Do you think Ayre will add the Diamond output to the KX-R, VX-R and MX-R?

[BillK]

Or do most here think they're not needed because the KX-R is already so good?

There's a rumored upgrade in the works for the MX-R/VX-R, perhaps to add it, and since the lower budget KX-5 has it I can't imagine it not making its way upstream unless it's simply not needed.

Thoughts anyone?

[CookieMan]

At a Music Matters get-together a few months ago an Ayre rep stated that they will, in fact, be offering the "Diamond" output as an upgrade for VX-R and MX-R owners. He couldn't say when, however.


-CookieMan-

[BillK]

Hmmm, I was about to pull the trigger on a KX-R; guess I'll wait now, as I suspect Ayre may keep the MSRP the same but will be charging $$$$ for the upgrade.

[skyblue]

Originally Posted by BillK

Hmmm, I was about to pull the trigger on a KX-R; guess I'll wait now, as I suspect Ayre may keep the MSRP the same but will be charging $$$$ for the upgrade.

Arent they fair in the sense that they up the price of new ones with the same amount they charge for upgrades? I seem to recall tht being the case with the previous qb9 upgrade.

[BillK]

Yes, they are.

I had a nice chat with Ayre and they told me they are indeed working on a Diamond Circuit upgrade to the KX-R, but it's subject to listening tests when Charlie finishes up the prototype and so may be a while yet.

They did state that the KX-R's MSRP will rise significantly when the change is made and that the upgrade will be made available for the difference in MSRPs with the caveat I'd be without my pre for a few weeks.

[Down Under]

The KX-R was perhaps the most disappointing expensive pre-amp I have had in my system.The Pass XP-20 was somewhat better at a more modest price and the Gryphon Mirage had better dynamics,body,bass,treble and midrange.Occasionally there was a little more detail with the Ayre,but it was ultimately fatiguing and disappointing.
I have nothing to gain from these comments,but am just trying to help.The LS-27 Audio research was a better long term companion I kid you not.

[jax4736]

Down Under, yours is the first negative opinion of the KX-R I've encountered. Can you describe the rest of your system?

[Down Under]

Originally Posted by jax4736

Down Under, yours is the first negative opinion of the KX-R I've encountered. Can you describe the rest of your system?

I was keen to try the KX-R after all the glowing reports.
My system is a Spiral Groove 1.1/Kuzma 4 Point/Air Tight PC-3/Ypsilon transformer/Clearaudio Ref. phono stage front end.Minus-K stand for turntable.
Goldmund 18 Eidos Sacd player and Oppo 95 for disc duty.
Gryphon Mirage into Pass X260.5 monos feeding Sasha's .
Everything has balanced outputs except the Goldmund cd player.

[BillK]

Originally Posted by Down Under

The KX-R was perhaps the most disappointing expensive pre-amp I have had in my system.The Pass XP-20 was somewhat better at a more modest price and the Gryphon Mirage had better dynamics,body,bass,treble and midrange.Occasionally there was a little more detail with the Ayre,but it was ultimately fatiguing and disappointing.
I have nothing to gain from these comments,but am just trying to help.The LS-27 Audio research was a better long term companion I kid you not.

That's interesting as I just demoed a KX-R and it brought more to the party than I've ever heard from any preamp.

By comparison I've heard an XP-20 and even an ARC Ref 5 SE and both left me singularly unimpressed where the KX-R brought a, no pun intended, "air" to the soundstage that nothing else I've heard has.

The way I can describe it is with other pres, I heard a singer in a space and some echo if you will; through the KX-R that sharpened to being able to pick out that that echo was the ambience surrounding the singer.

FWIW, none of the Boulder preamps below the 2000 series have done it for me, either, and the price of the 2010 makes the price of the KX-R seem almost reasonable.

The price of the Ref 5 SE is a real steal, comparatively, until you add tube angst and replacement costs every eight to nine months into the mix (my system is on 24x7x365.)

BTW, I'm not anti-tube; my phono stage is an ARC Ref 2 SE, but I don't listen to vinyl 24x7.

[jfrech]

Originally Posted by Down Under

The KX-R was perhaps the most disappointing expensive pre-amp I have had in my system.The Pass XP-20 was somewhat better at a more modest price and the Gryphon Mirage had better dynamics,body,bass,treble and midrange.Occasionally there was a little more detail with the Ayre,but it was ultimately fatiguing and disappointing.
I have nothing to gain from these comments,but am just trying to help.The LS-27 Audio research was a better long term companion I kid you not.

I have read about this a few times. How long did you have it fully turned on in your system before audition? The KXR or MXR really takes 2 or 3 days to settle in and get special...just curious...