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October 21, 2010 - 12:30am
#1
Ayre Amps Or Pass Labs Amps ?
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Buy the Pass just because.
However, it's not a wise policy to buy equipment you cannot audition.
Yo,
My review of the Pass INT-150 will be in the January issue of 'phile. It may help you in your decision if you can wait for January to roll around.
I only know the Ayre amps in a casual way but my guess is the amps you are considering sound quite different from one another.
Unless you listen quite loudly, I would suggest the INT30A or XA30.5 might be a sweeter match with your B&W's.
I am also currently auditioning the Plinius SA-103 for a review. I would try to listen to the Haito as I am quite smitten with the SA-103 so far.
IMHO, you've made yourself a nice short list. If you are willing to consider tubes, check out the Rogue monoblocks (M150 or M180)or thier larger integrateds.
Shopping is fun!
Thanks guys - after speaking to the dealer I am now thinking of the Ayre K-5xemp and the MX-R combo. Cannot afford the KX-R. Has anyone tried this the K-5exmp MX-R combo ? I have been told by the dealer that the new mp version is vastly improved over the non-mp version
Sounds like the advice you'd get from a dealer who doesn't have a "non-mp" version in stock. That's not necessarily a problem, dealers don't always carry all products from a company in stock at any one time. They don't want to eat the profit on an old version when the "mk. A-II-supreme" shows up unannounced. Did the dealer ask for a deposit?
No deposit asked. I have dealt with this dealer before so its not an issue. Anyway as far as I know, the price between the Non-Mp and the MP version are the same. So naturally I would opt for the improved MP version.
Will be making a trip in Nov to audition the Ayre and Pass Labs products. Hopefully it will help me decide.
I also have the Ayre C5xe (MP).
I have tried just about every amp and preamp I could get my hands on over the past 10 years in my system, and I can't beat the sound I have now (for the money, at least...).
I am using the Audio Research LS-26 preamp and the Bryston 3B-SST2 amplifier (which, by the way, IS the best-sounding amplifier of ALL of the Bryston products, price notwithstanding). The LS-26 sounds as good as the A-R Reference, in my opinion, and has several added features; a steal at $6000. Building a system around an LS-26 is a wise move; sound to die for.
(Note- the LS-26 is still being sold by dealers, but the factory has discontinued production, apparently. An LS-27 is apparently coming to replace it sometime in the near future)