[pessoa00]

*KX-5 Twenty*
AyreLock power supply
Improved Diamond output stage
Servo controlled DC offset

*VX-5 Twenty*
AyreLock power supply
Double Diamond output stage

*AX-5 Twenty*
AyreLock power supply
Double Diamond output stage
Servo controlled DC offset

Here is a more complete description of each technology.

*AyreLock*
All power supply regulators, whether 3-pin ICs using massive amounts of feedback or the discrete zero-feedback designs we have always used in Ayre product ever since the V-3, twenty-one years ago, have at their heart a single series-pass active element (tube, FET, or BJT).

When the load (audio circuit) draws more current, the pass element decreases its resistance (turns on harder), to keep the voltage to the load constant.

For the AyreLock in the Twenty update, we added a second circuit element (in our case a BJT) that also pulls down. So when the load (audio
circuit) draw less current, the second transistor draws additional current to ground.

The analogy is like going from a single-ended output stage in a power amp to a push-pull complementary output stage.

This "locks" the output voltage of the regulator, regardless of any fluctuations in the load.


*Double Diamond output stage*
The Diamond output stage as you know is an incredible output stage, the
best sounding design available. But, it produces a high level of heat in
an amplifier design. We designed the Double Diamond output stage to
solve the heat issue and we successfully reduced the operating
temperature by 35%, keeping it below human body temperature. The new
circuit design is a little more powerful than the previous version and
has amazing power and control in the lower frequencies.


*Servo controlled DC offset*
We have replaced the trimpots that we used in the original KX-5 and AX-5
with a much better sounding servo control. This servo no only improves
the sound of the unit, but it also keeps the DC offset to less than 15
mv. It will even be able to compensate for incoming DC from a source
component (up to a certain level).


*Improved Diamond Output stage*
The Diamond output stage was first used in the original KX-5 and as you
know it was very good. When we adapted it in the KX-R Twenty we learned
more about the circuit and we made several improvements to it over the
original design in the KX-5. Those improvements have been added to the
Diamond output stage in the KX-5 Twenty.