2. digital
  3. 124453-113

Ayre now has a new QX-5 all in one

box with DAC/Streamer (Tidal etc), Roon ready. It has nearly any input and a great headphone amp too.  It can also be used as a preamp, although I personally have yet to hear any digital pre sound as good as a great preamp, but that's me.  It's all balanced and has the Ayre power supply filters that all the Ayre products have.  I can't wait to hear it. I personally am running a great sounding Empirical Audio OSDE/SE with all the upgrades from Steve and I also have a Mac Mini server that Empirical totally rebuilt with a separate Hynes linear power supply.  It's full of only hi rez, well recorded music of all genres.  I love it, but the new servers do sound a bit better, so I've been looking.  I didn't want to set up a NAS, but since I run a Linn DS system in the bedroom I'm open to it.  I love the Melco NAS and may just get that for my NAS and the Ayre for everything else.  I want a simple, one box solution and I do use IEM's and cans on Sunday and Sat mornings so having a great amp solution in my main rig is enticing too.

I rn an Ayre AX-5 Twenty with Vandersteen Treo's (going to sell so I can upgrade to the Quatro's) and Basis/Aesthetix's for vinyl.  Pretty exciting times in digital.  I'm sure that Ayre will be a great value for all that it offers and it should sound incredible.  Time will tell.
ctsooner
erik_squires
15,974 posts
 
I really love Ayre, by the way! I love their sound, and modern Audio Research.

My experience with the Ayre DAC's however was mixed.  From a highly modded Mac, Bleah.  From thier own CD player it was superb. 

After reading your thoughts, I think I want gear that is MUSICALLY revealing, but not technically revealing.  I don't want to be able to switch USB cable and hear a difference, or really, switch among various amps and hear that my speaker needs the beefiest one's to have the best bass.

And sometimes I really don't want the gear to be that musically revealing either. ..... :)



Your mileage may vary!

Best,


Erik
ctsooner OP
2,480 posts
 
I wasn't a big fan of the 9, just wasn't.  I do like the Codex a ton.  Erik, have you heard one yet?  Very few DAC's compare when it comes to an all everything, set it up and play music.  The balance headphone amp is very well done too.  
erik_squires
15,974 posts
 
I havenot heard the codex.  the 9 and pono.
ctsooner OP
2,480 posts
 
Erik do yourself a favor and go listen. I honestly don't know how they put what they did in there for less than 2 K.  It's one of the Best Buy's in all of audio. I hear it often with the Ayre ref stack and Vandersteen 7 mk 2 and it just plays music. The head amp beats the Woo balanced for my money and for a small system I'd pair it with an amp and drive it directly
erik_squires
15,974 posts
 
@cstonner

I just got a new DAC/preamp, so I'm not in a hurry.  My local dealer has the Codex set up as part of their headphone set up, so I doubt I could hear it easily in a full-size system.

I'm glad you like it, and good to know Ayre is moving forward. :) I was always a fan of the Pono for it's Ayre derived output stage, it's UI, limited memory and lack of streaming however kept me for springing for one.

Best,


Erik
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