Upgraded from Ayre K5xemp to Ayre KX-5 Twenty short review

[ctsooner]

Randy in Santa Monica has them and then there is someone in SF I believe. How many dealers are there in between?

[dbphd]

I think zero.

[dbphd]

Originally Posted by ctsooner

Randy in Santa Monica has them and then there is someone in SF I believe. How many dealers are there in between?

I suppose I could have driven to Santa Monica, but previously when I tried to audition a component there the speakers he used sounded as though I was listening through a heavy veil. I bought the component from another source and enjoyed it. It was a very nice listening environment, though. More like a living room than showroom.

db

[ctsooner]

Interesting. Which speakers did he have?

[dbphd]

Originally Posted by ctsooner

Interesting. Which speakers did he have?

I'm not sure. I think they may have been Vandersteens. Whatever they were, they too much veiled the sound, so I bought the component online based on reviews and posts. But the auditioning experience was very pleasant without the least bit of sales push, and a drive down PCH isn't too bad, except for possible traffic through Malibu. Still, I buy most of my stuff, except Oppos, used through the internet. If I had found a used KX-5 Twenty, I would have bought it

db

[ctsooner]

Never heard Vandy's veiled. Interesting. I wonder what else was going on in his system. I don't know Randy, but was told that he's outstanding at matching components and setting up a system. I heard from one other that they didn't love a set up he had when they were there, but it was with another speaker and not Ayre gear. It's all good either way.

[dbphd]

That experience was a number of years ago, and I might have been there to audition either a Parasound JC 2 preamp or Cary Cinema 11a processor, possibly a Sony 5400ES SACD player. And I'm not sure the speakers were Vandersteen, but that name stuck in my mind.

Actually, listening to equipment in other than your own home seems flawed, and the local dealer doesn't carry the product lines I seek. Not sure if he'd let me borrow a Levinson amp in any case, although he might. Our little town is popular with members of the entertainment industry -- short copter commute to Burbank or Santa Monica, so I'm pretty sure there are some magnificent audio systems in town, but no one has invited me in.

db

[will]

Edit: The wait has been excruciating but it's almost over. Got the word today from my dealer that he has received the preamp. The K-5xeMP is packed and ready to go for trade-in.

[ctsooner]

awesome. Congrats and enjoy.

db, if you were in CT, I'd let you come over to listen, lmao.... Goes for anyone else too.

[will]

Originally Posted by ctsooner

awesome. Congrats and enjoy.

db, if you were in CT, I'd let you come over to listen, lmao.... Goes for anyone else too.

Thanks.

Michael at Ayre said the delay with the black exterior parts was holding up some orders from going out the door. Don't know if there were/are other production issues related to silver gear (presuming db ordered his in silver).