Integrated Amp Reviews

Ayre Acoustics EX-8 2.0 Integrated Hub D/A integrated amplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog sources: Thorens TD 124 turntable, Jelco 350S tonearm, Clearaudio Concept MC cartridge.
Digital sources: Asus laptop running Roon and Tidal, Denafrips Ares II D/A processor.
Preamplification: Sculpture A Mini Nano Step-up, Tavish Audio Design Adagio phono preamp.
Integrated amplifiers: Parasound Hint 6 Halo, Schiit Ragnarok 2.
Power amplifier: Shindo Laboratory Haut-Brion.
Loudspeakers: DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/96, Klipsch Forte IV, GoldenEar BRX.
Cables: RCA interconnects: Triode Wire Labs Spirit II, Shindo Laboratory. Digital: AudioQuest Forest. Speaker: AudioQuest Robin Hood. AC: manufacturers' own. Accessories Kuzma Plastis 65 isolation platform, IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius line conditioner, Salamander five-tier rack (2); IKEA Aptitlig bamboo cutting boards (under preamp, turntable, power amps); mahogany blocks (2" × 2" × 0.5") under boards.
Listening room: 12' L × 10' W × 12' H, system set up along long wall; suspended wood floor, 6"-thick walls (plaster over 2×4), wood-beamed ceiling.—Ken Micallef

COMPANY INFO
Ayre Acoustics
268 Monarch Park Pl. Suite B
Niwot, CO 80503
(303) 442-7300
ayre.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Allen Fant's picture
Submitted by Allen Fant on November 3, 2021 - 2:02pm

An excellent review. If this model is half as good as the AX-5 Integrated, it is a keeper.

CG's picture
Submitted by CG on November 29, 2021 - 1:46pm

I guess this proves, once again, that all manufacturers send special high performance non-standard products to reviewers for review in front of the world.

(Insert rolling eyes emoji here.)

michelesurdi's picture
Submitted by michelesurdi on November 30, 2021 - 7:28am

what this proves,once more,is that inadequate packing equates to manufacturer profit and customer loss.

CG's picture
Submitted by CG on November 30, 2021 - 9:50am

Umm...

"It appeared that the review sample had suffered some kind of shock in transit from Ken Micallef's place to mine—the top panel was dented—"

That's on the manufacturer? They didn't do the packaging for that part of the journey. You still could be right, but...

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