2. amps-preamps
  3. 132001-2084

Best amps for everything EXCEPT bass

Vandersteen Treo CT speakers. Swarm subwoofer system with two amps. All frequencies are covered and sound outstanding with my Quicksilver V4 tube amps and the Swarm.

So, do I change out the Quicksilver for an Ayre VX5-20? Most of the comments on the Ayre upgrade focus on bass - my set up will benefit from improved bass, but that’s not the focus since the Treo’s aren’t my primary source of bass.

Thoughts, comments and recommendations are welcomed. 
cajunbaseball
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
I was just reading about the Ayres integrated.  I can't see any reason that wouldn't work well for you!
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,164 posts
 
ran Vandy 5a and now 7’s with Ayre VX-R ( later upgraded to Twenty)
pretty good sound IMO

you do want an amp with excellent low end chacteristics because the transfer function is preserved with the Vandersteen high input subwoofer system. The Ayre has some grunt as a full range product. Sloppy bass will just get mimiced thru the sub

when i picked my 5a up at Randy at Optimal he was driving them with very modest Quicksilver power.....
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,164 posts
 
OP sorry just rereading your post
not sure about swarm, maybe you are right and can ignore sub 100 hz performance 
willemj
1,036 posts
 
I think you need more power, and lots of it. Why not get a Bryston rather than boutique stuff?
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
Separate systems for movies and music. Keep what you have and just get something like a used top line Marantz multichannel AVR and call it the day.
More to discover