MarkK
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Matching INT. Amp to Kodex speaker
bierfeldt
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I am a huge fan of Ayre and if I was looking for an integrated in that price rand I would look at the AX-5 Twenty. When reviewed in 2013 it waw $9950 but Ayre may have had a price increase since then and I am not sure if it was impacted.

I currently have an Ayre K-5xeMP paired with a Rogue Power Amp but am thinking of upgrading to the Ayre V-5xe. I have the room and prefer separates but have spent a lot of time listening to Ayre equipment and can't say enough good things about it.

I am not sure if it will have everything you need as it only has 6 inputs, etc... but I love Ayre's sound and if I had to describe it I would say ultra flat frequency response, tight bass, great imaging, detail and a very full soundstage. And there equipment is the quietest I have ever heard. I have heard it described as "the blackest black's" imaginable or when there shouldn't be sound there is NO sound.

Here is the review from stereophile
http://www.stereophile.com/content/ayre-acoustics-ax-5-integrated-amplifier#DEGg7db5wiwZcZ7c.97

I am not familiar with Pass's sound profile and have no POV. The D'Agostino Momentum is wonderful but at $45K it should be. Krell has nothing in that price range that I am aware of.

I did just listen to the Mark Levinson No585 driving a pair of Revel Ultima Stuido2s and it was pretty spectacular driving those Revel's which you would hope it would be like Classe should sound great with B&W. It has a LOT more features than the Ayre at a relatively small increase in cost at $12K.

Here is the Stereophile review
http://www.stereophile.com/content/mark-levinson-no585-integrated-amplifier#oQ4OXOKzdShDc9gU.97

I know a lot of people (dealers) hate Levinson because of Harman but if you just focus on the sound it is pretty great sounding and if I was in that market I would seriously consider.

Full disclosure, I have an Ayre K-5xeMP paired with a Rogue Audio Hydra. I am looking at a speaker upgrade and am likely to get a pair of Raidho's in the spring at which time I am like the get an Ayre V-5xe along with it. In retrospect, I actually regret not just getting the AX-5 as I had a deal on one for $8500 and it would have given me more inputs than the K-5xeMP, almost as much power as the V-5xe, would have taken up less space and net cost, even without the deal would have been less. Live and learn...

Hope this helps and good luck to you.

commsysman
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MarkK wrote:

I am trying to find an integrated amp match for the new audio physics Kodex speakers. I auditioned the new Octave integrated amp , $13,000 and a Nagra INT. Amp, $20,000 but thought the sound could be better. I think the speakers were not fully broken in at the time I listened at the dealer. Would a Pass Labs INT. Be a good match? Not sure of model but power output is around 125 watts into 8 ohms. Recommendations would be appreciated. I prefer flat frequency response, tight bass, great imaging, detail, and full soundstage.
Thank you for help.

I strongly recommend the Musical Fidelity M6si. It is one of the best-sounding integrated amps I have ever heard, and its price has recently been lowered to only $2999, which makes it the deal of the century. It competes with amps costing 3 times as much for marvelous musicality and really impressive sound quality.

It is rated for 220 watts per channel at 8 ohms, and will put more than 300 watts per channel at at 4 ohms.

I use the similar Musical Fidelity M6PRX power amplifier with a Audio Research LS26 preamp, and the sound is to die for.

Another one to consider is the Ayre AX-5 Twenty, which runs $13,000. It is excellent also.

jgossman
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And that's cool.

I'd go with Comms on this on and throw in an Arcam FMJ integrated or an NAD.

With solid state, your diminishing returns set in very quickly at around a grand. It's not like tubes where there is a certain amount of magic (although don't kid yourself, it's MOSTLY good old fashioned engineering).

Or you could take all that money, buy a nice little tube preamp from the 80's and a big honking Hafler or vintage Bryston, have it completely recapped and biased, and use the 180000 left over to buy several nice bottles of Bourbon, lots of great bear, and buy all your best friends a Rega 3.

Guess which one will leave you happier in the morning.

jgossman
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I meant lot's of great beer.

But for that kind of skrill, you may also buy a nice bear also....

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