First of all, I would like to say that I should get Serge to describe my new system, as his writing skills are much better than mine.

For those of you that doesn't know me or my previous system, I am coming from a McIntosh system consisting of Mc 501's, MCD 500, C2300 pre-amp, wireworld speaker cables/interconnects and a PS Audio PPP. I was never completely satisfied with the Mac system feeling that the music was "veiled" and lacking detail and proper articulation.

Then comes the Ayre gear; a different approach to making music. Since I replaced complete systems, I can't tell you which component makes the biggest difference or if it is the synergy between them all. I can say that my PMCs' have never sounded this good. My sound stage is considerably wider and deeper than before. It just seems that the musicians are on the stage in front of me. Being that I am a previous percussionist, I can now distinguish different places on cymbals where the drummer hits them. It is incredible, but this increase in detail is not fatiguing. The low-level detail has also improved dramatically, as before I kept turning my system up to hear the music, now I turn it down to hear the music. The much increased resolution provides new insight to music and I find myself listening to old Cd's wanting to hear the music all over again. Overall, I find the "sound" of the Ayre gear closer to the real thing, and after all, that is what we are all trying to due, reproduce the "live" experience.

I would like to say that Mcintosh builds great gear, and at this level, it is all personal preferences. It is also unfair to directly compare my previous Mac system to the Ayre gear because the new Ayre gear costs a whole bunch more money. I would have liked to try the C1000/p in my previous system like Dan has now done; it would have been a closer comparison to my K-XR pre-amp dollar wise.

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Ayre KX-R, MX-R's, C-5xeMP,
L-5xe's, PMC EB1i's, Ayre/Cardas Cables

Lyle, congrats on your new system. It is an investment for sure but one that will bring you many years of very satisfying listening. That Ayre KX-R preamp is indeed something special. I liked it so much I have purchased one as well. I found it to have great synergy with my Lamm amps as well.

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System 7.1:
Wilson Sasha/Mezzo/Watch surrounds
D'Agostino Momentum x3 amps
Bryston 4B SST2 x2 amps
Krell S1200U pre/pro
Oppo Blu
Sony Blu changer
McIntosh MS300 music server
EAR/Yoshino Acute III tubed CDP
Transparent Ultra cabling
JL Audio F212 Sub
Lumagen video processor
JVC RS-35U projector
Stewart Screen

Lyle.......You knew this was coming.

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Dan


Living Room System: McIntosh C2300, MC601 (2), MCD1100, MS750, MR85, Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD-40, Ortofon 2M Black, Sonos ZP90, Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray, PMC EB1i, Fathom f113 w/ Sound Anchor stand, Power Plant Premier (2), PS Audio Soloist Premier SE (3), Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Kimber 8TC with WBT Solid Silver Angled Locking Banana Connectors.
Studio System: McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MCD1100, MR88, Michell Gyro SE w/SME 309/Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonos ZP90, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario, Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireword Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Wireworld Silver Eclipse speaker cable.
Studio Home Theater System: McIntosh MX120, MC452, Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, JBL LSR-6332 (2), JBL LSR-6328P (3), McIntosh XLS112 (2), Sony 52XBR9, Tributaries Silver IC's, Wireworld PC's.
Vintage: McIntosh MA5100, MR74 tuner, JVC XL-Z1050 K2 CD player, Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Tandberg 3008A and 3026A, JBL4312A , McIntosh 4300V for deck speakers.

Hello Dan...have a look at my photoalbums on "social groups" PMC. I posted them last night....

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Ayre KX-R, MX-R's, C-5xeMP,
L-5xe's, PMC EB1i's, Ayre/Cardas Cables

Hey Lyle,

I love the look of your new system. I bet it sounds amazing.

For those of us not familiar with Ayre gear, can you give us a rundown of what you have.

Are the smaller boxes on the bottom the Power Amps, with separate power supply? I'm guessing here.

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Shindo/DeVore Super 8's

One good thing about music: When it hits you, you feel no pain.

Bob Marley

Two Dot....if you have a look at my photo album pictures, you will see my entertainment centre. In both the bottom right/left hand corners is the 300WPC MX-R monoblocs. Directly above them are Ayre line conditioners. I purchased two of them because I wanted to take advantage of my individual 20 amp circuits. On the top left is the KX-R pre-amp and on the top right is the C-5xeMP SACD player. I plug one amplifier and pre-amp into one line conditioner, and one amplifier and the SACD player into the other line conditioner.

In the centre of my entertainment centre is from top to bottom, a Satallite receiver, a PS Audio PPP and my Sony blu-ray player. I plug my sat receiver, T.V. and blu-ray into
the PPP.

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Ayre KX-R, MX-R's, C-5xeMP,
L-5xe's, PMC EB1i's, Ayre/Cardas Cables

Hey Lyle,

I really like your Ayre system. I had the V3, V5 and K1 X with the upgrades. I`ve known Charles Hanson, Gary Mulder ( now with Avalon ) for a long time . I still use their interconnects, power cords in my system today. Good people at Ayre and their systems are very musical.

Happy Listening on your new system,

Dave

Hey Lyle,

What a change !!! You're a "radical" guy !

Congratulations on your new system.

It looks very nice and I'm sure it sounds wonderful.
As you said you're no more in the same price league as your former McIntosh gear so to me, that's no surprise you get more detail and definition.
What is surprising for me in your review, is the fact that the increased detail and resolution, and a sound closer to real life, does not carry a bit of fatigue listening.
To me that's the sign you're stuck with top notch electronics.
Everytime I listened to high resolution systems, I started to feel fatigue after an hour or so of listening. At least listening at normal volume.
But I always noted a better sound at low volume, especially a better presence.

Enjoy it as it should !!

Best wishes
Jérôme

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Jérôme

They have convinced themselves that man, the worst transgressor of all the species, is the crown of creation. All other creatures were created merely to provide him with food, pelts, to be tormented, exterminated. In relation to them, all people are Nazis; for the animals, it is an eternal Treblinka. Isaac Bashevis Singer

Thank you for the comments Jerome. I do find the system very musical with absolutely
no fatigue. I can listen for hours with my feet tapping and ears perked up. The increase in detail is great, but not over the top, as in certain Bryston/Revel combinations I have heard.

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Ayre KX-R, MX-R's, C-5xeMP,
L-5xe's, PMC EB1i's, Ayre/Cardas Cables

Lyle.....once again, very nice pics of your Ayre equipment..... Glad you're enjoying them with your PMC's

I believe my local Mac dealer just started to carry Audio Research and Ayre...I guess I should find some time and at least check out some Ayre.