CODA amp No.8, Bryston 4B3, or Ayre VX-5 Twenty

Thanks very much for your sharing! I plan to replace my current amp Odyssey Khartago (110W@8ohm). To be honest, there is nothing wrong with my system, the music is sweet & beautiful to my ears. But I have an itch to upgrade, to experience something new...

Hey, I have heard a lot of amps and have owned the full Ayre separates including the QX-5 DAC/ Streamer. The Ayre amp is really nice. For $14k it should be. I’m thinking you should sell the W4sound and get the Luxman 509z for the price of the Ayre amp. If you are buying used for $6k I think you could still get an integrated that does the same with 120 watts vs 175 watts. Your speakers are 89 db at 8 ohms. I get it about separates. What I did not understand is the Ayre AX-5 integrated is only 125 watts and played louder at the same exact volume as the separates which was 175 watts. I called Ayre. The old CEO told me it is the way it is supposed to be. No way!  Needless to say all the Ayre separates are gone. You need to try these pieces in your home before you buy. Try before you buy. 

Just make sure the amp you select is compatible with your preamp in terms of input sensitivity, gain, and impedance.

If you want to hear something different, you should try out the Benchmark AHB2 amp over the CODA. #8 and the 4B3. I do not remember how the Ayre sounded. 

I am someone who owned the #8 (a very good amp) and now own the CODA #16 (love it). I have tried a lot of amps in the past 5 years and the amp that differs in the sound the most is the AHB2, especially with their preamp.

I bought and sold the AHB2 a few times. Now after not having it for almost a year, I do miss the change in pace that the AHB2 represents in my system. My new speakers would work well with the AHB2.

Hi yyzsantabarbara, do you think the AHB2 has enough power to drive & shine my speakers (89dB) in the room 26'x18'x9'? My main concern is its 100W@8ohm, while my speakers manufacture recommended 200W. Thanks!