ARC VSi60 vs Ayon Spirit II/III

Neutron,

I was just on the Ayon website and noted mention in the Spirit-III specs of auto and manual bias. I'm not sure what this means, but maybe it's that one can bypass the autobias circuit. They also also mention that they use an "intelligent" auto bias circuit, so it may be an okay system.

My buddy back home initially decided not to get the Spirit-1. This was based not on the sound but for other reasons. During my drive back, however, he called me and said that he was reconsidering his decision. All of this meant that I ended up with the Spirt-1 for the time being, so I hooked it into my system when I got home last night.

My system:
Rogue M180 monoblocks w/ RCA NOS small tubes
Rogue 99 Magnum preamp w/ RCA NOS tubes
Silverline Bolero speakers
Kimber KS3035 speaker cable and Kimber Select interconnects
Rega Saturn CD player

Compared to the Rogue gear the Ayon was more textured and more extended in the high frequencies. It is a very, very musical amp. 30wpc in my large room, on the big speakers, had the expected limitations, but it sounded nice. Switching to pentode helped, and I was quite impressed with the amp in that mode. It wasn't quite as holographic at triode, but it sounded really good and I could live with it there.

My impression of the Ayon can be summed up as: clear, textured, soulful, very musical. I suspect that Class-A output stage and zero feedback design have a lot to do with what I hear through the amp.

The only thing that I wonder about is their customer service. I wrote them an email with a question about the small tubes. They wrote back but didn't quite answer my question. I have a few more questions so I may get back in touch with them. But the bottom line so far is that I think their not answering my question was inadvertent - but they did write back!

But that aside, in terms of the sound, I really like the amp and if I could afford it at the moment I would seriously consider their monoblocks or largest integrated.

I'm curious though about the system on which you will audition the amp. You mentioned a dealer about a day's drive from you. Will you listen to their components or take some of your gear with you? Or will they let you demo it in your home?

If you are going to demo one of the dealer's systems, could you give them a call and post what speakers, wire and source they would use?

I just found a Soundstage review of the VSi60. It mentioned that it has "less than" 7dB negative feedback and weighs 35lbs. I like the fact that Ayon has no negative feedback and weighs about 65lbs. I want to make it clear, however, that I have not heard the ARC piece.

Gary,

Any updates. Have you auditioned the Ayon Spirit II/III?

I have a Spirit II and can highly recommend it. I've also had my eyes on the ARC vsi60 since I'm a bit of an Audio Research guy as well. But have the opposite problem - have not been able to audition it yet.

Feel free to email me if you have specific questions about the Spirit II.

- David.

I cannot give you the usual audiophile speak, but I had the VSi60 with some Vandersteen quatros, and I thought it was a great amp. Lovely mids and extended highs, very nice imaging, etc. OF course, those speakers had a powered lower end, but I have nothing but excellent marks for the VSi 60.

Really, if I went back to tubes, I think I would buy another. For the used money, I am not sure you can beat them.

In the end, though, you have to compare yourself, with your own speakers, etc. If you cannot, then buy used and if you dump it you won't lose nearly as much.

As always, it comes down to personal preferences and mine don't favour ARC. Nothing wrong with the company, I don't like ARC gear I have heard. I have auditioned the Ayon Spirit 2 and Orion and loved both of them and would happily have bought them.
It's just that I am cheap and go for second hand gear. You don't seem to see much second hand Ayon, which tells it's own story. I bought a Pathos Inpol2 instead, equally good in fact and an amp I would recommend to anyone.