Hi-Rez Highway: REVIEW: Ayre Acoustics C-5xe Universal SACD/DVD-A Players by richard@batnet.com New high resolution SACD releases, players and technology.

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Model:	C-5xe
Category:	Universal SACD/DVD-A Players
Suggested Retail Price:	$6,000
Description:	Universal Player (Redbook, SACD, DVD-A)
Manufacturer URL:	Ayre Acoustics

Review by richard@batnet.com on January 02, 2008 at 21:49:36 IP Address: 67.150.253.111

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Since the introduction of digital I have been in a musical funk. I used to listen constantly to opera, symphonic, chamber, jazz (both modern and classic.) I remember when the first Denon LPs came out. I eagerly awaited perfect sound to be followed by the handy CD format which was just around the corner. Well, I listened and listened. I WANTED to like the new format but I kept getting up after fifteen minutes or so, and not to go the bathroom. It was just, well in a word, tiring. After half an hour of this stuff I felt that I had done three quick rounds.

So my musical delving into my extensive library revolved mainly around LPs and 78s; dubbing them onto DAT (which didn’t seem half bad!) I never really understood what was wrong. I use a tube hybrid ARC HP11 Mk2 pre-amp and replaced a strident amp with an Ayre V-1x (not yet the e) That improved things considerably but it was still not involving. Added Dunlevy 3 speakers and later a Lynn Ikemi and again, some improvement but the latter rather colored and still digital. MAYBE I had just outgrown Cherubini, Coltrane and Ives.

A few years went by. Don’t read the high-end magazines and am not really an audiophile but when I happened on a review of the C5ex I was somewhat skeptical, but in view of my experience with the Ayre amplifier decided in desperation to give it a shot “sight unheard.”

I plug it in line and it sounds TERRIBLE!!! Constricted, no discernable sound stage and just plain crummy. I was using a pair of Lynn leads to the pre-amp and some Hitachi polarized leads from the pre-amp to amp. Never gave them a second thought. My dealer gave me two pairs of discontinued Transparent leads (they probably could have been any of a number of brands) and my musical world changed. I have never head Redbook sound so good. Even discs lacking in sonic quality are quite “listenable.” SACD was, on the whole, even better. DVDA - the heartburn format - excellent but a pain in the a. Is it analogue? No, not quite, but more than acceptable and, with this player, I can even enjoy some of the advantages of the digital format.

What don’t I like? The remote is heavy and doesn’t reflect off corners or ceiling very well. Also, when not addressing the unit directly, the fast forward keeps advancing until you click again. Big deal!

Suddenly I am neglecting my work, forgetting appointments, abandoning friends and getting into arguments over the advantages of higher end universal players. I can listen for hours; and its all Ayre’s fault!

Ayre, you owe my friends, wife and cat BIGTIME!


Richard

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Product Weakness:	Cost?
Product Strengths:	Makes digital sound more than tolerable.

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Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier:	Ayre V-1x
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	AR SP11 Mk 11
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sota vacuum
Speakers:	Dunlevy 3
Cables/Interconnects:	Transparent Super
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Jazz, re-issue 78s
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 30 x
Room Comments/Treatments:	Bookshelves
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Two months
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

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