Ayre AX-7e or Edge G3?

Arch2

Thanks for the clarification. Like you, I've had tubes in my previous system, which consisted of VTL MB-125's using EL-34's. Pretty special sounding in the midrange.

My upstream components were pretty special too, with the 3-piece dCS digital front end and Basis Debut Gold turntable. Speakers were GR Research Alpha LS's, which were great-sounding 6' line arrays.

Due to a downsizing of our house and losing my dedicated room, I'm now using an Integra receiver with Audyssey EQ, as I use the system for both HT & 2-ch, and smallish Guru Pro Audio GM-10 bookshelf speakers. My 2-ch source is a Squeezebox 3.

I've recently added an MHDT Havana dac, which uses a single Western Electric 396A tube, in the hope that it might add a little tube flavor to the system. The Integra is in the shop for repairs, so I can't make a comparison yet. The equipment must sit enclosed in a built-in cabinet, so a tubed integrated is not possible due to heat and ventilation considerations.

Not being able to demo either of these units I suppose I'll just have to take my chances. This won't be the first time I've done that. I was just hoping things would be a little simpler this time. But I suppose that's the fun of this hobby. Trial and error.

Thanks again for your opinion.

I have only heard the Ayre, and to be honest I was not impressed. I used the Ayre with my CEC Tl51x transport, Wadia 12 DAC and Impulse Aria SE speakers. I felt it lacked the power to rock on my speakers. Maybe it was to clean to well behaved but it just didn't rock. I thought it was to sterile. Some time later I bought my Symphonic Line integrated and it is so much better then the Ayre.

I couldn't disagree more with the "sterile" conclusion of Mordante. Obviously, the AX-7e has "only" 60 watts per channel, but they are a legitimate 60. As to "rocking," that would really depend upon the efficiency of the speakers, size of the room and tastes of the listener. I have 2 AX-7e, one for each of my secondary systems. One is paired with Avalon mixing monitors, and the other Sonus Faber Auditor M's. In both cases I get wonderfully musical results, and plenty of volume for those settings. Ayre dealers are carefully selected to provide good customer service. You owe it to yourself to listed to the unit in your home with your setup and your music. There are simply too many variables to rely upon others, or even a dealer demo. Have fun!

Proth.
I am just writing what I heard. I agree that Ayre makes some great gear. But this amp just didn't do it for me. My room is not that big about 26m2 and my speakers are 89dB/m at 6 Ohm average with dips to 3.0-3.5 Ohm So that is nothing special. The system I have: speakers,Impulse Aria SE, the CD transport CEC TL51x, DAC Wadia 12, TT VPI Scout, Cartridge Lyra Dorian. IC Cardas hexlink, speakercable Wireworld Atlantis 5. Don't know is that is usefull but it might put it in perspective. You can have a look at my set at the virtual systems.

The music I play is anything from UB40 to Slayer.

The Symponic Line La Musica isn't a power house either s has more the 100watt/channel at 8 Ohm but how much is not specified. But my girlfriend and me both liked the SL a lot more then the Ayre.