Integrated Amp Reviews

Ayre Acoustics AX-5 integrated amplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog Sources: Garrard 301, Thorens TD 124 turntables; EMT 997, Ikeda IT-407 tonearms; EMT TSD 15 70th Anniversary pickup head; Miyabi 47, Miyajima Premium BE mono cartridges.
Digital Sources: Ayre Acoustics QB-9, Wavelength Proton USB DACs; Apple iMac G5 computer running Apple iTunes v.11.0, Decibel v.1.0.2 playback software; Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 Standard (SPU version), Hommage T2 step-up transformers; Sutherland Engineering Insight phono preamplifier; Shindo Masseto preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Shindo Corton-Charlemagne & Cortese, Fi 421A.
Loudspeakers: Audio Note AN-E/SPe HE, DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/96, Quad ESL.
Cables: USB: AudioQuest Carbon, Nordost Blue Heaven. Interconnect (balanced): Ayre Acoustics Signature, Nordost Tyr. Interconnect (single-ended): Audio Note AN-Vx, Shindo Silver. Speaker: Auditorium 23, Tel Wire. AC: manufacturers' own.
Accessories: Box Furniture Company D3S rack (source & amplification components), Keith Monks record-cleaning machine.—Art Dudley

COMPANY INFO
Ayre Acoustics, Inc.
2300-B Central Avenue
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 442-7300
www.ayre.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
tmsorosk's picture
Submitted by tmsorosk on July 28, 2013 - 8:10am

Great review art .

Et Quelle's picture
Submitted by Et Quelle on August 2, 2013 - 5:35pm

The AX-5 is too rich for my blood. Shipping is undoubtedly free though any
extras would put you over the 5 figure price barrier.
The diamond cut circle is simple but not the best things. Superficial looks
mean the most in audio only. A 46 step volume system and Shallco switches, I guess justify Ayre going higher than most of their other products. I sure hope Stereophile shows an opened pic of future amp and it has a huge transformer in it like that. I have a tube preamp and solid state amp on my wish list but meanwhile I will use my Nano phono preamp.
Great job on the configuration and the review. You wouldn't want to spend too long on something like that!

audiofrk's picture
Submitted by audiofrk on August 4, 2014 - 7:29pm

So Art can I ask from what you remember from the AX-7 is the AX-5 a step up (same audio quality but more power) or a new league (sounds better than the AX-7)?

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