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ayre ex-8 2.0 output transistors

Looking at the ex-8 2.0 and the Aesthetix Mimas. Noticed ex-8 weighed about half of the Mimas. Investigated and was told that the ex-8 uses twice the output transistors so they can be biased at a lower level resulting in lower power consumption. Because of this less heat is generated so heat sinks can be removed resulting in lower weight. Does anybody know about this architecture and its effect on the sound? Is it unique to ayer?
Thx.

128x128delmatae
erik_squires
16,118 posts
 

PS - I'm confident I'm my resply, above, but it's also fair to say, NEVER JUDGE AN AMP BY IT"S WEIGHT! :-)

Personally a huge Ayre fan, but it's got such a unique sound signature you will easilly hear which of those two amps you really want to take home.

hgeifman
2,225 posts
 

Ayer reports "The overall Ayre EX-8 2.0 upgrade doubled the number of output devices and capacitance for the output stage of the amplifier.  The more capacitance, the better, and the doubled number of devices helps the EX-8 2.0 drive harder-to-drive and lower ohm speakers more effortlessly and lets their benefits shine.  Ayre also optimized several places in the Diamond circuit that we discovered after first releasing the EX-8 that overall improves the sound.  In all, the EX-8 simply sounds like it has more power better range.  Bass feels stronger and the mids clearer without losing any of the resolution it had”.

I hope this help. 


 

 

 

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,913 posts
 

i am a fan of both Ayre and Aesthetix, i have heard both  ( Ayre 1.0 ) at some length driving Vandersteen TREO-CT , both are excellent, well engineered and supported products. I wouldn’t as Erik pointed out well, be making a choice based on weight…. I own gear from both brands, so count me biased…

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