Forget the MAC. It's an appliance, and every Mac dealer knows it. That's why they sell it...it's easy to sell. Great company, great service, great story, but they don't make high fidelity. At least not today. With Mac you are buying a huge nice box that looks like their products of 3 decades ago. Great marketing to the baby boomers. Anyone with ears and a reference of live music will immediately notice the colorations in Mac gear. The Ayre is far better, but you really don't get your money's worth. Ever look inside one? Not much in there. And if you are in manufacturing, you'll note clever cost cutting everywhere. No silk-screening on the rear panel. No anodizing on the rear. Tiny boards inside...connectors that are overcrowded together on the rear as if there is no space...it's a joke, really. The outside's nice, the overall design decent, and if you like the Ayre sound, then it's probably your best bet. You could do far worse.
