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REVIEW: Ayre Acoustics L-5xe Accessory

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Model: L-5xe
Category: Accessory
Suggested Retail Price: $1500
Description: AC Line Filter
Manufacturer URL: Ayre Acoustics

Review by Rufipennis on September 23, 2007 at 21:11:05
IP Address: 4.228.252.57
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I added the L-5xe line filter to my system several weeks ago, having decided it was worth a try after hearing it on a couple of occasions. This capped earlier 2007 purchases of Vandersteen 2Ce Signature II speakers, balanced Cardas interconnects for my phono stage, and Ayre Signature Series speaker cables. So I’ve made quite a few changes/additions over the past seven months, but this is the last hardware purchase I plan to make for some time. Um, unless I decide to upgrade to balanced phono cables, or upgrade my cartridge, or, HAH – who am I kidding?!

Like other Ayre products, several hundred hours of break-in are recommended. So I put it in place and let it settle without too much concern for assessing it’s sonic contributions. I did notice that my system was really singing, and pretty much sounded better than ever. But I had changed speaker cables just a few weeks earlier as well as replaced my phono interconnect, so I was hesitant to ascribe the improved sonics to the L-5xe.

Over the past week, I decided to find out what the L-5xe was bringing to the party. I connected my components either straight into the wall or into a power strip as I used to, and sat down to listen. The first thing I noticed was not related to the sounds produced by my system - I noticed I didn’t have any songs that I’ve been playing repeatedly as a reference over the proceeding weeks. Instead of tweaking and dialing-in my system on a semi-regular basis with a handful of reference songs, I’ve just been listening to music. So, I put in a few CDs (or put on a few albums) that I wanted to listen to. The good news was that my system sounded pretty damned good – terrific, actually – without being connected to the L-5xe. Having a family, etc, my alone time with the stereo is pretty spotty, so I was really admiring my system and it’s reproduction of music.

The bad news was that I began to worry that I had wasted my money on a “tweak” that made little to no difference. So I reconnected my amp, CDP, phono and turntable to the L-5xe and played the same suite of songs. Did I hear a difference? Yes, but it took me a bit to put words to what I was hearing – or to be more accurate, wasn’t hearing. To my ears, the L-5xe is removing low-level “grunge”, a hash that is not noticeable until it’s gone. Backgrounds are blacker, quieter (which echoes MFs review). Resolution is notably improved or, perhaps, simply more obvious. The presentation seems more fluid and draws me deeper into the music. I suppose the best way to summarize it is that there is greater clarity. Hey, even Daniel Lanois has become intelligible!

My system didn’t exactly suck before, but the L-5xe has taken it to the next level. My system is now really dialed-in, is among the “best” I’ve ever heard, and it’s in my living room! I’m guessing I’d have to spend several thousands of dollars to get any kind of substantial sonic improvements over any one piece of my current system, and I’ll give the L-5xe a good bit of the credit for bringing me this slice of musical nirvana.

There is but one criticism I can muster: I had heard that the L-5xe would improve the performance of most any component plugged into it. I could detect no difference, however, in the sound of my analog rig when the turntable was plugged into it (not that I was expecting it to; that wouldn’t make a lick of sense, right?). Not to worry, though. My tuner is plenty happy to use the last of the four outlets on the L-5xe . . .


Product Weakness: Did not appear to improve TT performance
Product Strengths: Improves overall clarity and musicality


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Ayre AX-7e
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Integrated
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Ayre CX-7e/Kenwood KD-500/Kenwood KT-7500
Speakers: Vandersteen 2Ce Sig II
Cables/Interconnects: Cardas and Ayre
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Folk, rock, bluegrass, R&B, jazz
Room Size (LxWxH): 19 x 18 x 8-14
Time Period/Length of Audition: One month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): On review
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Ayre Acoustics L-5xe Accessory - Rufipennis 21:11:05 09/23/07 ( 3)