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Re: Ayre upgrade question... if you don't mind.. OT

Posted by Charles Hansen (M) on June 16, 2006 at 19:32:08

In Reply to: Ayre upgrade question... if you don't mind.. OT posted by damage k on June 16, 2006 at 17:30:06:

If you're planning to get a K-1xe and already have a P-5xe, I would keep the P-5xe over the K-1xe's internal phono stage. They are both very close, but my personal preference is for the P-5xe. It is almost 50% more expensive than the K-1xe's internal phono stage, and you also need to factor in another set of cables (and maybe even an aftermarket power cord). But if you already own it then that pill has already been swallowed.

Shane Buettner (formerly of The Absolute Sound) wrote this on his new website, "The Critical Ear":

"With the P-5xe in the full swing of its performance envelope I heard even better sound than I'd expected, in spite of the fact that the K-1xe's integrated phono stage prepared me for nothing short of excellence. I heard all of the crystalline clarity and purity of sound I'd heard from the K-1xe phono section, but I also heard better extension at the frequency extremes and more resolution at all points in between. And after the "e" update, I heard more musicality and warmth too."

(The full review is only available to subscribers.)

Also, David Allcock just reviewed the P-5xe in the latest issue of Hi-Fi News. The summary says:

"Without question this is a stunning phono stage with exceptional connectivity, excellent build quality and 'fit-and-forget' operation. It operated in my system without a glitch. At its price its performance puts it in the bona fide bargain category, and a less scrupulous engineer and distributor could have priced it at 3000 pounds sterling without question. The Ayre is a truly excellent design and I recommend it very strongly. If you're looking for a phono stage in this price range, you owe it to your music collection to hear this one."

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