You ended up with Ayre, what are your speakers?

No Ayre amps yet, but I love my Codex DAC.

Ayre AX-5/20

Ayre CX-7e(mp)

Ayre P-5xe

Ayre QB-9 

Ayre L-5xe

…Vandersteen Quatro CTs

Bought Ayre k-5 se used for a while , the sound is airy and high sound is very strong. I am feeling good at first five minutes and I can not stand over 2 hours listening.

As you know, my standard is that you are listening continuously

8 hours and you still want to listen more,it becomes your selection.

In that point of view, I sold it later.

I have an Ayre  k1xe  pre  connected  to Mark levinson 33h  monoblocks drive harbeth shl5 speakers. Heaven! 

AYRE AX-5 (Twenty) with Thiel Audio. In comparison with a Luxman, the later will add a measure of warmth characteristic in Japanese electronics. Another way to describe the presentation and sound is Golden. One cannot go wrong either way.

Happy Listening!