Ayre KV-5 Twenty or Parasound JC 1


I’m using an Ayre KV-5 Twenty amp with a KX-5 Twenty preamp to drive KEF Reference 1s, but I have three JC-1s in cartons with the plan to sell them. I also have a JC-2 preamp. I’m loath to unbox the JC-1s just to try them with the Reference 1s, so I wonder if anyone has compared the two amps and can give advice. I use a QX-5 Twenty for Roon, so like the idea of an all Ayre setup, balanced of course, but it also would be balanced with the Parasound JC-2 and JC-1s. Any thoughts/advice?

db
dbphd

Showing 2 responses by beetlemania

Hansen used to acknowledge, on the forums, the influence John Curl had on his designs. But I don't know that Curl ever pursued zero feedback as a design goal.
Wait, you have all this gear on hand and you are asking us?
The JC-1 is more powerful but the Ayre is a zero feedback design and is probably a better sonic match for your other gear. There is only one way to find out which your ears prefer, no?