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Ayre P5-xe

The Ayre P-5x phono preamplifier uncovers the astounding musicality in your favorite records. Music flows from a pure black background, thanks to ultra-low noise FET circuitry in a zero-feedback configuration. Fully adjustable gain and loading options provide complete compatibility with the widest possible range of cartridges, from low-output exotic moving coils to high-output moving magnet designs. Our proprietary two-stage passive RIAA equalization ensures unparalleled tonal realism. The Ayre P-5x infuses new life into a classic format.

Awards

Recommended Components 2004 -- Stereophile
"...the P-5x lets you forget it's even there--about as high a compliment as can be paid a piece of audio gear in the service of music."

Review Links

Ayre Acoustics P-5xe Phono Stage	by: Jason Thorpe	9-16-2005

Stereophile / Analog Corner P-5x	by: Michael Fremer	9-13-2004
"...the P-5x lets you forget it's even there--about as high a compliment as can be paid a piece of audio gear in the service of music."

Features

Fully balanced from input to output
Zero feedback
Ultra-low noise discrete FET circuitry
Two-stage passive RIAA equalization
Balanced and single-ended inputs and outputs
Adjustable gain accommodates very low to high output cartridges
Cartridge loading is adjustable with switches on back of unit
Custom high quality capacitors
Special high-speed circuit board material
Ayre Conditioner (patent pending) power-line RFI filter

Specifications

Gain
50 dB, 60 dB, 70 dB to balanced outputs
44 dB, 54 dB, 64 dB to single-ended outputs

Input Impedance
47 kohm, 1000 ohm, 100 ohm

Frequency Response
RIAA curve accurate to ± 0.05 dB

Power Consumption
10 watts

Dimensions
17.25"W x 13.75"D x 2.38"H
(43.8cm x 35cm x 6cm)

Weight
12 pounds (5.5 kg)

MANLEY Steelhead Incredible! by Wayne Garcia of The Absolute Sound #151 1/2005
Best he's ever heard! from Ken Kessler of HIFI News 5/2004
Rave! Manley STEELHEAD Scot Markwell TAS/AV Guide 1/2002
"This is the finest phono amplifier we have ever heard!"
Rave! Manley STEELHEAD Michael Fremer Stereophile 12/2001
"The Steelhead is the most flexible, user-friendly phono section I've ever encountered." "Overall, the Steelhead delivered the best vinyl playback I've heard from my system. It combined speed, frequency extension, resolution, harmonic structure, focus, air, stage depth, image specificity, and, most important, overall musical coherence in a way that made the music seem to fly from the speakers unrestrained by mechanical or electrical bounds." Vol. 12 No. 24

Ayre Acoustics P5-xeRecommended Components 2004 -- Stereophile
"...the P-5x lets you forget it's even there--about as high a compliment as can be paid a piece of audio gear in the service of music."

Unison Simply PhonoValve phono stages are rare. Affordable models that sound good are even rarer. The Simply Phono is an excellent performer with an affordable price tag is vinyl is your passion. It’s a perfect compliment to all Unison line level amplifiers and works superbly with any quality hi-fi set-up. It caters for both MM and mid-high level MC cartridges and features switchable impedance for optimum load matching. An optional separate power supply is available for a small extra cost.

Pathos InTheGroove MK IIInTheGroove MKII is a high performance passive phono preamplifier designed for both MC and MM phono cartridges.The very refined sound follows the Pathos tradition of great soundstage, high realism, transparency, dynamics and musicality.

Audio Analogue Aria"The Audio Analogue Aria is another brilliant example how sophisticated engineering (cf. off-line PSU) and choices made "by ear" can successfully live together and cooperate. The Aria proves, once again, that a properly installed vinyl playback system is still very hard to beat. " - TNT Audio

"Most striking about its sound was the depth and power of the bass - it really is in another league from the Pro-ject Phono Box SE or Musical Fidelity X-LPSv3 - if not the Trichord Dino. It was the sheer depth of sound that impressed. Vocals were extremely well projected, and there was excellent staging and separation of various musicians"- Dominic Todd HiFi World

Primare R20Some recordings you simply cannot live without. More often than not, these treasured performances are stored on vinyl only, so you need a high-quality turntable, tone arm and pick-up cartridge to enjoy them. But the interface between the turntable and a modern sound system is as critical to the end result as the choice of any other component.

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