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Has anyone compared Ayre K-1xe to ARC Ref 3 or VTL

I have an Ayre K-1xe preamp with phono stage - which I love.

But I have since acquired an Aesthetix Io Signature, so I no longer use the Ayre's built-in phono stage, which occupies one of the Ayre's 3 balanced XLR inputs. The Io sounds noticeably better through the balanced XLR connections than the single ended connections.

More recently I acquired an Exemplar Denon 5910 with balanced XLR outs only. I also have an Ayre C-5xe, which also sounds much better through the balanced XLR connections than the single ended connections.

I asked Ayre to remove the phono card and return its associated balanced XLR input to line stage. Ayre refuses to remove phono cards from its preamps. So now I have to choose between compromising the sound of vinyl or digital through the C-5xe.

All of this sets the stage for me to sell the K-1xe. I'm considering replacing it with an ARC Ref 3 or a VTL 7.5. I would welcome thoughts from those with experience with these 3 preamps.

Thanks,

Ed
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hikejohn
69 posts
 
I have played with those components...ended up with VTL...next would be the K1xe...last would be the Ref...but guess it depends upon which version of the Ref 3 you are playing with...the one I borrowed I think was recent...but not sure....and of course I have one eye on the upcoming KX-R from Ayre...
soundisntmusic
55 posts
 
hi ed, a while back i posted a long review of the vtl 6.5 pre vs the ref 3. i agree with hikejohn above regarding the ref 3 at the low end. i have auditioned the vtl 7.5 mk 2 only briefly, but enough to know it is of a higher level than the vtl 6.5 which i felt was overall superior to the ref 3. the k1xe is also excellent. note - if you are missing resolution on the low end with cd's it is from the c5xe, excellent all around but weakest at the bottom in terms of articulation. cheers. marc
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kevinmcd
9 posts
 
I had an Ayre C5XE and a K3 preamp and actually preferred the single ended connections to the balanced. I did an A/B with the same type interconnects (AQ Chetahs).
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cipherjuris OP
145 posts
 
Hikejohn, Soundisntmusic & Kevinmcd, thanks for your responses. They give me a lot to think about.

Soundisntmusic, the Virtual Dynamics Revelation 2.0 balanced IC really brought out the base with the C-5xe. I'm running it single-ended right now with a Stealth Indra and it is base-shy compared to the balanced VD Revelation 2.0.

The VTL 6.5/7.5 vs the ARC Ref 3 have certainly generated a lot of opposing opinions. Those who prefer the VTL and those who prefer the Ref 3 seem to be roughly evenly divided.

It will be interesting to hear the new Ayre KX-R.

Best for a Happy and prosperous New Year.

Ed
soundisntmusic
55 posts
 
hi ed,
although there is no rhyme or reason in terms of equating price with quality in high end audio, synergy issues aside, if you find that the ref 3 stacks up very closely to the vtl 7.5 mk 2 after a controlled side by side audition of good lenght, i would be quite astonished. the vtl 7.5 mk 2 is really in a very different league pricewise.

since you mention the c-5xe run single ended is bass shy, then i hope you give it full opportunity via bal with excellent cables when you audition preamps. if you audition the vtl 6.5 with the ayre cdp, use the cdp2 connection, the path is different from the cd1, more direct. similarly, when auditioning the ref 3, also try the sdp via the monitor, which has less electronics in the pathway. more open overall, though a bit raw at the top, depending on IC and PCs.

i am unfamiliar with the VD rev 2 bal ICs, other than what i have read. i form no solid opinions on what i havent auditioned.

cheers and happy new year. marc
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