Amp for Kef reference 1 -Ayre Acoustics AX-5 0 Match?

to the OP , what a great position to be in. $4-$5k should get you a fine amplifier to power your KEF. How loud are you listening ?

On the subject of precision in language and opinion, was it indeed a Belles Signature ? Also, Nelson who i hold in highest reverence ain’t no spring chicken...

starting to think ..none of us are....

cshadow

Pick up the AYRE AX-5, send it to Colorado and have Ryan (and crew) upgrade to the AX-5 Twenty Series. You will not become disappointed.
The sound is simply superb!

Happy Listening!

My experience is that the Kef Reference 1s drift to the forward/revealing side of the audio spectrum and need a little power.  Most Ayre amps I have heard are also a bit forward/revealing.  That integrated will do the job, well in terms of handling the speakers but you may find the sound profile a s bit more forward that you would like.  

The Boulder would definitely be a better option and if you can get it for $4-$5K, I would buy it.  It will have a much more natural sound.  

A bit above your budget $6495, but will have the right tonal profile and provide oodles of power for those speakers is the AVM A5.2 which has a warmer sound profile closer to Pass or Naim.  It is a class D with a tube based input stage and 185w of power.  I have customers driving Martin Logan 13As and Magico A3s with this integrated. 

If you can be patient and wait till February, the AVM MA30.3 mono-blocks will be coming which are 150w into 8ohms.  They are half width components and will fit on one shelf.  Like all AVM products, they have a smoother, sweeter sound that will go well with Kef Reference gear and are $4495 for the pair.  

Alternatively, see if you can find a Pass integrated used.  New gear will be pricey but used will put you in a sweet spot in terms of sound and obviously Pass quality is second to none.  

You might also find a Constellation power amp used in that price range.  That would be another amazing choice.  

I am obviously an AVM dealer, I have no affiliation with any other brand mentioned here.  

Guys we are the only ones here with the ops speakers and the coda ref1 combo is magic

The coda gear is better than the pass

The csib is the same coda .8 amp plus a good preamp board for the same price as the amp itself!

The .8 is a true high bias reference amp

https://hometheaterreview.com/coda-technologies-continuum-no-8-stereo-amplifier/

Tomić we dont sell pass doug from coda is way yonger then david belles and has a team of employees not to mention that coda does a robust oem business and are very healthy for a small company

As per the aria version Johnny should know which one he sold the client as mentioned we played the combo together and with the kefs the sound wasnt good the aria may be wonderful with vandys but these are two totally diferent sounding lines if speakers

Even if this was not a signature our last demo was not good nor was our previous outing with belles previous gear which we had evaluazed at our shop

Hi audio friends,

Thank you for the feedback and insight

Love the idea of taking the Ayre and doing the upgrade, however the Coda feels like is a safe bet.  

Will definitely research the constellation as well

Regarding class D - feel like i'm opening a pandora's box here - I've listened to the devialet with the kef's and it felt like listening to math.  The bass was amazing, however the midrange was clinical.