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In Reply to: RE: Another vote for the Ayre CX-7eMP posted by plantsman on March 01, 2012 at 05:10:40
I just got a Rega Saturn demo model for $1350, so the Ayre is now in another price range (at $3500). I would like to hear the Ayre sometime.
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Biggest difference between them is there is more openness, transparency, airiness, bass authority (and control) - a real transparency. Along with that, there is a good sense of timing that you can, with the right chain to the speakers, get a real sense of immediacy and "you are there" - that I have only found with equipment that cost multiples of what Ayre charges. The C-5xeMP has a lower noise floor, and more of the above.The top end is ever so slightly soft - but not in a rolled off way, but in a very natural way. While capable of reproducing the "audiophile feats and stunts" we are all used to ... such as close miked singing with minimal instrumentation that has the 10' tall floating head image ... it really is very very natural sounding and soundstaging.
The Ayre doesn't sound much like "analog" nor does it sound "digital" ... it really is that good.
Where I find the Rega is a great player as it gives a very tonally correct presentation, with good bass, and treble - and very very musical. It does not have as much forward presence as the Ayre (and close to the same amount of detail) - and for most modern recordings, that's a good thing! If you prefer being back a bit and not sitting in the front row (or in some cases sitting amongst the musicians!!) - the Rega has a good presentation.
The closest manufacturer to Rega in my mind for CD Players is Marantz.
The closest to Ayre is Naim.
"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad"
Edits: 03/02/12 03/02/12
I agreed with nearly every aspect of your post, until ...
> > The closest to Ayre is Naim. < <
I consider these players to different to be considered "closest".
That said, I can understand from a high-frequency aspect the comparison, since both these house players are NOT fully realized on top, perhaps a bit soft, compared to many competitors. And while both are above average regarding noise floor and transparency characteristics, they go about these very differently.
Both are on the darker side of neutral, but Naim much more so, and from a dimensionality standpoint, they're obviously very different. In fact, from a dimensionality point of view, I think Naim has long had the most unique (not necessarily good or bad) soundstage characteristics of any digital manufacturer.
Personally, I found the later Krell players, like the Standard, to be more "Naim" like. I find Ayre to have a more traditional hi-end sound, but one that is obviously very highly refined.
tb1
You very elegantly fleshed out what I was far more clumsily alluding to. I'm not sure that I entirely agree that the Ayres and Naims are sonically cut from the same cloth but it has been a few years since I last heard Naim CDPs. I have, however, liked both the Ayres and the Naims better than much of the field so you may well be correct.
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