Three 8s to be actual together with the brand new Ayre CX-8 CD Participant and the even newer KX-8 / VX-8 Pre/Energy amp combo in Barn and able to play.
Let’s begin on the high. If you happen to’re acquainted with the merchandise from Boulder, Colorado’s Ayre Acoustics, you’ll acknowledge a few of the tech employed contained in the CX-8 CD Participant together with the corporate’s single-pass 16x Minimal Section digital filter, their most popular fully-balanced, zero-feedback analog circuit, and the Equilock acquire stage and Diamond output circuitry. Ayre via and thru.
The CX-8 is CD Participant which suggests it additionally homes a DAC and analog outputs, RCA and XLR, together with digital inputs and streaming capabilities making it a full featured digital supply.
The model new KX-8 Preamplifier, made as the proper associate for the VX-8 Energy Amplifier, shares the chassis with Ayre’s EX-8 Built-in Amplifier in addition to the choice to load up the KX-8 with Ayre’s digital suite of inputs (Ethernet, USB, AES/EBU, S/PDIF, and two Toslink) which is how the assessment pattern arrived. The quantity management mechanism discovered within the KX-8 is a model of the corporate’s true variable acquire quantity management that brings with it a lot of sonic good points together with wonderful S/N numbers even at low volumes in line with the corporate.
As is the case with all Ayre merchandise, the KX-8 gives balanced and single-ended inputs/outputs and your eyes don’t deceive—that could be a headphone jack up entrance.
The VX-8 Energy Amplifier gives 100 Watts into 8 Ohms and 170 Watts into 4 and consists of the acquainted listing of Ayre tech inside together with a 100% Zero-Suggestions design, fully-balanced discrete circuitry, Double Diamond output stage and Equilock acquire stage, and a linear analog energy provide.
Loooong time readers with good recollections will bear in mind I lived with, very fortunately I would add, an Ayre AX-5 Twenty Built-in Amp again in my AudioStream days so I’m very a lot wanting ahead to the sound of recent Ayre! Keep tuned.
Ayre CX-8 CD Participant
Worth: $5450
Ayre KX-8 Preamplifier
Worth: $6400, +1300 for DAC (AES, S/PDIF, USB), +$1000 Ethernet
Ayre VX-8 Energy Amplifier
Worth: $6800
Firm Web site: Ayre Acoustics
