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The rear panel is divided down the center. Each side handles inputs and outputs for one channel, and the two sides are flipped 180 degrees so that one is upside-down in relation to the other. Those who, like me, have become used to making connections by "Braille" are in for a rough time of it. Since the input-selectors on the front panel have changeable labels, the inputs on the rear are labeled a straightforward 1 through 6. An 8' umbilical sprouts from the center of the panel, connecting the preamp to a very hefty power supply. That power supply, Hansen told me, was responsible for much of…
For instance, I've been listening to Blue Note's superb Dexter Gordon: The Complete Blue Note Sixties Sessions (Blue Note 8 34200 2, six CDs) a lot lately—almost constantly, in fact. Dex was unbelievably good at that time—his tone was lushly vibrant and his harmonic awareness of what was happening around him made him seem like he had the musical equivalent of "eyes in the back of his head." He sprinkled wry quotes into nearly every solo, and had a readily identifiable penchant for phrasing ever so slightly behind the beat. I've never actually heard a preamp that wouldn't present most of that…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Full-function, solid-state control preamplifier. Maximum voltage gain: 16dB (line); adjustable, 40dB, 50dB, 60dB (phono stage). Input impedance: 10k ohms (line, each phase); adjustable, 50k ohms (default), 100, 250, 500, 1000 ohms supplied—other values available (phono). Output impedance: 300 ohms (each phase). Power consumption: 20W.
Dimensions: 18" W by 5.5" H by 11" D (main unit); 13" W by 3" H by 8" D (power supply). Weight: 45 lbs (20kg).
Serial number of unit reviewed: 2B0125.
Price: $5250; remote volume control adds $250; phono stage…
Sidebar 2: WP's 1997 Associated Equipment
Digital Front-End: Krell KPS 20i/l.
Analog Front-End: Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Naim Armageddon power supply, Naim ARO tonearm, Transfiguration Temper cartridge; or VPI TNT Mk.III turntable with JMW Memorial Tonearm, van den Hul Grasshopper cartridge.
Phono Section: Naim Prefix/HiCap, Audio Research PH3, or Krell Reference.
Power Amplifiers: Ayre V3, Conrad-Johnson Premier Twelve, Krell Audio Standard.
Loudspeakers: Hales Concept Five, Martin-Logan SL-3.
Cables: MIT balanced 350 interconnect, Cardas balanced phono interconnect…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
Unless otherwise noted, the measurements presented here are for balanced operation. The output impedance of the K-1 at its line output measured to specification at 556 ohms (279 ohms unbalanced) in the left channel and insignificantly higher in the right. The setting of the level control had virtually no effect on the output impedance. The line-level input impedance measured 21k ohms (9.8k ohms unbalanced), again with virtually no change with level setting or channel.
Phono input impedance measured 1108 ohms (this may be internally altered by the user).…
Paul Bolin wrote about the Ayre K-1x in June 2002 (Vol.25 No.6):
From the time it appeared several years ago, the Ayre K-1 preamplifier was hailed by the audio world as a significant advance in the art and science of solid-state electronics. Stereophile's Wes Phillips was mightily impressed with it back in the March 1997 issue (Vol.20 No.3), as was I when I reviewed it for The Abso!ute Sound. For me, the K-1 was a landmark: the first piece of solid-state gear that this die-hard tubeophile heavily and unabashedly fell for. The K-1 quickly made its way into Stereophile's "Recommended…
Wes Phillips reviewed the K-1xe in June 2007 (Vol.30 No.6):
"You guys haven't evaluated the K-1 since Paul Bolin's Follow-Up in 2002," pointed out Ayre's Charlie Hansen. "Since we supplied you with one for your MX-R review [April 2007], it might be a good time for you to update Stereophile's readers on what we've done to it over the last four years."
Four years? Most manufacturers wouldn't even have a dinosaur like that in their line any more. But Ayre's different that way. "The K-1xe is waaay better than the K-1 you reviewed 10 years ago, but anybody who bought the original can…
Sidebar: WP's 2007 Associated Equipment
Digital Source: Ayre C-5xe universal player, Krell Evolution 505 SACD/CD player.
Preamplifiers: Krell Evolution 202, Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista.
Power Amplifiers: Ayre MX-R, Krell Evolution 600.
Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Confidence C4, Vandersteen Quatro Wood, Wilson Audio Specialties WATT/Puppy 8.
Cables: Interconnect: Shunyata Research Aries & Antares. Speaker: Shunyata Research Lyra.
Accessories: Ayre L-5xe line filter; Furutech eTP-609 distribution box, FP-20A(R) duplex outlets, RDP panels; OSAR Selway/Magruder equipment racks;…
What did you on your wedding night? I know what I did. All three times. But Casey McKee? He spent his wedding night at the end of October installing the new Lingo power supply on his Linn LP12. I know. I was there.
You remember Casey. You met him in my September 1990 review of the ArchiDee turntable table. Casey works at Brooklyn dealer Innovative Audio (footnote 1); he and wife Angela live in Austin. No, not Austin, NY. Austin, TX! Yup. A long commute. (Buy American Airlines stock. Casey flies American.)
It wasn't as bad a case of Audiophilia nervosa as it sounds. Car-racing…
As my sample Lingo was too early in production to be supplied with a manual and I was on vacation when Audiophile Systems' Steve Daniels installed it, I had to work out for myself how it works. Here's what this tired old brain gathered: A brief push on the LP12's new push-switch results in the red LED lighting and the platter starting to rotate (with a bit of judder). When the platter reaches speed, the LED dims slightly as the Lingo output changes from high-torque mode to speed-maintenance mode. A second brief push cuts off power to the motor, though the LED doesn't extinguish until after…