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Ayre introduces the AX-8 integrated amp

Ayre Acoustics introduces the brand new 8 Series Components. The 8 series will fit into their product range below the new 5 series, taking the place of the discontinued 9 and 7 series and the older 5 series products. The price range of the 8 series is planned to be between $2,500 - $8,000 US Retail.

The first two products which are showing in Munich are the AX-8 integrated amplifier (with digital inputs including streaming) and the QX-8 digital hub (also with streaming) and like all Ayre components, they will be hand-built in Boulder, CO.

https://wizard-highend.blogspot.com/2017/05/ayre-ax-8-qx-8.html?m=1

http://ciamara.com/new-ayre-8-series-components-coming-fall/

hgeifman

Showing 3 responses by twoleftears

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,326 posts
 

Disappointing to see that so much of the engineering of the integrated is actually the "digital hub" unit.  In other words it's the QX-8 with a fairly low powered integrated thrown in to provide an all-in-one lifestyle solution.  And *not* the baby brother of the AX-5twenty.

More promising to see that Simaudio has come out with a 600i v.2 or MkII.

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,326 posts
 

See the photos of the internals of the QX-8 and the 80W AX-8.  Hmmm.
http://www.theaudiobeat.com/highend2017/highend2017_ayre.htm

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,326 posts
 
Any which way, I'd prefer a "straight" integrated without any of the DAC stuff on board.   With the AX5 twenty now costing 13K, surely there's room for a scaled down 7.5K model.
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