neprince, welcome aboard! :wave:

I always found the P-5xe a bit bright with a MM cartridge.

I eventually went with an Audio Research phono stage and was very much impressed.

I'm running a Miyajima Zero as a mono setup of a P5xe and it's running beautifully. No hum issue at all. Had hum issues before with my other phono pre, a Aesthetix IO.

Price quality for that phono pre can't be beat. It's not bright if loader properly with cartridge dialed in properly and sound is not bloated. If running a zero I would recommend loading at 100 ohms.

Thanks for your response!

Currently I have a Miyajima Kotetu installed, but also tried Denon DL-102. They both made hum connected to a BAT-VK10SE or a phono section of Sony TA-E88. It only worked perfect on my Sony PS-X9, but I need this TT to run its 'native' XL-55pro.

I decided to delay a purchase of a P-5xe because Ayre is going to introduce a new PX-5 next year as I was told ;)

With Ayre, you would never have to make this kind of decision. No justification to delay any purchase because Ayre normally do upgrades.

(Audio)

Normally they do but not in this case. *-5 series units cannot be upgraded to *X-5, e.g. K-5 to KX-5.

For the money—I bought mine used for $1250—I have only good things to say about the P-5xe. It doesn't have the bass slam and dynamic authority of my other standalone phono stage (PBN Audio Olympia P)—which also has XLR inputs and outputs—but then it retails at less than a quarter of the price of the PBN. It's early days yet, but so far, I like it as much as the built-in phono stage in a recently acquired Esoteric C-03X. In the interests of full disclosure, I've never used an MC cartridge with any of my analogue set-ups. I've kind of "standardized" on the venerable Grace F9, but with upgraded stylus assemblies from Sound Smith.

Had mine for a few years now, excellent phono amp. Running it balanced into Audio Research Ref3:yes:

I owned one for about 5-6 months. It had noise issues, and it was bright. I was surprised by the noise since it was used K-1xe pre and V-1xe amp. I sold it and bought the Simaudio 310 and found it as detailed, warmer, and quieter. Then added the outboard PS to the Sim and it was really in a different league than the Ayre. Now have the BAT P-10 w/upgraded tubes and the Parasound 3+ phonos and the phono in my Mcintosh MA-8000 integrated. and its been along time since the Ayre, but find any of these better.

I've been looking for a phono stage. I tried the Graham Slee Era Gold Reflex and liked it very much. Yesterday, I borrowed a burned in P-5xe from my dealer. Because my TT is being serviced an fitted with a better tonearm, I borrowed a neighbours TT. All that I have to say is wow! The Ayre is really fabulous. Lush sounds, fabulous soundstage, very detailed indeed and I have no idea what people are speaking of when they mention brightness. I could (will) listen to this all day. Lee Morgan "Search for the New Land" I can hear the brushes and high hats with perfect clarity and the bass is so tight (mind you - I'm using an Ayre pre and power setup). One of my reference albums is Sonny Rollins "Way out West" Rollins between Rollins sax and the drum kit, this group has the whole dynamic range covered and it can truly put a TT and a phonostage through their paces. Done and dusted. I'm buying this. I'll get a new boxed model so, I expect some breakin period. I'll let you all know.