Review of Ayre's newest amp, the VX-R from the Soundstage.com...

[psjl]

Originally Posted by Ritmo

They sure do a nice job with their designs and craftmanship.

Mike

Agreed!.....Ayre R-series gear are a thing of beauty......I love the look of my KX-R!......Philip

Love the understated elegant look and fact it isnt the size of a barn. Reviewer's comments are intriguing as he had Bryston and Simaudio to compare and he still gave 1st place to Ayre. I think he is the reviewer who was into VAC amps and panel speakers at one point?

Originally Posted by tima

Not a comment on the VX-R - Ayre makes good stuff - but this line from that review strikes me as pure BS: " ... tube amps, even the very best, aren’t as reliable as their solid-state counterparts."

Agree. In fact some would say tube amps are more reliable in the long run.

[jax4736]

In my case, as I decide whether to go Audio Research, or move to Ayre "R" series, I'm pretty sure I want monoblocks. In the case of Ayre, I couldn't imagine setting for the VX-R at such a close price point.

I am amazed though at how good my V-5xe amp is with my current speakers, which are of a custom design. I suspect the V-5 might not fare so well with speakers like the Wilson Sasha, with the 1.8 ohm impedance dip in the midbass. Luckily I don't feel compelled to upgrade from the V-5, but I suspect there's much more to the MX-R's than just more power...

[psjl]

Originally Posted by jax4736

In my case, as I decide whether to go Audio Research, or move to Ayre "R" series, I'm pretty sure I want monoblocks. In the case of Ayre, I couldn't imagine setting for the VX-R at such a close price point.

I am amazed though at how good my V-5xe amp is with my current speakers, which are of a custom design. I suspect the V-5 might not fare so well with speakers like the Wilson Sasha, with the 1.8 ohm impedance dip in the midbass. Luckily I don't feel compelled to upgrade from the V-5, but I suspect there's much more to the MX-R's than just more power...

jax4736,

I've never tried the Ayre V-5xe amp, but I've demo'ed the Ayre MX-R monoblock amps with Wilson Audio Sasha W/P speakers (coupled w/the Ayre KX-R preamp, Ayre QB-9 USB DAC and Transparent Ref. XL cabling throughout), and at that price point, it's a hard to beat combo - I posted a couple of my comments here: http://www.audioaficionado.org/wilso...tml#post183897.

While the Ayre MX-R had no problem whatsoever driving the Sasha W/P's (the 1.8 ohm minimum impedance dip at 92Hz is a non-issue with the MX-R's), however, I ended up going for a pair of Dan D'Agostino monoblock amps, because I was looking for (lack of a better word) "oomph"/"grunt" factor, that is, I yearned for a "MX-R on steroids". With the D.D. Momentums, I found what I was looking for - I posted some additional comments here: http://www.audioaficionado.org/wilso...tml#post204922.

That being said, if my budget was much tighter, than I'ed also be perfectly happy going with an Ayre KX-R/MX-R combo driving my Sasha W/P's.

Then again Audio Research makes top-notch/superb sounding gear, so whether going with Ayre or Audio Research is largely a matter of personal preference - I believe you can't go wrong either way.

Philip

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by dpod4

Agree. In fact some would say tube amps are more reliable in the long run.

You might want to survey some dealers and distributors who deal with multiple units of multiple brands over a period of years. Unless the world has turned upside down over the past decade, the reviewer is correct

Originally Posted by metaphacts

You might want to survey some dealers and distributors who deal with multiple units of multiple brands over a period of years. Unless the world has turned upside down over the past decade, the reviewer is correct

Unless I am mistaken tube design has a more straightforward simple circuitry and parts. I am not an engineer but I did stay at a holiday inn last night. Brighter minds than me can chime in.

[Volks]

Originally Posted by dpod4

Unless I am mistaken tube design has a more straightforward simple circuitry and parts. I am not an engineer but I did stay at a holiday inn last night. Brighter minds than me can chime in.

LOL i like that

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by dpod4

Unless I am mistaken tube design has a more straightforward simple circuitry and parts. I am not an engineer but I did stay at a holiday inn last night. Brighter minds than me can chime in.

I am telling you what it is historically and save the early days of solid state, always has been.

What it should be isn't what the reviewer was discussing.

[skyblue]

Originally Posted by psjl

While the Ayre MX-R had no problem whatsoever driving the Sasha W/P's (the 1.8 ohm minimum impedance dip at 92Hz is a non-issue with the MX-R's), however, I ended up going for a pair of Dan D'Agostino monoblock amps, because I was looking for (lack of a better word) "oomph"/"grunt" factor, that is, I yearned for a "MX-R on steroids". With the D.D. Momentums, I found what I was looking for - I posted some additional comments here: http://www.audioaficionado.org/wilso...tml#post204922.

Thats what I heard others say too. The mx-r's sounds fantastic, but.. they miss the oomph. Perhaps Ayre could start producing some 600watt monos?