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The imperfect amp: Pass or Ayre?

There are two high end SS amp brands which, from a technical perspective, don’t do very well, which I am thinking of:

Ayre and Pass.

Pass has stated that even ordered distortion is euphonic. Ayre’s zero feedback, diamond circuit has a great deal of distortion compared to the very best measuring amps.

I have to admit, that like an IPA vs. a Belgian White, I have a very strong preference, but my preference is not canon. It is just how my wallet moves me. You should in no way feel like my tastes matter. Buy what makes you giddy with joy.

Would you, kind lady or gentleman, tell us if you have heard both, what did you think?? Is this to narrow? Would you throw another brand into the ring??
erik_squires
erik_squires OP
16,021 posts
 
@three_easy_pieces
You are not wrong, but what I meant was that these two amps have given up on the measurably ideal, straight wire with gain.

Much more so than other solid state amps, not to mention, they are pretty expensive.

So, the relatively high distortion, and high price makes them interesting to pit against each other as we try to figure out what it is that makes an audiophile.


tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,895 posts
 
well in general, the question what kind of distortion are you attracted to is certainly valid and reaches into the realm of the psycho acoustic, a rich vein as yet not fully mined....so few audiophiles own an SPL meter yet claim to understand the origin of the loudness button..... probably a different thread...

I do dabble is semi serious listening while writing and reading....like a heavy deep dive of Linda R while reading her book Simple Dreams...

peace

jim
erik_squires OP
16,021 posts
 
Of course, Halcro is gone, but Pass and Ayre both are apparent financial successes.


Why?


If we discuss that, we are discussing the very heart of what it is to be an audiophile.
erik_squires OP
16,021 posts
 
well in general, the question what kind of distortion are you attracted to is certainly valid and reaches into the realm of the psycho acoustic, a rich vein as yet not fully mined.

Exactly!! Lets mine!!

erik_squires OP
16,021 posts
 
sure I have heard both and while I chose to own an Ayre VX-R in both the initial and then Twenty ( Diamond ) design, I think you might be missing the point a BIT...compared to many other components in the chain, amps are VERY low in distortion...

Hi @tomic601 
I'm not a scholar of either brand, but I thought they were relatively HIGH distortion?

Here's an example:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/pass-laboratories-xa25-power-amplifier-measurements
Interesting that the distortion profile gets higher above 2k. The Ayre actually seems higher in distortion, though it is flatter:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/ayre-acoustics-ax-5-integrated-amplifier-measurements
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