Amp for Kef reference 1 -Ayre Acoustics AX-5 0 Match?


Curious if anyone has heard the Kef reference 1’s with the Ayre AX-5? I also have an Exasound e62 Dac that has a great volume control and could be used as a preamp.

Want to get as much out of the Kef’s as I can (at 85 db they are a bit finicky and need high current) and looking for an awesome power supply - don’t need a built in DAC or streamer.
I’ve also considered the Coda CSIB as well as the boulder 866.
Any other suggestions, insights or comments would be much appreciated. Looking in the 4 - 5 grand range




cshadow
All of the integrated amps you mention will be more than $5K.  You might want to look at the new Belles Aria Signature integrated at $4495. It's a great sounding amp and seems to be able to drive many speakers. I have heard it with Vandersteen, Proac and Magnepan speakers. 

JohnnyR at the Audio Connection can help you with your search. He is a Belles and Ayre dealer.
Joey the belles integrated sounds awful on kefs we had a client bring his aria to demo on kef r11 the combo was not good what sounds good on a warm speaker such as a vandy is not going to work on a more neutral kef

The coda csib is probably the Best sounding sub 10k integrated and it is a phenominal deal the amp in the integrated is exactly the same as the award winning coda.8 which sells for the same price so the csib integrated is basically giving you a free preamp

the ref 1 coda csib combo
is fantastic we have a client with that exact pairing

Dave and troy
Audio intellect nj
Kef gold dealer and coda dealer
@audiotroy:

You could be right as every Kef Speaker I ever heard sounds like drek to me. But that's only my opinion and everyone hears things differently and no one is right or wrong in their opinion, including me. I know there are many happy KEF owners out there so they must sound good to some people.