Reference 150A

Not exactly apples to oranges since it's integrated vs. separates, but I am currently using a Belles Ref150A V2 with Placette Passive Linestage fed by Havana DAC into Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors. Overall I like the sound very much and could live with this for a very long time, but it would be nice to consolidate to an integrated and also save a bit of cash. Would this be an upgrade, downgrade, or lateral, but different move?

There is so much about the Belles that I like -- the natural timbre, dynamics and decay, huge, open sound and soundstage, bass extension -- and I want to see if there something else that plays to the same strengths even more. I prefer things on the warmer side as you can probably tell by my choice of gear.
eugene81

Showing 1 response by leskiem

leskiem
9 posts
 
I can kind of help...

I used to have Auditors and an AX7e as well as a CX7e. That little integrated sounds wonderful with Auditors, however I was running fully balanced chain.

To my ears it sounded better than $11K worth or Electrocompaniet gear and I sold all the Electrocompaniet and kept the Ayre. I have since moved to tube gear and Devore speakers, but I am not sure you can find any better solid state than the Ayre unless you move up big time to many multiples of the price.
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