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Next upgrade, DartZeel or Ayre

Due to heat and space, I am considering DartZeel or Ayre as both are solid state and take up less space than my current system. I understand DartZeel pre and power work best together, similarly for Ayre KX-R and MX-R, so I will get the combo to achieve the best synergy. DartZeel has built-in phono, Ayre does not, so I will have to keep my Einstein phono stage if I go with Ayre.

Has anyone compared the combo? My current speakers are SF Amati Homage & Guarneri Memento with JL F113, either combo can drive my speakers well since I don't listen loud. I do like the extra power from Ayre which gives me more options for speaker upgrade later. But if DartZeel is superior, I am willing to live with the lower power rating and shop my next speaker within DartZeel's capability.

Any input is appreciated.
semi
bar81
791 posts
 
Mike,

The comment was not intended to imply that the dartzeel gear doesn't sound good; rather, just that your setup is an ideal case and that an in-home demo is a must.
lucky_boy
29 posts
 
Have not heard the DartZeel. My current set up include SF Memento, Ayre MXR and Wadia 581 SE and they sound magical. The Ayre mono amps are very special. I also heard Ayre MX-R and Ayre K1xe driven by Nagra player on Guarneri Memento and they also sound spectacular. In fact, Ayre equipment does match great with SF speakers.
teddy_bear
112 posts
 
Lucky boy, Guarneri/Ayre sounds closed in, syrupy even.
semi OP
649 posts
 
Teddy_bear, I think the reason you heard Guarneri Memento sounded close in and syrupy was the speakers were not broken in. I bought my GM new and the sound transformed after 10 hours of play and continue to improve.

Bar81, I never implied I made my decision from that short audition in dealer showroom. Yes, I am in Singapore now and I had the benefit to audition many brands within a few steps from each other. I will return to the dealer once the KX-R is back and hopefully it will create enough positive impression on me to the point I want to borrow them home. But if the sound remained hi-fi sounding, I will turn to Dartzeel instead.

I have no doubt Dartzeel is one of the most musical solid state right now, but I am still concern about the power rating. I know 100wpc is not created equally, but 100wpc is simply not enough for big speakers in a big room.

Search continues, hope the KX-R and Dartzeel will return to the dealers soon.
french_fries
815 posts
 
when it comes to high-end audio, "I" now have "The Latest and The Greatest"- LOL, well who can really claim to know what that is...? anyway, i humbly submit the following:
i recently upgraded my wires to transparent MM2, got an EMM-Lab CDSA cd player, and a mark levinson 326S preamp. i already had mark levinson 33h monoblocks and von schweikert vr9 speakers.
i didn't acquire all this stuff at the same time, of course. but i finally got the wire and the source components hooked up together recently. regarding break in- after a few hours, everything sounded ok to me.
well, actually more than ok. silky smooth, relaxed, no "soundstage"
because everything was simply wide open. as some reviewers like to phrase things- there isn't a "system" anymore, just the music and the room.
my preferences usually run to well-recorded redbook cd's by artists i feel capture the spirit of the music. anyway, i am still totally ignorant regarding some of the premium equipment mentioned above, but i can assure you that your own personal journey trying different components which enhance the music you are really crazy about (for me i have to start with the Baroque Era) can lead to unique combinations that hopefully reflects what YOU like, and what you felt was worth the price of admission.
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