Κώστας Φ.
Truth hurts. Here's a teddy bear.
- Μηνύματα
- 8.978
- Reaction score
- 895
Ayre Acoustics K-5xe Preamplifier
Price: $2950 USD.
Warranty: Five years parts and labor.
"Finally . . .
My overall reactions to the Ayre K-5xe flowed from one extreme to another. At times I wanted a bit more lushness, at others I was astounded at how the Ayre managed to draw me into the music. It’s fairly easy to dismiss my desire for a richer sonic palette -- I came to the K-5xe directly from reviewing a tube preamp. It’s far more telling to consider that the solid-state Ayre was so easily able to involve me in the music to the extent that it did.
As I packed up the Ayre preamp and power amp for return to the factory, I asked myself what sort of person would be the potential customer for the K-5xe. I suspect it won’t tempt the committed tube lover to decamp for the land of silicon. While the K-5xe is a delightfully neutral preamplifier, and while it did full justice to the intent and soul of the music I played through it, it was definitely not lush in the tubular sense -- and that may be a deal-killer for those looking for a cool-running alternative to tubes. On the other hand, those used to solid-state preamps will undoubtedly welcome the Ayre’s deft way with harmonics and its exceptional portrayal of space, and end up completely enchanted.
After my splendid experience with the matching P-5xe phono stage, I had high hopes and high expectations for the Ayre K-5xe, especially at its altogether reasonable price of $2950. Now, having listened to and lived with the K-5xe, it’s easy to see why so few units show up on the used market. With its dead-quiet, unfussy operation, superb build quality, and totally neutral tonal balance, its level of performance is usually the domain of preamplifiers costing twice as much."
Full Review: ultraaudio.com
