Building a music server with Ayre DX-5

I have been using the DX-5 with a modified Squeezebox Touch. Very nice.

Kal

Thanks, Kal. What USB cable are you using?

Ed

AudioQuest Carbon

Any links to the "mods" or modders needed to use the USB output of the Touch? A quick google found other people asking about this, but no solutions...

Kal,

How do you like the Audioquest?

Ed

The Audioquest works fine.

Kal

What are everyone's thoughts on the Ayre DX-5 using the USB input? How does it compare to older ayre products or other digital sources you have used? Soundstage, tonality, imaging, organic versus analytic? Thanks.

Sherpa,

My DX-5 is still breaking in, but right out of the box it killed my Ayre C-5xe and bettered my Exemplar Denon 5910, which had bettered everything else I put it up against until the DX-5. It really narrows the gap between vinyl and digital. My vinyl rig is SME 20/2 - Graham Phantom - DV XV-1S - Allnic H-3000 phono stage. With a well-recorded redbook CD, it comes pretty close to the vinyl and with a well-done SACD, it is closer still. While it is very detailed (very low noise floor), it is not at all analytic, but has a warm and realistic tonal balance throughout the range. I'm setting up a Mac Mini with 8GB RAM, SSD and a linear power supply to feed it ripped CDs. I have heard that rig feed the Ayre QB-9 in a system with the Ayre KXR, Ayre MXRs and Wilson Sophia 3s and it was awesome.