Ayre MX-R Twenty upgrade

I am seriously considering replacing my ARC Reference tube separates with an Integrated and an AX-5 Twenty is on my very short list along with Simaudio 600i and one from Pass perhaps. Need around 100w/ch to drive a pair of Verity Audio Parsifal Encore. Room is 16' x 25' x 8'.

I have very limited experience with SS as i have been with tube electronics for the past 30 years. Would still need a phono preamp but i could keep my Ref Phono2 with the likes of an AX-5. There are so many SOTA SS integrated nowadays.

If anyone can chime in on the performance of an AX5 i would appreciate.

Wow where to start? I was a tube guy since 1982 and Ayre made me switch. I've heard their whole product line other than a broken in AX5/20. Their ref 20 gear is at another level. It is the best of all worlds. Clean, detailed, inky black backgrounds, extended on both ends, tuneful, tight, no congestion ever, luscious and the list goes on. It's just real and fast. Honestly, I'd like to see them call it an AX-R/20 as I'm sure it will sound nearly as good as the ref gear just much less power. It's already so dynamic without ever being harsh. I've heard the ayre on various Wilsons, Vandersteen 7 down to my own Treo's to Focal to Rockports to Thiel 3.7 to Gallo to Paradigm sig 8 to Dynaudio to KEF Blade to Pro Ac and B&W. They are the first amps that just let you hear what the rest of your system is doing. Fast tuneful and quiet are words that come to mind easily.

I originally sent one of my MX-Rs in for replacement of an output device that was falsely triggering on overtemp and my dealer lent me his that were recently upgraded to Twenty status. My word what a tremendous difference. It's an entirely new presentation in terms of resolution, depth, soundstage width, pace, bass,.... After a week and a half of listening to them, I ordered the upgrade. Can't wait to get them.

Lenny, I totally agree. I wouldn't trade my AX5 Twenty's for the old ref gear you just upgraded. The Twenty series is as good as any amplification I've heard and for those asking, I've heard a ton of the higher priced gear. The reason is that it just gets things right. It checks off every box we audiophiles seem to keep track of. I spent the whole day yesterday in front of my system and I never once had the desire to stop. I have rarely done that. My dogs were very happy as they felt lazy yesterday too. After a few hours I also realized that my listening levels were MUCH lower than when I had the non Twenty amp in the system.

We all hear differently, but it's rare to find anyone who doesn't love the Ayre amps. Neither tube, nor solid state....They are true music producers. ( I was a full day of all my high rez digital music of every genre).

One of the best systems I've ever heard at my local shop was ayre MXR20 amps with the matching pre amp.. Speakers were aerial 20T. I couldn't stop listening.