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Ayre K5xe vs BAT Pre

So I am about to pick up my first BAT product, a VK-500. I am currently using an Ayre C5xeMP to Ayre K5xe to VK-500 to Magnepan 1.6. My question is would it be a positive move I get a BAT pre instead of the Ayre. I don't know a ton about the BAT pre line but would think that the Ayre would be more detailed. Would the imagining improve with say a BAT 32se? I know it's all about synergy but is bat suppose to be a higher level product in comparison to Ayre? Thanks
harri009

Showing 4 responses by harri009

harri009 OP
100 posts
 
Thanks, so just like all equipment it seems to be more personal preference than one being better. As for the Maggie's, I have heard quite a few Wilson, B&W, and Revel systems and always felt the Maggie's were more emotionally involving.
harri009 OP
100 posts
 
I would love to trade someone my VK-500 for Ayre V5xe purely on synergy. I was able to get a good deal on the bat locally that no one currently selling a V5 was willing to give me. So that is the reason for the purchase of the Bat. The amp I replaced was a 185 watt emotiva. Hopefully the new amp will open up my system further.

I was not worried about your comment, heck this weekend I demo'd some 3.7's with a friend who owns Revel studio 2 and he felt that there was something missing. I thought they were wonderful :) and would have bought them on the spot if funds allowed :). And thus the reason there are so many audio manufacurers.
harri009 OP
100 posts
 
Well I sold the emotiva before I received the Bat so I cannot make an A/B comparison, but I owned the emotiva long enough to know the sound quite well. The main things that jumped out at me. The Bat is a little darker sounding, the UPA-2 was not bright but was not quite as dark. The Bat definitely takes an hour to warm up, until warm the sound is VERY dark almost cutoff. The Emotiva sounded pretty much the same from the time you turned it on. I cannot tell if either are more detailed, but the Bat sounds more realistic, which is the goal. While my system is sounding its best and I have no plans to sell anything I have grown in my respect to the quality products emotiva is putting out. I truly believe for the $4500 that an emotiva system with XSP-1, XPA-2, ERC-2, and Magnepan 1.7 would be at least 90% of my system currently costing $18,000 retail value. My old setup was USP-1, ERC-1, UPA-2, and Mag 1.6, I do not currently own any emotiva components but if I even need the cash emotiva WILL be my downgrade system.
harri009 OP
100 posts
 
I didn't switch from an Ayre. I never had an ayre amp. I would love to try a V5xe or V1xe but the BAT is sounding and looking pretty good.
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