It's time to seal the brown boxes and send them back to the manufacturer. Tonight, I will be packing up the Ayre gear.
I was absolutely flattered when Steve Silberman e-mailed me back in February:
It seemed like a big deal to have some Class A gear in my own home. I'd gone from the "Recommended Components" Class C-rated Arcam Solo to the Class B Musical Fidelity A3.5 gear, and finally to the Ayres. The progression seemed natural, but it also seemed fast. It was a busy time for the blog.
While I was never much attracted to the Ayres' looks, their sound allowed me to forget about the system altogether and simply enjoy the music in a way that surpassed anything else I've experienced.
I don't really know what I'll experience next, but I'm thinking of going backwards, in a sense, to some more "budget-priced" components. I do have some things in mind, of course. But if you've got any recommendations for a good and inexpensive integrated amp and CD player — or Chardonnay — please let me know.
Thanks so much.
How would you like to live with an Ayre system for awhile? I was thinking the AX-7e and the CX-7e.Shit, how would you like to live with an Ayre system for awhile? Damn straight. I know how lucky I am; that's some pretty sweet gear. Expensive, too. And rated Class A in our own "Recommended Components."
