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Ayre introduces the AX-8 integrated amp

Ayre Acoustics introduces the brand new 8 Series Components. The 8 series will fit into their product range below the new 5 series, taking the place of the discontinued 9 and 7 series and the older 5 series products. The price range of the 8 series is planned to be between $2,500 - $8,000 US Retail.

The first two products which are showing in Munich are the AX-8 integrated amplifier (with digital inputs including streaming) and the QX-8 digital hub (also with streaming) and like all Ayre components, they will be hand-built in Boulder, CO.

https://wizard-highend.blogspot.com/2017/05/ayre-ax-8-qx-8.html?m=1

http://ciamara.com/new-ayre-8-series-components-coming-fall/

hgeifman
hgeifman OP
2,238 posts
 
@beetlemania,  Ayre currently sells the Ayre QX-5 Twenty DAC featuring the new ESS ES9038PRO DAC chip.  The  New Ayre 8 series DAC/streamer/headphone-amp will be part of the 8 series, as a successor of the Ayre QB-9DSD.  I am guessing the Ayre QX-8 DAC will be announced when the EX-8 amplifier is announced.  This is just a guess since I have no official information.

BTW, I own the Ayre Codex DAC and like it very much.  Please see:

https://www.ayre.com/qx5.htm
beetlemania
834 posts
 
@hgeifman Yes, I know they announced the QX-8 months ago. It's been long enough ago that I wonder if they've changed any features or scrapped it altogether. I would love a QX-5 but already crunched my budget with the AX-5 last year. I might at least contemplate a QX-8 if it comes in around $4K and promises a notable improvement over the QB-9.

What I would really love is a QB-9 with QX-5 chip, clock, and circuitry. USB only works just fine for me. I have no need for volume control or headphone amp or 10 digital inputs. I guess many potential customers turned away from the QB-9 because it only did one thing but it sure does that one thing very well!
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,734 posts
 
beetlemania-

how do you like the AX-5 ? Can this model upgrade to AX-5 twenty?
I have not had an opportunity to demo Ayre gear.

Happy Listening!
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,734 posts
 
As above-
Simaudio has been making Integrated amps for quite a while now.
Those models seem to have high power ratings as well.

Happy Listening!
beetlemania
834 posts
 
how do you like the AX-5 ? Can this model upgrade to AX-5 twenty?
Holy cow, I freaking love it!

The two best amps I've ever heard are the Ayre MX-R and ARC Reference 250. Well, it's more accurate to say that those were the amps in the two best *systems* I've heard. Anyhow, when I heard an AX-5, I thought it captured most of the magic of the MX-R/KX-R combo. Again, not a proper trial wherein all other factors were equal but that AX-5 driven system was singing superbly well.

I actually have the Twenty version, just too lazy to always type it out. But, yes, original AX-5s can be upgraded to current production (for the price difference between the two versions). I really appreciate that Ayre let's you upgrade at a modest cost rather than have to buy a whole new unit each time the performance is increased.

I'm quite certain it's my last amp.
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