Amp/Preamp Asylum: RE: Please use your deductive skills to analyze the Ayre MX-Rs by morricab Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here.

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Posted by morricab (S ) on June 22, 2012 at 04:05:27

In Reply to: Please use your deductive skills to analyze the Ayre MX-Rs posted by Pinkus on June 20, 2012 at 09:42:55:

Ok, I had a look at the Ayre and my initial impression is that while it does some things right it does others wrong and as a result will also be a bit of mixed bag sonically (note: I have not heard this amp from Ayre but I have heard others and while not bad, I would not own one).

1) The distortion vs. frequeny at 8 ohms shows a modest rise at high frqeuencies but is better into lower impedance but higher across the board, which may be masking the rise. At least it doesn't rise even more into 4 or 2 ohms.

2)They claim zero feedback but the distortion vs. power curve suggests that there is at least some global feedback because it is far too flat with power. A good example of a no feedback curve can be found here:
http://www.soundstagemagazine.com/measurements/monarchy_se160/

See Chart 2 and chart 3 and 5. This is how a no feedback amp measures, although I would like to see less power supply garbage in Chart 5 as it is making the baseline a bit "fuzzy".

Also, the Lamm ML 1.1:
http://www.soundstagemagazine.com/measurements/lamm_ml11/

See Charts 2, 3 and 5 again.

I can tell you from experience that both of these amps sound very good. The Monarchy is an amazing bargain, the Lamm is not a bargain but arguably worth the money.

3)Having some feedback has consequences then on the FFT distortion spectrum. Figure 8 of the stereophile review:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/ayre-mx-r-monoblock-power-amplifier-measurements

Does not show a monotonicity to the distortion spectrum with high order harmonics at about the same level as the 2nd and 3rd harmonic. This usually occurs when there is feedback and amps that do this often sound mediocre. You also see this in Figures 9 and 10.

Compare this with the Monarchy and Lamm curves (Chart 5)

4) The IMD is pretty good

I am sure the power supply is more than capable as well, However, there are some circuit design choices that I think led to better "objective" numbers but might lead to sonic compromise. I am surprised to see the distortion vs. power and FFT spectra looking more like a typical feedback ampifier given their claim of no feedback.

For my money I would still audition but likely choose something else.

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