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Ayre QX-5 Twenty steaming performance

I am interested in trying out an Ayre QX-5 Twenty with the Ethernet Bridge for steaming either Tidal or Qobuz. Does anyone have experience with streaming Tidel or Qobuz directly to the QX-5 Twenty? if so, was the result as good as streaming from a dedicated streamer to the QX-5 Twenty? I would like to go with a one box solution for streaming, but also with great SQ if possible. Thanks.
brystonkiwi
dbphd
1,632 posts
 
Im not sure this addresses your question.  I run Roon core on a Mac Mini that sends files via ethernet to an Ayre QX-5 Twenty.  In addition to rips and downloads, I stream Qobuz and Tidal.  The audio chain includes Ayre KX-5/VX-5 Twenty preamp/amp driving KEF Ref 1s supplemented by a pair of Velodyne HGS-10s with SMS-1 bass management.  The sound quality is superb.  Files sent to the asynchronous USB port of an Ayre DX-5 DSD sound nearly as good.
rossb
189 posts
 
I have a QX5 Twenty. The ethernet input is adequate, but I find that a Lumin U1 Mini sounds noticeably better.
dbphd
1,632 posts
 
I’m skeptical of rossb’s claim, but John Atkinson’s review of the QX-5 Twenty for Stereophile did suggest it’s sound improved when paired with a KX-5 Twenty.  Ayre gear always seems to sound best in a balanced setup, and I've only heard mine with that pairing.
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