Pic of Ayre new Integrated AX-5

[o0OBillO0o]

I smell fully balanced..

[suburban]

Any word on when they will be replacing the QB9 DAC? It's a great piece, but a new model has to be in the works.

[Portugal]

Not a clue... what makes you think that a new model is coming?

[doggiehowser]

Originally Posted by suburban

Any word on when they will be replacing the QB9 DAC? It's a great piece, but a new model has to be in the works.

There is an upgrade to the QB9 to support DSD. But I am not sure if that's a hardware or merely a software upgrade.

I managed to borrow the AX-5 for a home trial at my in-laws and all I can say is that it is a pretty damn impressive unit. In my home system, I have a listening level that I feel has dynamics and detail and involvement and that usually precludes having a conversation and often has the missus knocking down the door when she needs to concentrate on her PhD.

Tonight, at my in-laws setup where I often do not consider optimal (lack of power conditioning in an old house with old wiring, standard PC power cords and an open area living room where outside noises (crickets, neighbours, cars) intrude, I have to say I was damned impressed even when I set the volume at 5. At 15-20, I was still able to hold a conversation with my father-in-law without shouting, but the music was just as involving.

I have to say, the Variable Gain Tech that's trickled down from the KX-R flagship is just spectacular. I'm not sure how well the 125W can cope with his Martin Logan Ethos electrostatics yet but for low levels (which is what he normally listens at), it's not wanting.

[guitardave]

I heard the AX-5 at Don Better this week. It sounds really, really good. I want one... It has an addictive musicality.

[jdandy]

Ayre AX-5 ($9950) photos from CES 2013.

[doggiehowser]

Just curious, has anyone ever had the stepper volume control fail on them on this or the KX-R?

I was testing the unit set to HT bypass and the noise it goes through when cycling between regular inputs (low level) to HT bypass input (high level) was a bit scary to me.

[Audio Lee]

No fault on the Ayre if your HT processor is set at high vol when you do the HT bypass switching.



Touch wood, no issue at my end, Vol control works fine, it is reliable.

(Audio)

[doggiehowser]

It does get a bit noisy switching between inputs

Originally Posted by doggiehowser

It does get a bit noisy switching between inputs

Doggie is INDA HOUSE!