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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
jc4659 OP
558 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.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,475 posts
 
I agree with Randy-11 et al.   All my elecronics are Ayre...they all work well together, are ultra reliable, backed by Ayre's great service department and sound great......what more could you want...
jc4659 OP
558 posts
 
...what more could you want...

More Ayre, of course!
 Done with room and system tweaks. The suggestion to look at new DACs is reasonable too. But I'd want something with an upgrade path. 
gdnrbob
4,452 posts
 
I agree with Randy and Stringreen. Ayre will do it right, should you want to upgrade. 
Regarding upgrading your DAC, why not get a Codex? It must be the best buy of the decade.
The only other comparably priced DAC is the Schiit Gungnir of Yggy, both are upgradable.
Bob
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