I own an all Ayre/Vandersteen system. ....don't know your system but do know that Ayre has top level customer support... Their stuff is built like a tank....you probably won't need it..... but know that its there.
Ayre AX7e vs Hegel H160
Buying a small system for my daughter and son-in-law's house warming gift. The both use Pono's which can be used in balanced mode with amps that have a balanced input. The best integrateds I can find with a balanced input in my price range are the above mentioned ones. No tube amp recommendations-- too fussy for these folks.
Speakers are Dynaudio Focus 160's. Room is 12 x 15 and they listen mostly to acoustic Americana music at moderate volumes. Both are well reviewed -- the Ayre particularly so.
Is the Ayre at 60 watts/8 ohms and 120 / 4 ohms enough to drive the relative inefficient speakers? The Hegel at 150 watts is clearly more powerful but I am worried about the DAC becoming out of date. The Ayre is slightly cheaper but with a couple hundred of the Hegel.
Help me decide please. I need to pull the trigger tomorrow.
Speakers are Dynaudio Focus 160's. Room is 12 x 15 and they listen mostly to acoustic Americana music at moderate volumes. Both are well reviewed -- the Ayre particularly so.
Is the Ayre at 60 watts/8 ohms and 120 / 4 ohms enough to drive the relative inefficient speakers? The Hegel at 150 watts is clearly more powerful but I am worried about the DAC becoming out of date. The Ayre is slightly cheaper but with a couple hundred of the Hegel.
Help me decide please. I need to pull the trigger tomorrow.