Ayre VX5 Twenty amp and KX5 Twenty pre-amp with B&W 805D3 speakers.
You ended up with Ayre, what are your speakers?
Like many topics, I’m not asking for buying recommendations. As an audiophile I’m genuinely curious if you are a current Ayre user, what speakers do you run with them, and how is the synergy?
I've always loved the sound, but never quite was able to swing that way, ending up with Luxman. Those of you who have gone with Ayre, how are you using them?
Best,
Erik
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- 30 posts total
@jacahn Now that is a really interesting combination! |
I lurk way too often and don’t post enough, but this question inspires me to comment. I am using a very old AX-7e with Klipsch Forte IV and against all odds, it’s an awesome pairing. I’ve had several tube integrateds well into the 5 digits and while they were different/better in some ways, there’s just something so musical about this little Ayre integrated that I keep coming back to it. A few caveats…I have a warm sounding dac (Metrum Acoustics Pavane w/DAC 3 chips) and a very well damped room, so that could obviously be playing to the Ayre’s strengths. That said, the AX-7e’s strengths are coming through so pronounced, I’m struggling to find a reason to upgrade, even though everything in my system is more expensive and more recent. By the way, I’ve had the AX-5 Twenty (great amp) and the VX-5e (great amp just a bit bass shy)…not saying the AX-7e is a world beater but for me, it keeps surprising me, even after owning it for so long. |
@favresj, I completely agree with you. The AX-7e is a very, very under-appreciated piece of hardware. Moving from an AX-7e to the AX-5/20 is like going from 98.5% to 99.9% (IMHO). I'm not one for exaggeration or hyperbole - while the difference was obvious, I could have been continued to be extremely happy with the AX-7e (particularly since I had Ayre hardware the necessary crossover to use with a pair of Vandersteen Quatro CTs). Drive it with a CX-7e(mp) or a QB-9/20 (balanced) and you're got a match made in heaven. |
- 30 posts total