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Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?

72.49.126.137
Posted on May 13, 2020 at 14:25:31
Schlep
Audiophile

Posts: 289
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Joined: April 24, 2007
 Hello -

They Ayre CX-7 was developed in the early 2000s... and the most current version, the eMP, was implemented in 2008 or 2009.

Considering replacing with something like the Audiolab 6000 transport and Schiit Gungnir Mutibit or Yggdrasil. Maybe an Ayre Codex.

Since the last upgrade to the CX-7 in 2008/2009, many years have passed. Digital has likely improved quite a bit since then.

Hoping someone more familiar with the digital landscape share their thoughts on 'how much' of an improvement this may be.


thanks

 

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Schiit offers an unconditional 15 day return/refund on their gear., posted on May 13, 2020 at 18:35:38
sleeper
Audiophile

Posts: 1166
Joined: May 21, 2002
 Your CX-7 has an AES/EBU digital output, and the Yggdrasil has an AES/EBU digital input. Order the Schiit and listen to it for a week or so, using your Ayre as a transport. If you like the sound better through the Yggdrasil, keep it and then decide whether you want to buy a dedicated transport. If the sound is not improved, send the Schiit back and keep your Ayre. Full disclosure: the CX-7eMP is my main player for redbook CDs. I have heard several "newer" players and DACs (Esoterics, Brystons, Marantzs) over the past few years in other inmate's systems and have yet to experience the need to replace the Ayre.

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 14, 2020 at 01:16:27
PAR
Audiophile

Posts: 1732
Location: South London, UK
Joined: June 4, 2019
 " Digital has likely improved quite a bit since then."

As you are looking to replace a CD player and are not just looking at DACs I would point out that, generally, over the past 10 years while DACs have got better CD transports got worse as most of the OEM suppliers of the latter have pulled out of the market leaving most players reliant upon DVD mechanisms.

So, as always, the question is how much is your budget?

"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams

 

RE: Schiit offers an unconditional 15 day return/refund on their gear., posted on May 14, 2020 at 08:43:24
Schlep
Audiophile

Posts: 289
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Joined: April 24, 2007
 Sleeper -

Thanks for your response. I am considering doing what you suggest in auditioning the Yggdrsil.

It is good to hear that you find the CX-7eMP on par with other cd players. I don't want to replace it for the sake of replacing it; I only intend on replacing if a much better option is avaialable for similar or less money.

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 14, 2020 at 08:48:14
Schlep
Audiophile

Posts: 289
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Joined: April 24, 2007
 PAR -

Interesting point regarding transports. I had not considered this, and it most certainly is a consideration.

Budget is $1500 - $3500. A broad range I know, but one must always consider diminishing returns.

The idea - as I mentioned to Sleeper - is to replace only if there is a clear upgrade to sound quality. Maybe there isn't. If this is the case, no need to replace, heck, the Ayre was bought and paid for 10+ years ago.

FWIW, I will be using for RedBook only.

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 14, 2020 at 11:52:05
AbeCollins
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Location: USA
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Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 It is my understanding that Marantz makes their own high quality transport mechanisms for their CD/SACD players..... maybe not their lowest end models but worth looking into given your decent budget. You might also consider a CDP with access to it's internal DAC. These will play CDs and also have inputs on the back for the DAC.



 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 14, 2020 at 17:33:49
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 I own an Ayre DX-5 universal and cannot imagine a better sounding CD/SACD spinner. These players were over-engineered, IMO.

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 14, 2020 at 18:56:51
Schlep
Audiophile

Posts: 289
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Joined: April 24, 2007
 Thanks Abe, didn't think about Marantz - I did not realize they made players into the 7k range.

My interest in separate transport and DAC is ease of upgrading in the future. . . to me that is 10 years or more off. I tend to keep things over as long a period as possible. It doesn't always work that way, but usually it does.

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 14, 2020 at 19:04:55
Schlep
Audiophile

Posts: 289
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Joined: April 24, 2007
 Fantja -

Ayre make well built products for sure. Their customer service is excellent as well as you probably know. I think the CD player sounds good. I am questioning out of age and advancements in technology; kind of the 'chief enemy of good is better' thing. For better or worse :)

All of my electronics are Ayre. Started with the integrated and now use the 5 series separate as well as the power conditioner. As I think about it, I bought the CD and integrated about 2004.

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 14, 2020 at 20:42:59
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Right On! Schlep-

the Ayre AX-5 Twenty is one sweet integrated amp.

I venture to report that the Marantz Ruby/SA-10 models of CD/SACD spinners may beat the Ayre. Certainly the Marantz is more modern in technology.
If those players beat the Ayre, not by a large margin.

Sidenote: prior to purchasing my DX-5, the Marantz was on my short-list to audition, I could find one here in the southeast U.S. Chicago or Milwaukee was the closest dealer/retailer that had in stock for demo.

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 14, 2020 at 20:44:47
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 could not find one here in the southeast: corrected.

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 15, 2020 at 06:24:32
knewton
Audiophile

Posts: 563
Location: Mid-Atlantic/Northeast
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 Some components lend themselves to "upgrading" while others do not. For example, capacitors, IC op-amps and such might be easily "upgraded", while components that are locked to a given architecture implementation, such as DIR chips, digital-filter chips, DAC chips, etc. Essentially, any part not featuring a compatible pin-out and package is not easily changed.

You mention that the unit had been (successfully) upgraded in 2007. So, I suggest that you look at simply re-upgrading that 2007 upgrade. Whatever that had encompassed. Attempting to change architecture implementation is begging for heartbreaking disaster. You would be much better off to purchase an external DAC.
_
Ken Newton

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 15, 2020 at 06:37:56
Schlep
Audiophile

Posts: 289
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Joined: April 24, 2007
 Emailed Schiit (looks no phone support is part of their business model).

Asked about Gungnir Multi-bit vs Yggdrasil. Response: 'Did not hear too much of a difference', 'The Yggy...does seem to be a bit brighter'.

Interesting. Wanted to share.

I am not certain what other people's observations have been.

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 15, 2020 at 08:39:51
PAR
Audiophile

Posts: 1732
Location: South London, UK
Joined: June 4, 2019
 Yes indeed Abe and their top mechanism as used in the SA-10 and I believe the KI Ruby is now used on an OEM basis by some 3rd party ultra high end manufacturers including dCS. NB: You will also find it referred to as a Denon transport, Denon of course being in the same group as Marantz.
"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 15, 2020 at 21:25:18
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37333
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
 "Since the last upgrade to the CX-7 in 2008/2009, many years have passed. Digital has likely improved quite a bit since then."

May be so, but I still think the best digital products sonically were put out during the 1990s..... (I believe the the "dark ages" for digital audio products at large were between the years 2000 and 2015..... There was almost nothing put out during that time that impressed me.)

I have a Schiit Bifrost with Uber upgrade (not the latest)..... It got knocked off by an inexpensive Chinese DAC called the SMSL Sanskrit 10th MK II..... (This DAC caught my ear at last year's THE Show.)

I'm not familiar with the Ayre, but I would always audition new digital audio gear before purchasing..... You might end up coming to the realization that the best upgrade is no upgrade.

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 16, 2020 at 12:24:45
dbphd
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Montecito, CA
Joined: September 6, 2006
 I have an Ayre C-5xeMP that introduced me to the Ayre sound, and I now use Ayre 5 Twenty series separates. Hanson told me the DAC process of the DX-5 DSD was superior to that my beloved C-5, and later I was told the DAC process of my QX-5 Twenty digital hub is superior to that of my DX-5. That may be, but the sound with any of the Ayre units satisfies me. My principal source of music now is Roon via ethernet to the QX-5 for the incredible convenience, but I'd never set aside the C-5xeMP for sound. Do use balanced connections, though. You might try the new Ayre QB-9 DAC if you must, probably less costly than a new player.

 

Jay's Audio and Schiit, posted on May 17, 2020 at 14:35:40
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 A Jay's Audio CDT2 ii and an Yggdrasil Analog (B serial number) would be of interest to me at the upper end of your budget.

Aside from that, I'd consider the same transport and an ANK Kits DAC or maybe the DDDAC from Audio Creative in Holland.


Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

+1 for Jay's Audio (nt), posted on May 18, 2020 at 02:03:24
maxim
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Contributor
  Since: September 24, 2013

 

RE: Upgrade Ayre CX-7eMP ?, posted on May 18, 2020 at 03:38:07
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Excellent suggestion! db.

 

My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on May 18, 2020 at 06:37:38
lochrider
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Posts: 493
Location: Southeast Minnesota
Joined: March 15, 2001
Contributor
  Since: March 17, 2002
 The musical presentation of the the C-5xeMP and the C-7 disc players has been reported to be very close on red book media. I have a Ayre C-5xeMP multi-disc player that is about 10 years old. The musical presentation from that kit is very good.

When Charles Hansen was promoting the QX-5 Twenty, he claimed it was significantly better than the DAC in the Ayre disc plahyers. A little over 2 years ago I bought an Ayre QX-5 Twenty DAC/Streamer/Head to anticipate an expected failure of the tray drive unit of the C-5 series unit. In addition, I expected and continue to expect that I will have to replace another CD/SACD player (office system).

These days the C-5xeMP continues to perform excellently as a CD/SACD player, so I have the QX-5 Twenty as a redundant red book DAC in my main system. I run the C-5's digital out through the QX-5 and both units' analogue (balanced) outs to the pre-amp. I can volume match the two units. When I switch back and forth between each unit I can discern only some very small differences between them. However, those differences, in my system, are on the order of diminishing returns.

Based upon hearing several $8K-$25K plus DACs, in my system, I believe it would be very difficult (and costly) to better the sound of the C-5xeMP in a significant way. In my opinion, if cost is a factor in one's decision-making, upgrading the sound of a C-5xeMP ($6k new) or of a C-7 player (~$3k new) with a DAC over the $3k or $4k is not cost effective and generates diminishing returns.

Cheers,

Ian

 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on May 18, 2020 at 07:55:42
Schlep
Audiophile

Posts: 289
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Joined: April 24, 2007
 lochrider -

Thanks, your post is appreciated as it gets to the heart of the matter, which is 'should the CX-7eMP be replaced' given the 'advances" in digital technology in the past 10+ years.

I have no issue updating the CX-7, but I don't want to update it for what amounts to marginal returns in sound quality.


thanks

 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on May 18, 2020 at 13:08:33
dbphd
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Montecito, CA
Joined: September 6, 2006
 I bought the QX-5 Twenty to use as a Roon endpoint, not to replace my beloved C-5xeMP. I added the DX-5 DSD later for Blu ray. It's DAC may be a bit superior to that of the C-5, but it's the video engine that was the big surprise; it's superb. The QX-5 takes in ethernet and delivers glorious balanced analog from 192/24 or DSD files, but even 44/24 sounds splendid and is super convenient.

 

Audiolab 6000cdt Transport, posted on May 18, 2020 at 13:27:47
Jonesy
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Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
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  Since: March 1, 2018
 I have been living with this transport for 5 months now. It replaced and handedly surpassed my former Roksan Caspian used as a transport. The Roksan came out in the late 90's and used a Sanyo mechanism also found in YBA and CEC units around that time.

Reviews and posts I've read regarding you're Ayre CX-7eMP suggest it is an outstanding player, and itself would tangibly outshine my original Roksan, and likely at least as good as the Audiolab, if not consideribly better.

As others have said, you can probably rest at ease with your set up.

However, should your unit develop issues, I would highly recommend auditioning the Audiolab for use as a transport.

The price point is amazing. Plenty of reviews, which I am sure you have already read. Note that I found it cable dependent in my system (had to tame the random "in your face brightness" to my liking.) There are also uprade kids available by a German company that also address the brightness and overall performance. I'm happy to have "lucked" out on a cable that did the trick.

When the unit comes off warranty, I will likely do the internal mods myself. So nice to know there is is an upgrade path should I get the itch.

Good luck in making your decision.

Cheers!

Jonesy





"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

RE: Audiolab 6000cdt Transport, posted on May 18, 2020 at 14:07:00
M. Vidal
Audiophile

Posts: 235
Joined: September 13, 2000
 Geetings! I have the Audiolab cdt 6000. Got it last week. Superb! I have not noticed the brightness you refer to. Maybe due to the Jena Lab digital interconnect. I think it reproduces what is in the recording with any bad artifact included.

And what is that german outfit that offers a mod for it?

 

RE: Audiolab 6000cdt Transport, posted on May 18, 2020 at 14:33:19
Jonesy
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Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 Greetings M. Vidal!

I recall sharing my impressions with you about the transport several months ago on the Asylum. Glad the purchase worked out for you.

Thanks for the tip on the Jena Labs cable. May take a look at it. Though I'm quite happy now with my DIY cable. In fact all the cables I tried were. Maybe it's my DIY technique...! (Edit... I see the digital Jena Labs cables are multi-stranded vs typical solid center core 75 ohm construction. Oddly my favorite DIY digital interconnect is multi-stranded vs the 75 ohm cables I constructed. Quite interesting.)

Link below. The site is quite messy. Let me know if you need any help validating.

Cheers!

Jonesy




"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

Once you have climbed up the "High End" tree a little ways, posted on May 18, 2020 at 18:30:44
sleeper
Audiophile

Posts: 1166
Joined: May 21, 2002
 you eventually figure out that the latest expensive gear is probably not going to return much in the way of enjoyment for your investment. Much of the super expensive stuff consists of what economists call "Veblen goods", acquired for the purpose of status signaling. As I mentioned over in the General Asylum a few weeks ago, most of us would likely be quite happy with a well thought out system that priced out well under $5K. There seems to be a fair amount of affordable gear out there that actually sounds really good.

 

I have climbed & wasted $ - nice post , posted on May 19, 2020 at 02:47:40
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10427
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 some never listen

others never learn and have $ to burn



 

Can someone explain how a transport is better than a computer DVD?, posted on May 19, 2020 at 07:18:43
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 4378
Joined: October 20, 2000
 My sounds are all in iTunes and my CDs are loaded in and stored on a hard disc in AIFF format.

This thread seems to imply that you get better sound by actually playing the CD in a transport.

Is this the case, and if so what magnitude of difference are we talking?

 

RE: Can someone explain how a transport is better than a computer DVD?, posted on May 19, 2020 at 11:12:06
PAR
Audiophile

Posts: 1732
Location: South London, UK
Joined: June 4, 2019
 Andy , is DVD in the subject line a typo for Drive?

I don't think that this thread necessarily implies that playing a CD in a transport gives a better sound than any alternative. The OP wants to replace his silver disc player and the answers deal with that question.

Can CD sound better than a file of the same recording played via a computer? Of course. The converse is also true. It depends what you are comparing with what.

A computer based replay system has to deal with numerous obstacles to attaining best possible sound including (but not limited to) the configuration of the computer's OS, background actions by the computer unrelated to music replay but occurring during it, high levels of EMI and RFI often also transmitted to the DAC via the 5V power line in the USB cable, jitter caused by the lack of synchronisation between the computer and the rest of the digital replay system etc, etc.

Of course if the above are satisfactorily dealt with then excellent results can be obtained.

On the other hand in a CD player the optical and mechanical system and its supporting electronics have the possibility of producing errors in reading the data on the disc, in sucessful error correction, in converting the coded data on the CD (EFM) into a form suitable for presenting to the DAC and in transmitting it error free (including the question of jitter) to the DAC.

The levels of audible difference one way or the other can be quite considerable. However if both CD player and computer replay system (or NAS/Streamer replay)and supporting equipment are optimised the difference between the two can be insignificant. And, sidestepping the issue of SACD, the computerised solution has the advantage over commercial silver disc replay of being able to play hi-res files.

"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams

 

Yes - I meant a computer drive, posted on May 19, 2020 at 11:32:22
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 4378
Joined: October 20, 2000
 So the answer is "it depends".....

In terms of ease of use the computer based sound system wins comfortably for me, so I wouldn't use a transport anyway.

I was just curious - a transport seems a retrograde step to me but maybe not.

 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on May 21, 2020 at 16:48:56
sentinel90125
Audiophile

Posts: 96
Location: Virginia
Joined: August 24, 2005
 Thanks for your perspective, Ian. Understanding the diminishing returns, can you say a little bit more about the very small differences between the c-5xemp vs. the transport through the qx-5? Are the differences in dynamics, openness, more analog sound, etc.? Or something else? Appreciate your thoughts.

 

RE: Audiolab 6000cdt Transport, posted on May 21, 2020 at 20:41:52
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Keep us posted on those mods!

 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on May 21, 2020 at 20:44:00
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for sharing lochrider (Ian).

 

Audiolab 6000cdt Transport "Mods", posted on May 22, 2020 at 09:13:48
Jonesy
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Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 Will definitely report back. Just waiting for warranty to end before I get in there.

The mods include capacitor upgrades, chassis damping, and finally bridge rectifier upgrade. The last mod really intrigues me as I have never replaced an
integrated bridge rectifier with individual diodes on any component. So many diode options akin to opamp upgrades. I've never ventured down the opamp upgrade either.

I guess I'll get a better idea once I open the unit up and see what's in there. This will be early 2021.

Thoroughly enjoying the 6000cdt in the meantime.

Cheers!

Jonesy




"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on May 22, 2020 at 13:23:47
dbphd
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Montecito, CA
Joined: September 6, 2006
 I'm sure Charles Hansen listened more carefully in rating the C-5xeMP, DX-5 DSD, OX-5 Twenty DAC order than I did, so I have no reason to doubt his judgement. It's been some time since I compared the sound with my C-5xeMP to that with my QX-5 Twenty, but IIRC the C-5 paints a bit softer picture, the QX-5 a bit more transparent, but the differences are subtle. I wouldn't mess with the DAC process of the C-5. I tried the digital out from the C-5 through the QX-5 and concluded it wasn't worth the bother. For me, the QX-5 is the ideal Roon endpoint: Ethernet in, glorious music out.

 

RE: Audiolab 6000cdt Transport cover removal, posted on May 23, 2020 at 08:46:30
M. Vidal
Audiophile

Posts: 235
Joined: September 13, 2000
 Hi Jonesy. I am trying to remove the cover but it seems that the allen wrenches I have do not work. The 1/16 seems to fit but does not. I guess being British they use imperial units.
Or maybe not. Or maybe they are not allen. If you find out something about this let me know. Thanks.

 

Torx T6 nt, posted on May 23, 2020 at 09:38:23
M. Vidal
Audiophile

Posts: 235
Joined: September 13, 2000
 nt

 

RE: Audiolab 6000cdt Transport cover removal, posted on May 23, 2020 at 10:02:49
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018



Hi M,

I haven't opened mine yet. But it's a Torx screw and looks like a fairly small one. I have a size T6 on hand but it's in really rough shape and don't want to use force.

However it does tell me you probably need size T6 or smaller. So possibly T5, or the even smaller, T4.

I wasn't planning on opening mine up just yet. But I think I'll order a set of the smaller sizes so I will have them. I will let you know the size that fits. If you find out size before I do, please let me know.

Cheers!

Jonesy



"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

Great. Thanks..., posted on May 23, 2020 at 10:05:27
Jonesy
Audiophile

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Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
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Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 My T6 is pretty beat up. I think I will get a new one, or a set of the smaller sizes.

Jonesy


"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on May 23, 2020 at 11:02:04
lochrider
Audiophile

Posts: 493
Location: Southeast Minnesota
Joined: March 15, 2001
Contributor
  Since: March 17, 2002
 The following I attribute to the QX-5 Twenty in comparison to listening to the C-5 player alone:
1. Slightly increased high frequency details;
2. Slightly more present leading edge of transients; and
3. Slightly increased sense of the hall or orther environment in which an acoustic performace was recorded.

Cheers,

Ian


 

RE: Audiolab 6000cdt Transport "Mods", posted on May 25, 2020 at 18:32:18
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Looking forward to it- Jonesy.

 

RE: Audiolab 6000cdt Transport "Mods", posted on June 13, 2020 at 11:18:43
bobwire
Audiophile

Posts: 378
Joined: March 7, 2002
 Hi all, I received my CDT this week and right out of the box it blew away my modded Onkyo. Opening the box, I made a map of the cap values for future changes. Then, I twister the AC wires to and from the transformer and moved them away from one another. More to come,bobwire

 

RE: Audiolab 6000cdt Transport "Mods", posted on June 13, 2020 at 12:10:40
Jonesy
Audiophile

Posts: 3156
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Joined: September 1, 2005
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 2018
 It's a beauty isn't it.

Please keep us posted. Should probably start a separate thread at some point for it. I'm waiting for the new year before I start any mods. Though I did buy some fuses. I shy away from the real expensive fuses, only jumping at them at clearance prices. Or in the case of the Audiolab, found these at Digi-Key. If you're into fuses...

Cheers!

Jonesy


"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."




 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on June 17, 2020 at 14:36:12
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 db-

did you send your player back to Ayre for the upgrade?

 

RE: Audiolab 6000cdt Transport, posted on January 21, 2021 at 13:40:31
Kaepplein, Mark
Audiophile

Posts: 1
Location: Boston
Joined: November 6, 2006
 How did mods work out? I am particularly interested in the diode mods as noisy ones will pollute the AC going to other components too. I try to replace all the noisy ones with soft recovery FREDs in all my components.

 

RE: Schiit offers an unconditional 15 day return/refund on their gear., posted on January 24, 2021 at 04:45:22
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 sleeper
now I own an Accuphase DP-65v. This is an older Reference CDP from 1997-2004. It holds up very well with my DX-5. There is something to be said about Classic / Vintage gear.

 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on January 24, 2021 at 12:42:58
dbphd
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Montecito, CA
Joined: September 6, 2006
 fanta, I just noticed that you asked if I'd sent my disc player to Ayre for an upgrade. I sent the DX-5 DSD to have the black case exchanged for silver to match my other Ayre gear. They also checked it out and, IIRC, did make a few upgrades. I'm using balanced to the KX-5/20 for stereo and HDMI to a Bryston SP3 that returns balanced LR to a by-pass input of the KX-5 for surround. Video goes directly to the projector. Ayre certainly is a user-friendly company.

 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on January 25, 2021 at 23:28:12
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thank You- db.
Happy Listening!

 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on January 25, 2021 at 23:29:13
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 db-

2nd Note;
in the Spring, I will send my AX-5 back to AYRE for a full-on Twenty Series upgrade.

 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on January 26, 2021 at 00:36:17
dbphd
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Montecito, CA
Joined: September 6, 2006
 That's a good idea. IIRC, the Twenty is supposed to run a bit cooler.

I use an A7e integrated with LS50s in one of my setups, with an ultraRendu through an Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC and a C-5xeMP. I think the setup sounds great whether source is Roon or disc.

 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on January 26, 2021 at 00:51:08
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 The AX-5 Twenty is 90% of the 20 series separates for much less dollars.
It is a killer Integrated Amp.

 

RE: My experience with "upgrading" ...,, posted on January 26, 2021 at 00:54:28
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Schlep-
did you update your spinner?

 

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