Ayre K5xe vs BAT Pre

Well I sold the emotiva before I received the Bat so I cannot make an A/B comparison, but I owned the emotiva long enough to know the sound quite well. The main things that jumped out at me. The Bat is a little darker sounding, the UPA-2 was not bright but was not quite as dark. The Bat definitely takes an hour to warm up, until warm the sound is VERY dark almost cutoff. The Emotiva sounded pretty much the same from the time you turned it on. I cannot tell if either are more detailed, but the Bat sounds more realistic, which is the goal. While my system is sounding its best and I have no plans to sell anything I have grown in my respect to the quality products emotiva is putting out. I truly believe for the $4500 that an emotiva system with XSP-1, XPA-2, ERC-2, and Magnepan 1.7 would be at least 90% of my system currently costing $18,000 retail value. My old setup was USP-1, ERC-1, UPA-2, and Mag 1.6, I do not currently own any emotiva components but if I even need the cash emotiva WILL be my downgrade system.

Why would you want to switch from Ayre. There is a synergy using an all Ayre system that would be denied with another "house sound" fighting what Ayre is all about. Be sure to interconnect with balanced cables (I use Anti-Cables with great satisfaction). I would go up the Maggy line myself.

I didn't switch from an Ayre. I never had an ayre amp. I would love to try a V5xe or V1xe but the BAT is sounding and looking pretty good.

The BAT VK-51se and VK-42se preamps are a steal at there used prices. IMO a step up from the Ayre your using now and (personal preference) nicer than the K-1xe. I also think after living with the BAT amp for a while you might find the V5xe a little thin and bass light. The V-1xe would be more on the same same level (if not better) than the VK-500 amp you have now.

I would get the BAT "tube" preamp. It should sound marvelous with XLR connections to your amp.