AYRE P5xe
 

Hi guys,

Do someone here have the P5xe phono preamp ?
How do you like it ?
Thanks in advance,

Jérôme

This thread should help get you started in your evaluation ...

http://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=126

Thank you very much !!
I would say I'm not surprised if the AYRE is not as good as the phono section of the C1000. They are not in the same league....

Regarding the linked thread, for what it is worth, I've read several reviews of the P-5xe that corroborate that it has a particularly long break-in period. One reviewer mentioned that it may have to do with the thickness of the circuit board.

I'll find out soon enough. I placed an order for a new P-5xe last week.

My P-5xe arrived. I installed it Thursday and have spent about 6 or so hours listening to it. My immediate impression was that it is very detailed, much more so than the phono stage it replaced (the phono section of an Arcam A80 integrated). That detail also gives it a bright sound. It's brighter than I would like. But my dealer warned me when I picked it up that the Ayre requires break-in of at least 100 hours. He explicitly warned that the phono stage may sound "mechanical" until it breaks in. He also said to expect better bass. He wasn't kidding. I'm hearing much deeper and tighter bass, particularly on jazz and classical recordings. As for detail, on an Oscar Peterson Recording (We Get Requests) I hear Oscar humming along in sections while he plays. I did not hear that when I spun this disc through the Arcam.

My only complaint is the brightness, which should tame with break-in. In all other ways the phono stage is a winner. The increase in resolution over the old amp is astounding. It also increased the dynamics of the recording. When Oscar hits the keys harder, the music sounds fuller and more robust rather than simply louder. Piano is particularly noticeably better. So are strings, which have a more 3D sound than before. The front-to-back sound staging is impressive. And the amp has done amazing things for classical recordings. An Analogue Productions reissue of the Shaded Dog Scheherazade used to sound very good. Now it sounds exceptional, with a much wider soundstage, greater dynamic range, more delicate solo violin, and horns that sound real, alive, and in the room. It now sounds like the recording so many reviewers raved about.

Associated equipment: Clearaudio Emotion CMB with Benz Micro Silver cartridge, Ayre K-5xe MP preamp, Ayre V-5xe power amp, B&W Nautilus 803 speakers

I have had my Ayre P5xe for years. It has a very even presentation. If you are still sensing a tipped up presentation in the high frequencies make sure the cartridge loading is correct along with other potential cartridge setup parameters such as VTF. Enjoy your new phono stage!

I tried one and found it much too bright when set to the proper loading, and other loadings dulled the high end far too much.

I purchased an Audio Research Ref 2 SE instead and am thrilled.

Dan31: My dealer assured me that the P-5xe will balance out once it breaks in. I've read elsewhere what you state: that the amp has a very even presentation. So I will give it playing time. As for as cartridge loading, I set it 47k, which my dealer recommended.

I am enjoying my phono stage. It's such a huge upgrade I'm tempted to play through my vinyl collection to hear the difference.

Great to hear you are enjoying your new phono stage. It will improve over time. My P5xe continued improving after a few hundred hours. If I replace it I will have to spend ~$12k usd. I'm waiting to see if Spectral ever produces the phono stage they have in development. Keep spinning your vinyl!

Since I yet have no right to start a thread hope it's OK to ask here...

Has anybody used a P-5xe with a mono cartridge in otherwise stereo setup?
Two of my phono stages (one SS and one tube) start making a hum in this setup, so I would really like to check if P-5xe can do it before I buy it.