Ayre KX-5

**wizard** · January 1, 2015, 12:11 PM

SoundStage review

**joeinid** · January 1, 2015, 12:43 PM

The KX-5 is definitely an awesome preamp. I love the fact that Ayre is so quiet too.

**CDLehner** · January 1, 2015, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by joeinid

The KX-5 is definitely an awesome preamp. I love the fact that Ayre is so quiet too.

That's a real strength of the K-5xe MP too; dead, black quiet!

**socfan12** · January 1, 2015, 09:43 PM

Anyone know the tonality of the unit? Dead neutral? Warm? Dark? etc?

**wizard** · January 8, 2015, 02:24 PM

Ayre Twenty update 5-series components.

KX-5 Twenty ($8950)
AX-5 Twenty ($12,950)
VX-5 Twenty ($8950)

**Mike** · January 8, 2015, 02:53 PM

Thanks Wizard

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Garth** · January 8, 2015, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by socfan12

Anyone know the tonality of the unit? Dead neutral? Warm? Dark? etc?

Very quite black back ground, a touch on the warm side very musical. I am not sure you can do any better at this price level that said I have not heard them all.

**Solecky** · January 8, 2015, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by wizard

Ayre Twenty update 5-series components.

KX-5 Twenty ($8950)
AX-5 Twenty ($12,950)
VX-5 Twenty ($8950)

Wizard
are u suggesting there is already a "20" upgrade for the kx-5? If yes the Ayre site makes no mention of it

**Mike** · January 8, 2015, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by Solecky

Wizard
are u suggesting there is already a "20" upgrade for the kx-5? If yes the Ayre site makes no mention of it

Yes. They announced this at CES.

**Solecky** · January 8, 2015, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Yes. They announced this at CES.

Thx

**Kuoppis** · January 19, 2015, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Garth

Very quite black back ground, a touch on the warm side very musical. I am not sure you can do any better at this price level that said I have not heard them all.

Garth, that's sounds quite interesting. How would you compare it to the K-5 xe MP or the KX-R?

**Kuoppis** · January 19, 2015, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by Garth

Very quite black back ground, a touch on the warm side very musical. I am not sure you can do any better at this price level that said I have not heard them all.

Garth, that sounds quite interesting. How would you compare it to the K-5 xe MP or the KX-R?

**joeinid** · January 19, 2015, 04:40 PM

Welcome to the forum Kuoppis!

Thank you for joining.

**Stringreen** · January 19, 2015, 08:23 PM

I have Ayre as well....great customer service and performance. DEAD quiet.....only a very slight ssssss when wide open on phono. All balanced interconnects.

**Kuoppis** · January 25, 2015, 04:55 AM

Originally Posted by Stringreen

I have Ayre as well....great customer service and performance. DEAD quiet.....only a very slight ssssss when wide open on phono. All balanced interconnects.

Hi,

I'm pondering between the very favorably reviewed ARC SP20 and the KX-5 Twenty.

Those who have the KX-5/ KX-5 Twenty, any ideas how the KX-5 compares to K-5 xe MP or the KX-R. According to Ayre the KX-5 Twenty should be much closed to the KX-R soundwise than the smaller sibling. I alse read it is pretty much an AX-5 without the Output stage.

Any comments?

**j2020** · February 11, 2015, 03:05 AM

From the Ayre website, there are 46 volume steps of 1.5dB for the KX-5 Twenty, compared to 66 steps of 1.0 dB for the K-5xeMP. I would have preferred smaller changes of 0.5 dB. Just wondering why Ayre would increase the dB delta.

Esoteric K-01 > Ayre K-5xeMP > Bryston 28B SST mono > VA The Music

**Kuoppis** · February 14, 2015, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by j2020

From the Ayre website, there are 46 volume steps of 1.5dB for the KX-5 Twenty, compared to 66 steps of 1.0 dB for the K-5xeMP. I would have preferred smaller changes of 0.5 dB. Just wondering why Ayre would increase the dB delta.

Esoteric K-01 > Ayre K-5xeMP > Bryston 28B SST mono > VA The Music

Well, whatever the details, a KX-5 Twenty is on its way along with a Twenty Upgrade for the VX-5. The K-5 xe MP is now history in my system.

Have heard from a friend who just upgraded his MX-Rs/ KX-R that they should be better than the new Solution 501s. Tall order.

**joeinid** · February 14, 2015, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by Kuoppis

Well, whatever the details, a KX-5 Twenty is on its way along with a Twenty Upgrade for the VX-5. The K-5 xe MP is now history in my system.

Have heard from a friend who just upgraded his MX-Rs/ KX-R that they should be better than the new Solution 501s. Tall order.

Wow!

Uh oh. I'm in trouble

**j2020** · February 16, 2015, 03:49 AM

Congrats, Kuoppis.
Please keep us posted; would love to hear how the new compares with the old.
J.

**Kuoppis** · February 20, 2015, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by j2020

Congrats, Kuoppis.
Please keep us posted; would love to hear how the new compares with the old.
J.

Thanks, will surely do. I will get them earliest mid march though.

But I am very much looking forward to the Twenties, should be good notch upwards in SQ based on what I have heard.

**Kuoppis** · September 26, 2015, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Kuoppis

Thanks, will surely do. I will get them earliest mid march though.

But I am very much looking forward to the Twenties, should be good notch upwards in SQ based on what I have heard.

I finally took delivery of the updated VX-5 Twenty earlier this week, after receiving the KX-5 Twenty already a couple months ago. So it has been a little bit of a journey.

Now, with the amps having just a couple days on their back, there are still quite a few things to settle down with the sound. Everyone knowing Ayre knows that we should probably start serious listening after about 500 hours or so.

But here's a heads-up:
- when I received the KX-5 Twenty and played it with the VX-5 pre-upgrade, I wasn't actually too happy. It was ok yes, but I felt like the slightly warmer K-5 xe MP was a better match with the VX-5. This might also be due to my Magico speakers being rather neutral.
- getting the VX-5 Twenty back, however, things fell into place. It is obvious the KX-5 Twenty and its power amp counterpart are designed to work together. A perfect match.
- what has changed? Basically five things:
1) Bass is fuller and more dynamic
2) Bass reaches deeper
3) sound colorations with different instruments are much more audible
4) highs have now a new lightness and sparkle, coupled with a ton of micro details - only now the KX-5 Twenty can play out its strengts
5) soundstage and imaging are stronger
- so, in a summary, the full shebang. I have the feeling I sent in hi-fi for an upgrade and got hi-end back
- worth the money? You're kidding

.

Next update in 2-3 months.

**CDLehner** · September 26, 2015, 09:50 AM

Confirms for me...just how good the K-5xe MP was. Wish I'd never sold mine

**Kuoppis** · September 26, 2015, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by CDLehner

Confirms for me...just how good the K-5xe MP was. Wish I'd never sold mine

Chris, I also liked the K-5 xe MP quite a bit. I can however assure you, paired with the right power amp, the KX-5 Twenty is in an entirely different league. Well, not a surprise really, Charlie is not sleeping and there are ten years in between those boxes.

**j2020** · September 26, 2015, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by CDLehner

Confirms for me...just how good the K-5xe MP was. Wish I'd never sold mine

+1, Chris. I still have mine and won't be parting with it for a long long time.
Cheers! J.

**j2020** · September 26, 2015, 10:03 AM

Congrats, CDLehner!
It will take me a long time to save up for the KX-5 Twenty.
Cheers! J.

**CDLehner** · September 26, 2015, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Kuoppis

Chris, I also liked the K-5 xe MP quite a bit. I can however assure you, paired with the right power amp, the KX-5 Twenty is in an entirely different league. Well, not a surprise really, Charlie is not sleeping and there are ten years in between those boxes.

Ten years...and thousands of dollars, "between" those boxes

Not saying it's not worth it; just that it makes the K-5xe MP, a real bang-for-bucker!

Originally Posted by j2020

Congrats, CDLehner!
It will take me a long time to save up for the KX-5 Twenty.
Cheers! J.

You're congratulating the wrong guy; Kuoppis is the lucky one

**socfan12** · September 26, 2015, 03:17 PM

I have the K-5xe MP. It's awesome, and it's warmth is welcome with the very neutral Magicos as Kuoppis says.

**CDLehner** · September 26, 2015, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by socfan12

I have the K-5xe MP. It's awesome, and it's warmth is welcome with the very neutral Magicos as Kuoppis says.

Yeah; I LOVED it, with...I don't remember (ARC DS-450 maybe). And it was still good, with the Pass XA-30.8; but maybe that warmth on warmth, was too much of a good thing.

As I said...I traded it, for a Pass XP-10; hoping for brand-synergy magic. I want it back

**Kuoppis** · September 26, 2015, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by socfan12

I have the K-5xe MP. It's awesome, and it's warmth is welcome with the very neutral Magicos as Kuoppis says.

Indeed, it goes well with the Magicos.

The newer brethren however is able to do that on a significantly higher resolution level. It really leverages the superb resolution and imaging capability of the Magicos in a new way and takes the entire musical experience to a different level. I am now walking around all day with a stupid grin on my face.

You will hear it if you manage to audition the KX-5 Twenty, but you will need a very good power amp along with the bigger brother, otherwise might not get the full benefit of it.

**j2020** · September 26, 2015, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by CDLehner

Yeah; I LOVED it, .....
As I said...I traded it, for a Pass XP-10; hoping for brand-synergy magic. I want it back

Sorry to hear that, Chris.
Have congratulated Kuoppis in a previous post.

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