Ayre V-3 Audio Improvements

wapiti-dave

if you Amp qualifies for a Twenty Series upgrade, do it!
Another +vote on consulting AYRE.

Happy Listening!

Sorry, just read that the amp is 20 years old.

I'd have the electrolytic caps redone.  It's about time and the new one's could last 40, especially if you get higher temp caps.

After searching the internet, I found this article on adjusting the bias of your amp.  Great read.  
Adjusting the Bias Of Your Amp [English] - TNT-Audio

After reading the article, I decided to test the DC offset of the amp.
1) At cold turn on
2) After 1 minute warm up
3) After 30 minute warm up

Test Results
1) After 2 seconds, left channel peaked at 300 mv.  Right channel peaked at 100mv.
2) After 1 minute, left channel measured 10 mv.  Right channel at 0 mv.
3) After 30 minutes, left channel 0 mv and right channel at 5 mv.

Good test measurement information when talking to AYRE.

Next step was to clean ALPHA speaker cable connectors.  Speakers are tri-wired.  Dual cables for woofer and single cable for mid/tweeter.  This helped significantly.

Next step was a listening test with a "clean" CD. 
1) Left channel is much improved.  "Sonic Punch" has improved.  Minimal THD distortion.   
2) Right channel is better.  Slight THD distortion when compared to left channel.  Slightly less "Sonic Punch" when compared to the left channel.

During my internet investigation, I found an article discussing removing and reinserting patch cables at least once a year.  Hence the cleaning of the ALPHA speaker cables. 

Next step is to remove and reinsert the Synergistic Research audio cables between all system components.

Current thoughts:
1) Not yet ready to up date the caps.  Still have other experiments to perform.  Plus, over the past 20 years, the AYRE has not been heavily used. 
2) Based on the DC offset measurements and listening test, I suspect the bias on the right channel may have drifted slightly.  Need to discuss with AYRE.
3) Need to discuss the twenty series upgrade with AYRE.  But, when I lived in Boulder, I remember having AYRE upgrade the AMP.  Don't remember what they called the upgrade, but it was free of charge.

Hope this additional information is helpful to audiophiles reading this thread.    

I have an Ayre V1 that I thought was operating  below expectation.   I sent it to Ayre who did a few things (maybe 1000 dollars or so) which rejuvenated it to be used another 10 years or so.  ..among other things, they put a tape on the cooling fins.....I guess to prevent ringing. 

I have sent a few items back to Ayre for either repair of upgrade.
In every case, the cost was minimal and the improvements maximal.

Once again, I would contact Ayre with your information and see if they would recommend sending the unit for maintenance/upgrade.
B