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Ayre K-1xe

K-1xe Preamplifier
Conceivably the most innovative preamplifier ever designed, the Ayre K-1x combines singular transparency with unparalleled musicality. Musical passages emerge with startling dynamics from a silent background, thanks to the K-1x's fully-balanced, zero-feedback FET circuitry. Its unique volume control uses solid-silver contacts in a revolutionary configuration that eliminates all wiring and takes sonic performance to a new level. The Ayre K-1x uncovers the soul of music

Awards

"Class A" Recommended Components 2004 -- Stereophile
"The K-1x provided a rather disturbing exhibition of how much subliminal-level grunge, hash, and noise is taken for granted as a part of the sound of even top-level high-end components... Does the Ayre K-1x belong in Class A? Are there bears in the woods?"

2002 Reviewers' Choice -- Soundstage.com
"The K-1x is simply the finest-sounding line-stage preamplifier I've heard in my system, both drawing me into the music and closer to the actual event."

Image Hi Fi Award 2004, Germany

Product of the year -- Hi Fi Review, Taiwan

Review Links

Enjoy the Music.Com K-1x by: George Papadimitriou (Pappas) 9-01-2004

"The sound was very open, very airy, and very transparent. The soundstage was h-u-g-e and the front to back depth was extremely well extended. The whole soundstage and the performance were so incredibly open, wide and deep. It was almost holographic."

Charles Hansen interview, K-1x, K-5x review by: Richard Hardesty 12-01-2003

Audio Perfectionist Journal -- "The K-1x is the finest solid-state preamplifier that I've heard" </< TD>

Soundstage! K-1x by: John Leosco 6-01-2002

Reviewers' Choice 2002 -- "The K-1x is simply the finest-sounding line-stage preamplifier I've heard in my system, both drawing me into the music and closer to the actual event."

OnHiFi.com K-1x Follow-up by: Wes Phillips 11-01-2001

"...one of an exceedingly small handful of products that seem capable of going about as far into the realm of musicality as we've ever ventured."

OnHiFi.com K-1x by: Wes Phillips 3-01-2001

"Sweet? Lord, yes. Extended? Absolutely. Also authoritative, smooth, and timbrally true. The K-1x is an extremely polished performer..."

Features

Ultra-high-quality solid-silver contact stepped

Zero feedback, fully balanced discrete circuitry

Inductor-input audio power supply filtering

Ayre Conditioner (patent pending) power line RFI filter

Special high-speed circuit board material

Reference quality phono option features adjustable gain and loading

Remote control option

Specifications

Gain - Line
16 dB to balanced outputs
10 dB to unbalanced outputs

Gain - Phono
Adjustable --- 40 dB, 50 dB (factory setting), 60 dB

Input Impedance - Line
10 kohm (each phase)

Input Impedance - Phono
Adjustable --- 50 kohm (factory setting) to 100 ohm

Output Impedance
300 ohm (each phase)

Power Consumption
20 watts

Dimensions
18"W x 12"D x 6.25"H
(45.7cm x 30.5cm x 16cm) - Main Unit

13"W x 8"D x 3.75"H
(33cm x 20.3cm x 9.5cm) - Power Supply

Weight
45 pounds (20kg) - Complete Unit

Mark Levinson 326S Baby version of the Ref 32 Pre-amp at a reasonable cost of £6,995. Like most technologies the benefits of the research for the reference products trickle down into more affordable products like the 326s Pre-amp. You get alot of the quality of its bigger brother, providing a jump in the quality available at this price.

Ayre Acoustics C-5xe Universal Disk Player Stereophile Extract: "It ought to be fairly obvious that I found the Ayre C-5xe more than satisfactory. I didn't expect it to disappoint, but I was unprepared for just how much it delighted me. I've heard a lot of impressive audio components over the years, but I've heard very few that afforded me greater musical pleasure or sent me on as many voyages of musical discovery through discs I thought I knew well." - Wes Phillips, July, 2005

Gryphon Diablo The ultimate reference integrated amplifier at £6100. The Gryphon sonic magic in a reasonable sized and georgeous case, you must hear this as it puts most pre power combo's to shame, pure music at its best.

Brinkmann LaGrange turntableThe Brinkmann LaGrange turntable is without a doubt the best source component I have ever had the chance to enjoy over an extended period of time. It represents a level of perfection and emotional connection to music that I have never heard before. - Danny Kaey extract from Positive Feedback

Teac Esoteric DV-50SThe Esoteric DV-50 is the most fun you can have with digital music playback short of the dCS trio reviewed by Michael Fremer in April 2003 (Vol.26 No.4). Given that the dCS gear costs about six times as much as the DV-50, the Esoteric is a screaming bargain, especially considering its hyper-advanced technology, bulletproof build, and exceptional sound. You can even play movies on it. - Stereophile Extract

ProAc D100 The imposing new Response D100 takes on the mantle of flagship model from our legendary Response Four, which has delighted discerning audiophiles for the last twelve years.

The D100's produce stunning music, effortlessly. The enhanced sensitivity extracts the tiniest detail from any recording without brightness or exaggeration. Greater bandwidth creates a huge soundstage, drawing in the listener and creating a concert hall experience, where the loudspeakers seem to melt from the scene..

AudioSalon - scotlands first and foremost hi-fi dealer since 1979

Electronics

Loudspeakers

Ayre K-1xe

Awards

Review Links

Enjoy the Music.Com K-1x	by: George Papadimitriou (Pappas)	9-01-2004
"The sound was very open, very airy, and very transparent. The soundstage was h-u-g-e and the front to back depth was extremely well extended. The whole soundstage and the performance were so incredibly open, wide and deep. It was almost holographic."

Charles Hansen interview, K-1x, K-5x review	by: Richard Hardesty	12-01-2003
Audio Perfectionist Journal -- "The K-1x is the finest solid-state preamplifier that I've heard" </< TD>

Soundstage! K-1x	by: John Leosco	6-01-2002
Reviewers' Choice 2002 -- "The K-1x is simply the finest-sounding line-stage preamplifier I've heard in my system, both drawing me into the music and closer to the actual event."

OnHiFi.com K-1x Follow-up	by: Wes Phillips	11-01-2001
"...one of an exceedingly small handful of products that seem capable of going about as far into the realm of musicality as we've ever ventured."

OnHiFi.com K-1x	by: Wes Phillips	3-01-2001
"Sweet? Lord, yes. Extended? Absolutely. Also authoritative, smooth, and timbrally true. The K-1x is an extremely polished performer..."

Mark Levinson 326S Baby version of the Ref 32 Pre-amp at a reasonable cost of £6,995. Like most technologies the benefits of the research for the reference products trickle down into more affordable products like the 326s Pre-amp. You get alot of the quality of its bigger brother, providing a jump in the quality available at this price.	Ayre Acoustics C-5xe Universal Disk Player Stereophile Extract: "It ought to be fairly obvious that I found the Ayre C-5xe more than satisfactory. I didn't expect it to disappoint, but I was unprepared for just how much it delighted me. I've heard a lot of impressive audio components over the years, but I've heard very few that afforded me greater musical pleasure or sent me on as many voyages of musical discovery through discs I thought I knew well." - Wes Phillips, July, 2005
Gryphon Diablo The ultimate reference integrated amplifier at £6100. The Gryphon sonic magic in a reasonable sized and georgeous case, you must hear this as it puts most pre power combo's to shame, pure music at its best.	Brinkmann LaGrange turntableThe Brinkmann LaGrange turntable is without a doubt the best source component I have ever had the chance to enjoy over an extended period of time. It represents a level of perfection and emotional connection to music that I have never heard before. - Danny Kaey extract from Positive Feedback
Teac Esoteric DV-50SThe Esoteric DV-50 is the most fun you can have with digital music playback short of the dCS trio reviewed by Michael Fremer in April 2003 (Vol.26 No.4). Given that the dCS gear costs about six times as much as the DV-50, the Esoteric is a screaming bargain, especially considering its hyper-advanced technology, bulletproof build, and exceptional sound. You can even play movies on it. - Stereophile Extract	ProAc D100 The imposing new Response D100 takes on the mantle of flagship model from our legendary Response Four, which has delighted discerning audiophiles for the last twelve years. The D100's produce stunning music, effortlessly. The enhanced sensitivity extracts the tiniest detail from any recording without brightness or exaggeration. Greater bandwidth creates a huge soundstage, drawing in the listener and creating a concert hall experience, where the loudspeakers seem to melt from the scene..