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Ayre or Rowland Amp?

I am thinking seriously about stepping out of my tubed ARC VT100 MKII amp into something that doesn't require retubing. The Rowland 201s or the Ayre V5xe look interesting from reviews, but I haven't heard either. These will be fed by an ARC LS5MKIII (which I love) and will feed Watt/Puppy 7s.

There don't seem to be that many of either amp 'out there' so info is relatively hard to come by, especially on the newer incarnation of the Ayre.

Any feedback would be appreciated!

Bob Wood
128x128woodburger
keithr
1,306 posts
 
I think you will miss your tubes, honestly.

Might want to go to a BAT which is considerably easier to retube than the ARC. Also, a great combination.

And yes, I've owned the Rowland 201s. Sure, they are great to look at, but I found them fairly sterile and lacking a 3dness that tubes provide.
woodburger's avatar
woodburger OP
143 posts
 
To answer the question above, the front end is Sony SCD-1, 3x modded by Richard Kern, into ARC LS5MKIII with Infinicaps and removeable IEC. I think I am using an Electraglide with that - and its power is via dedicated line through an Ultimate Outlet into PS300 MWII.

Thanks - this thread has been wonderfully free of invective and full of HELP which is a breath of fresh air to me.

Bob
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Bob, that sounds like a good start to use with the H2O. BTW, the H2O sigs will be featured at the NY HE Show at the end of next month. They will be powering Analysis ribbon speakers. I'm flying from California for that one.
bryanhod
211 posts
 
I have those "sterile" Roland M201s and I think they are FANTASTIC. So I think you will just have to try them to be sure what sound you like best.
scottsman
15 posts
 
I will have to second the "FANTASTIC" comment regarding the Rowland. I am using the Concerto int. which is said to be the "equivalent" to the Concerto pre / 201's. Can't write enough positive adjectives about it. The lack of "3-D" comment makes me wonder what the front end and speakers were.
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