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Ayre owners and preamp options: seeking advice

I bought a new Ayre VX-5 twenty a while back and have it paired with the Ayre K-5xeMP pre.  Was contemplating updating my pre which is currently fed by a phono pre (Ayre) and a DAC, both balanced inputs.  Has anyone modded a k-5xemp with a few select parts and improved it?  Alternatively, has anyone added a tube pre to their Ayre amp?  Which ones mate well?  Lastly, upgrading to their new KX-5 twenty would be an obvious choice but I'm not yet ready to make that investment.  Thoughts?
jc4659
bar81
791 posts
 
The Twenty is the only choice.
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hk_fan
460 posts
 
I've never been a fan of modded electronics.  You will lose your a$$ on resale and more than likely be stuck with something that doesn't sound any better than what you started with.

Spend the money or stay with what you have until you can afford a proper upgrade.

With that said, I have heard Ayre amps with a VTL front end and it was fantastic.  What do you want to improve? 
jc4659 OP
550 posts
 
Good advice,hk_fan.  Thanks for the suggestion of VTL.  Looking for a little more everything but resolution, separation, and pristine extended upper frequencies to flesh out lightly brushed cymbals etc. to name a few.  I do not want a wholesale change in sound.

randy-11
1,913 posts
 
When the engineers at Ayre mod the device and come out with a new model... then buy it.

Otherwise, you can always try a new setup.  The amplification chain is not going to improve at the same rate as a DAC.

if you just have a burning desire to tweek, then moving speakers around and room tmts can keep you busy for a looooong time.
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