Ayre k-5xe MP

The bass was very good but keep in mind that it is a very dated unit now.  When I moved up to the newer KX-5 Twenty, I realized what I was missing.  It's just that much deeper/tighter and clean.  

The Diamond Circuit- Twenty, makes a huge difference.

Ayre always had a 'tight' sound, the Twenty status makes it even better.

Bob

I had this preamp. I paired it with a number of my amps from a 60 watt tube amp to a 250 watt solid state amp. For me, the sound was extended at both ends and quite clean on either extreme. I enjoyed the sweet sounding highs and decent overall detail and low noise floor, and the ergonomics and operation of this preamp were a joy to use.

IMO the main quality that I found that I did not take to was the lack of "drive" and dynamic in the sound when compared to my other units. It was weaker in dynamics and was simply not engaging for me because of this. I would summarize this preamp as having a lean, clean, extended, but felt like it was missing some quality of power that would grab my attention.