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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
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verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,469 posts
 
IMO...no comparison.  Don't mess with your current setup and sell the Parasound equipment.  I much prefer Ayre's sound profile.  That being said, my opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it as it is my opinion.  

The only way to tell if you like the Parasound gear better is to listen to it.  There is nothing inherently better or worse about each company. 
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dbphd OP
1,623 posts
 
I forgot to mention that sources in the all-Ayre setup are QX-5 Twenty for Roon, DX-5 DSD for discs, and P-5xe for vinyl.
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hk_fan
416 posts
 
Are the JC1's brand new?  They do take quite a while to break-in so even if you were to try them they won't be at their best for several weeks from my experience.  So even if you were to take the effort to set them up you won't get the true flavor without considerable time.

It's hard to argue with an all Ayre system, especially since all of your components are Twenty.  
beetlemania
834 posts
 
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?

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,865 posts
 
Some people like feedback.... I prefer no global feedback 
but
you probably have to listen to decide
big fan of Ayre, RIP Charlie...
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