Ayre Monoblocks vs. Linn Klimax Solo 500s

I love the MX-Rs and I and my audiophile friends cannot believe changing amps from the Linns to the Ayres made such a wonderful transformation. The total Ayre system is marvelous. The Ayre MX-Rs best the Linn Klimax Solo 500s in every respect. Rhythm and pacing are stunning. Dynamics, imaging, and realistic reproduction of instruments and singers is astonishing. I can't imagine you would ever regret the switch, or stop to look back if you try them. In my system they make a whole new world of difference. Worth every penny if you can afford to make the move.

I hade the chance to listen to both gear in a very short period of time ( 2 hours) and I obviously didn't heard the same thing than you, fellows. I was with two of my friends, who happen to be sound engeneers as well, and we all prefer the Linn Klimax upon the Ayre. Don't misunderstand me: the Ayre mono blocks where great to listen to, but I don't agree with Paul music. The Linn Solos are better when it comes to pace, rythme and even real dynamics.They sound very real when compared to the original master we hade for the test. The Ayre made a lot of music for shure, with a beautifull stage and wonderfull balance from top to bottom, but the Linn sound so delicat and fluid all the way and deliver a deep end nothing less than fantastic !
The bass were amazing with the solo, more controle, more realistic and so deep with all the speakers we use for the test that I'm considering bying one paire for me. I already own a Twin Klimax Chakra and I'm in love with this thing but the solos are in an other league of there own... By the way, you're wrong Matt b. The Klimax don't use a special fan for there switching power supply and it's not a classe D SPS power supply... Linn spend many years on there own type of supply and the fan is just for the amp cooling as the PS doesn't come very hot. Anyway, you'll have to pusch it realy hard to make it start to ventilate...

I just got a pair of Ayres yesterday and could not be happier with them in my system. When you spend this kind of money, there are a lot of great choices. So it still comes down to personal preference and system matching. Opinions and reviews won't matter once a new piece of gear is in your system. And second guessing yourself can make you nutz.....Steve

Hi anderparis

This is very interresting reading to me since my balancing on buying eather the solos or other small monoblok amplifires.

What speakers did you use for testing and what frontend did you use ?

regards

Anderparis

perhaps the MX-Rs were yet to be broken in. I hear that while they can sound great out of the box... they will sound like nothing special until they are broken in well... then they really shine