2. amps-preamps
  3. 185283-2164

Ayre v Hegel sound

My setup is comprised of a Roon-ready Ayre QX-5 Twenty DAC, Ayre DX-5 DSD disc player, Ayre KX-5 Twenty preamp and VX-5 Twenty amp driving a pair of KEF Reference 1s augmented below 80 Hz with s pair of acoustic room corrected Velodyne HGS-15s.  The speakers are high-passed at 80 Hz by a Marchand filter.  I've been mulling over the idea of replacing the DAC, preamp, and amp with a Hegel H390 integrated for simplicity and downsizing , but I have no idea what effect that might have on the sound.  Anyone out there know or have an opinion? 

dbphd
mtdining's avatar
mtdining
131 posts
 

The hHegel is nowhere near as refined. Acoustic instruments will not sound nearly as natural. I couldn’t stand Hegel myself. It sounds coarse in comparison. Maybe more dynamic. If I only listened to Electronic music, with synths I was unfamiliar with, maybe.

mtdining's avatar
mtdining
131 posts
 

I’m spoiled though, I mostly listen to the AX-5 fronted by a Bartók Apex.

jeffseight's avatar
jeffseight
578 posts
 

That's a no.

jafant's avatar
jafant
20,123 posts
 

dbphd

 

An AYRE AX-5 Twenty will give you 90% presentation and sound of the KX-5 twenty/VX-5 twenty combo. Specifically, DX-5 (DSD) and AX-5 Twenty makes for a superb combination.

 

Happy Listening!

dbphd OP
1,632 posts
 

If Ayre added streaming to the AX-5 I'd be a buyer.  I really like the Ayre sound.  All my Ayre gear except the amp fits in a single Salamander rack and the amp sits between the speakers, so I think I'll forget about downsizing for now.

More to discover