Music sounded especially alive through the KX-R. I noticed this as much with the MF Nu-Vista 300 as I did with the MX-Rs. Want jump factor? The KX-R had it. John Atkinson kindly hand-delivered a CD-R containing…
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I'll start with something that sounds simple: The KX-R was really quiet. (If this were a movie, somebody would have to say, "Yeah. Too quiet.") Aren't all audio components these days? Well, sure, but the KX-R, with an activated input selected and set to regular listening volume, was far more silent than the tomb. As Hansen said about the air, you don't notice it till it's gone.
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state, line-level preamplifier with remote control. Inputs: 4 single-ended (RCA), 4 balanced (XLR). Outputs: 2 balanced (XLR), 2 balanced tape. Input impedance: 2M ohms balanced (1M ohm/signal phase), 1M ohm single-ended. Gain: variable. Frequency range: DC–250kHz. Output impedance: 300 ohms balanced, 150 ohms single-ended. Power consumption: 36W, 65W maximum (when volume control operating).
Dimensions: 17.25" (438mm) W by 3.75" (95mm) H by 11.75" (29.2mm) D. Weight: 40 lbs (18.2kg).
Finishes: Silver; add $250 for black.
Serial Number…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Ayre Acoustics C-5xe universal player, Simaudio Moon Evolution SuperNova CD player.
Preamplifiers: Conrad-Johnson ACT2 Series 2, Parasound Halo JC 2.
Power Amplifiers: Ayre Acoustics MX-R monoblocks, Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300.
Loudspeakers: Avalon Acoustics Indra, Thiel CS3.7, Wilson Audio Specialties WATT/Puppy 8.
Cables: Interconnect: AudioQuest William E. Lowe Reference, Stealth Indra & Nanofiber. Speaker: AudioQuest William E. Lowe Reference, Stealth Dream.
Accessories: Ayre L-5xe AC filter & Myrtle Blocks;…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I mainly used Stereophile's loaner sample of the top-of-the-line Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It" and www.ap.com) to examine the Ayre KX-R preamplifier's measured performance.
The top setting of the volume control was an indicated "60" on the display, meaning that there are 61 steps. However, the preamplifier muted when the volume control was set to "60," "59" being the highest practicable setting (footnote 1). The KX-R offered just 0.53dB of gain for both balanced and unbalanced sources in this condition. Using the Setup…
Manufacturer's Comment
Editor: All of us at Ayre wish to thank Wes Phillips for his in-depth review of the Ayre KX-R preamplifier. It was clear from his writings that the KX-R brought him closer to the music than ever before. It was also gratifying to read that he preferred the KX-R to a highly regarded tube preamplifier. Although many people have been suggesting it for years, perhaps the time has come when a solid-state design has finally surpassed vacuum tubes in terms of sheer musicality. This truly represents a breakthrough for high-end audio design. And despite Wes's comment, I…
McCOY TYNER: Guitars
McCoy Tyner, piano; Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, John Scofield, Derek Trucks, guitars; Béla Fleck, banjo; Ron Carter, bass; Jack DeJohnette, drums
Half Note/McCoy Tyner Music 4537 (CD, DVD). 2008. John Snyder, prod.; Randy Funke, eng. DDD. TT: 74:16
Performance ****½
Sonics ****½
McCoy Tyner, piano; Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, John Scofield, Derek Trucks, guitars; Béla Fleck, banjo; Ron Carter, bass; Jack DeJohnette, drums
Half Note/McCoy Tyner Music 4537 (CD, DVD). 2008. John Snyder, prod.; Randy Funke, eng. DDD. TT: 74:16
Performance ****½
Sonics ****½
Technically, the title of McCoy Tyner's new album, Guitars, is a misnomer. It should have been called McCoy with Strings, given that four of his five stringed collaborators are guitarists, while the fifth "guitar" is Béla Fleck's banjo. However, the mildly misleading title is…
Some reviews take longer to gestate than others. But in the case of Cary's CD 306 SACD Professional Version SACD/CD player, it has taken me literally years to get this review into print. I had visited Cary's impressive facility in North Carolina just before Christmas 2005, when I'd been playing the high-resolution master files of some of my recordings at an event being promoted by Raleigh high-end dealer Audio Advice. Cary's head honcho, Dennis Had, had been playing me music on a system featuring his Silver Oak loudspeakers, with the front-end one of the first samples of the original CD 306…
With naturally made recordings, especially on SACD, this should be a given, but isn't always. Fortunately, the CD 306 Pro did a great job in this respect. The awesome orchestral opening of Morten Lauridsen's Lux aeterna, in the recording by Stephen Layton leading Polyphony and the Britten Sinfonia (SACD, Hyperion SACDA67449), opened up the end of my listening room into the acoustic of London's Temple Church, the soft choral entry raising goose bumps.
Paradoxically, with the best audio components, this phenomenon can occur even with unnatural recordings. The Dave Brubeck Quartet's Take…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: SACD/CD player with wireless IR remote control, HDCD decoding, and switchable upsampling frequency (CD playback only). Plays SACD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW. Digital outputs: AES/EBU via XLR, S/PDIF via RCA, TosLink. Analog outputs: 1 pair balanced (XLR), 1 pair single-ended (RCA). Digital inputs: AES/EBU via XLR, S/PDIF via RCA, TosLink; capable of accepting sample rates up to 192kHz. Control inputs: RS-232 port via 9-pin D-subminiature connector. Frequency range: 2Hz–22kHz CD, 2Hz–100kHz SACD. Channel separation: 109dB at 1kHz. THD: 0.0004% at 1kHz. Maximum…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Ayre C-5xe universal player; PrimaLuna ProLogue Eight CD player; Mark Levinson No.30.6, Benchmark DAC 1 USB D/A converters; Logitech (Slim Devices) Transporter WiFi music player with Apple Mac mini for media storage.
Preamplifiers: Mark Levinson No.380S, Ayre KX-R, Simaudio Moon Evolution P-7.
Power Amplifiers: Mark Levinson No.33H, Musical Fidelity 750k Supercharger, Ayre MX-R (all monoblocks).
Loudspeakers: PSB Synchrony One, Dynaudio Sapphire, Totem Model 1 Signature, Revel Ultima Salon2.
Cables: Digital: Kimber…