Ayre KX-5 Twenty and VX-5 Twenty

I was reading a review on the 520 preamp, the guy was really critical of the set up process.

When you say the combo is tube like, in what way? Someone also said lush. I gravitated from Pass due to it's polite delivery and rounded edges. If I could have two systems I love CJ. I need something that will play a double kick drum with authority yet allow me to enjoy the melody in other genres. Does this exist? I'm really really hoping to hear some Ayre at Axpona.
 
I absolutely love CJ for tube gear.

Mr Peabody said:
I was reading a review on the 520 preamp, the guy was really critical of the set up process.

When you say the combo is tube like, in what way? Someone also said lush. I gravitated from Pass due to it's polite delivery and rounded edges. If I could have two systems I love CJ. I need something that will play a double kick drum with authority yet allow me to enjoy the melody in other genres. Does this exist? I'm really really hoping to hear some Ayre at Axpona.
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Mr. Peabody,

That was the Art Dudley review in Stereophile. I have been a big fan of Art ever since his Listener days... definitely an extremely perceptive reviewer and an absolutely wonderful writer. I think he was right in some ways in this case but too harsh in others. Where he was right: They (Ayre) do pick somewhat odd ways to indicate when the system is muted (two dots surrounding the volume level number) and when the system is in sleep (green light on the button) and when the fixed-level outputs are on (red light on the other button.) This is not a big deal but I would not have made those design decisions, and I would have labelled the knobs and buttons. As far as the setup is concerned, one has to remember that we're talking about entering letters and numbers with two knobs and two buttons, no keypad. Given that, I did not find it to be an overly difficult process; as I said, you wouldn't figure it out without having the manual in front of you, but then you wouldn't need to. Setting up a bunch of custom input names and gain levels took me maybe 15 minutes at most. Not a big deal. Overall? Yeah, there are a few elements here that are a little quirky but if one is considering this product I don't at all think they should be concerned about the complexity of the setup procedure. For me, being able to set those gain levels and custom names for inputs was an important selling point, so I appreciate that they included these features, which many don't.
 
But: app or browser-based control would be great to have, both for setup and so the spousal unit can change inputs from upstairs.
 
So under the heading of "There's always gotta be a small snag somewhere" it turns out that the Hegel and Ayre remotes use the same codes. Which is a bit of a pain in the butt b/c when i use it to change inputs on the Ayre it changes the input on the Hegel. I rarely do that anyway, and can just block the sensor on the Hegel. But something to be aware of if anybody else wants to try the same setup.
 
LOL, I have that issue with my XP10 and Marantz processor. I use an XLR input for my bypass, unfortunately, Pass only provided one single input for unity gain. So the input I use is subject to the volume control. So it's always interesting to see where the Pass volume ends up when I run auto set up.

JayNudel said:
So under the heading of "There's always gotta be a small snag somewhere" it turns out that the Hegel and Ayre remotes use the same codes. Which is a bit of a pain in the butt b/c when i use it to change inputs on the Ayre it changes the input on the Hegel. I rarely do that anyway, and can just block the sensor on the Hegel. But something to be aware of if anybody else wants to try the same setup.
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I ended up taping a piece of black construction paper to the inside of my Salamander rack door, which blocks the IR from getting to the Hegel amp - problem effectively solved. Looks like I could pop the case off the Hegel and block it from inside too but honestly it's not worth the trouble. Anyway: I have maybe 25-30 hours on the Ayre now. Fully agree with Mike's observation - it is very liquid and even tubelike (I have owned a Sonic Frontiers Line 2; the Ayre may be in some ways more tubey than the SF, though not at all in any kind of euphonic or flabby way.) I had over a close friend who is very familiar with my former system setup and I would also say has better ears than I do. We both agreed that the Hegel integrated is an absolutely killer piece for the price they sell it for; I'd say it does sound a tad drier and maybe a bit less warm than the Ayre when the Ayre replaces it's preamp section. But it remains a phenomenal buy and in no way embarrassed. I greatly appreciate the Ayre's six analog inputs (I am old-school - I want lots of analog inputs, not an internal DAC) and generally much greater degree of configurability. (As I mentioned above, I did not find doing the custom configurations to be particularly difficult.) It does not have a balance control, which I don't seem to need but is the kind of thing that you gotta have when you have weird room acoustics sometimes. And as always I would have appreciated a real monitor loop, but the 6 inputs makes up for that.
 
Hey people... don't ask why I am asking, at least not just yet, but as an entirely hypothetical question: Can anyone weigh in on sonic differences between the KX-5 Twenty/VX-5 Twenty combo and the AX-5 integrated? Would be driving Vandersteen Quatros, which I am pretty certain will be my next upgrade from my current Treos, and in a pretty large room, though I don't go super-crazy with volume levels. Am extremely happy with my KX-5. Spoke to Brent at Ayre who told me that they can include the filter for the Quatros into the AX-5 but they don't offer it for the VX-5; that kinda got me thinking (OK I know I told you not to ask why I'm asking but...) that if all else is pretty near equal, I may want to avoid those external filters with having to change the batteries every 7-10 years. Yeah, I know it's only once every 7-10 years and far from a big deal but I sorta have my reasons. So just putting the question out there.... TIA!
 
If you can do with a little less power, I think the AX5-20 will be great. I know for me, the loss in power isn’t an issue. I think overall sound will be extremely close if undetectable.
 
JayNudel said:
Hey people... don't ask why I am asking, at least not just yet, but as an entirely hypothetical question: Can anyone weigh in on sonic differences between the KX-5 Twenty/VX-5 Twenty combo and the AX-5 integrated? Would be driving Vandersteen Quatros, which I am pretty certain will be my next upgrade from my current Treos, and in a pretty large room, though I don't go super-crazy with volume levels. Am extremely happy with my KX-5. Spoke to Brent at Ayre who told me that they can include the filter for the Quatros into the AX-5 but they don't offer it for the VX-5; that kinda got me thinking (OK I know I told you not to ask why I'm asking but...) that if all else is pretty near equal, I may want to avoid those external filters with having to change the batteries every 7-10 years. Yeah, I know it's only once every 7-10 years and far from a big deal but I sorta have my reasons. So just putting the question out there.... TIA!
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Hey Jay - how big is your room? If you don't need the extra power, the AX-5 20 is a good way to go.

Mike
 
Mike, thanks. It's a large room, and also very open, as it opens into the kitchen, a wide hallway, and sort of a common area. So the speakers are firing into quite a large volume. (When we were building the house, the architect had originally drawn it to be a little more "traditional" with a separate living room and dining room, and when I looked at the plans I decided that I'd rather have one big open space than two closed-off rooms of middling size, so we basically got rid of one wall. I love it and the acoustics are overall not bad, but it's big.) I am currently using my Hegel H160 as the power amp via the HomeTheater Direct inputs and had previously used it as an integrated; I think it is adequate, in terms of power, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't want to go lower. However, the vandersteen high-pass filter will relieve whatever I am using as my power amp of a good bit of work. So it's hard to really know either way. At the moment I am leaning towards keeping the KX-5 and going for the VX-5, or maybe the new Vandersteen monoblocks. But I have a few months to swish it around in my head before I decide...
 
Mike, have you had an opportunity to hear the new Vandersteen amps? The idea of monoblocks and integral filters definitely appeal to me. I do wish they had priced them a little lower though.
 
Hi Jay, my understanding is that Vandersteen has developed lower cost monoblock amps that work well with Treos, Quatros, etc. I do not know when they will be available to demo/purchase. Contact your local Vandersteen dealer or the company directly.
 
I know, that's what I'm talking about - expected to sell for $15k, which is 50% more than the Ayre. hafta be pretty good for me to pay that $5k more.
 
Decided to stick with Ayre, expecting my new VX-5 Twenty to arrive at the dealer's shortly. Banking on the synergy between the Ayre pre and power amp, and as I had said above, would need a pretty darn persuasive case to drop the extra $5k. I like the fact that the Vandy's are monoblocks and won't need an external filter... doesn't add up to $5k for me though and Ayre was having a moving sale, so I went for it. Next purchase will probably be the upcoming PS Audio music server...
 
I would like to try the new amp for my Revel Studio 2. On my list, Pass and Ayre. Would this Twenty combo be a good match?

I have used McIntosh MC452, CJ and currently use Devialet D400.
 
I had the VX/KX-20 combo on my Studio2. It was superb. My favorite amps on the Studio2 were the CJ ART monos but they are pretty expensive. All the Ayre gear is great on the Studio2, they are relatively easy to drive so they work with a lot of gear.
 
Thanks Joe! I love to pair CJ ET5/ET250s with the Revels. I moved CJ to another room with Maggies and love this combination, too. I tried Pass Int-150 and Ayre AX-7e and thinking to upgrade to Pass or Ayre for the Revels.
 
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