#21
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The Codex beats the 9 and by a lot I feel. Their products have a 9 year life span or so. That's darn good in high end audio. You will LOVE the QX5. I promise you that if you like the 9, the qX 5 is for you. So musical an detailed.
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Vandy Quatro&s, Laufer DAC/server, AQ cords |
#22
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Surprisingly there's life after death for the QB-9DSD: apparently it can get an upgrade to do double DSD and higher PCM rates...
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#23
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Ayre really does stand fully behind it's products.
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Vandy Quatro&s, Laufer DAC/server, AQ cords |
#24
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The QX5 appears to be somewhat more expensive than the QB9 I Got my QB9 originally for about $2200, the QX5 is $9000?
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#25
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Not even close to being the same product. The QX 5 is a true digital hub. It has a world class streamer, a world class headphone amp (best one I've heard to date and I've heard a ton of the great ones from Woo to Cavelli) and the best clock you can find on a DAC. It has 9 inputs I believe and all are optimized to sound great. It used their double diamond in the analog stages and has double line filtering built into the unit. It's software upgradeable too. The case alone is larger and much more expensive as the QB9. That is still a great unit, but not a realistic one for audio as it moves forward. The transformers alone are very very expensive. They have gone all out on this device and it shows. I have had more than a couple ask me about the sound quality difference between the latest and upgraded QB9 and the QX5/20. It's not even in the same league. That takes nothing away from what a great DAC the 9 was. Like all Ayre products their life span probably doubles that of most other's gear. The 9 lasted for a long long time, but it's apples and oranges the way it should be. Oh, for those who want, it even has one of the best digital preamps going (even though it still sounds better with the use of a top pre).
I've had some of the great DAC's in my system and none are as good as the QX5 for MY ear. The only other DAC that seems to beat it, but only by a hair and doesn't have the versatility is the Total DAC that costs north of 17k USD. I'll take that comparison and run to the bank with it. JMHO lol
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Vandy Quatro&s, Laufer DAC/server, AQ cords |
#26
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Oh, I've no doubt that its a great dac, and great for the money even too. My point was that theres a solid prices gab between it and the QB9 and some of us (me) will not be spending that amount of money on a dac just now Even if is very good
Im very happy with my qb9 btw. But obviously there are better things out there |
#27
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Always will be Sky. Always will be. That's one reason I LOVe the Codex. That DAC is sick for what it does and for the price. I have a couple of friends who sold their 9's and installed Codex. One even has Vandersteen 7's and top Ayre amps (not sure if they are ref or not).
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Vandy Quatro&s, Laufer DAC/server, AQ cords |
#28
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The successor of the QB-9DSD is on it's way, it seems: Ayre will be presenting prototypes of the 8 series at the High End show, starting thursday in Munich. I guess a successor to the AX-7e integrated will be there too.
Last edited by bluebeat; 05-15-2017 at 03:04 PM. |
#29
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I really wish Ayre would release a phono stage Twenty upgrade/new phono stage!!
Long overdue!!! |
#30
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Interesting. I assume by successor the new model will be less of a digital hub and more of a simple DAC. It will be interesting to see if it uses the same ESS chip as the QX-5. I wound up after much research ordering a Totaldac d1-twelve as my reference digital source. Quite expensive, but considered one of the very best in the world. I'm a big Ayre fan and so if the QB-9 successor is reasonably priced like its predecessor I may pick one up in the coming year or two. The TotalDac purchase depleted my hobby budget for the year.
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Primary System (Always in flux): Analog Source: Rega RP10 Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3 Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2 Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205 Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7) Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs) Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels |
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