2. vintage
  3. 189881-2164

Planning a vintage setup

My original idea was to use a vintage Ayre C5xe disc player and AX-7e integrated with KEF Reference 1s. Then I got sidetracked with a Parasound JC 2 preamp and JC 1 monoblocks. But it occurred to me that’s just a second high-end setup I don’t need. I moved from a rack of Ayre gear with the Reference 1s to a KEF LS60 augmented with a pair of KC62 subs to simplify.

I think I’ve decided on using an Oppo 205 as a preamp to a Proceed Amp 2 that will drive the Reference 1s. The Amp 2 was my entry to higher-end audio years ago, replacing a Marantz 18 receiver. As a packrat I kept everything. I have a Proceed PAV preamp, but the 205 plays discs and Roon via HDMI from a Nucleus, and I’d like to use just the two components.

The vintage Ayre disc player, integrated amp, and DAC will be displayed. Most of the modern Ayre gear is for sale.

Proceed was a Mark Levinson brand-mate made by Madrigal.

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glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,688 posts
 

Wow time flies, I would never have considered Ayre vintage but looking them up they have been around 25 years now wow. 

elliottbnewcombjr
5,461 posts
 

KEF made a big splash when new, excellent finish and sound great, but I advise against them because of low sensitivity and too deep for ..... 

I always want efficient enough to more readily try tubes, now or future.

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dbphd OP
1,628 posts
 

Turns out none of the Proceed Amp 2s is functional, and after soul-searching I doubt I really want to sell the modern Ayre gear. I envision a simple setup of DAC, preamp, and amp with KEF Reference 1s, maybe subs but no surround. A Sony HT A9 SW5 does surround. This ends my plan for a vintage setup unless I bring up the Ayre AX-7e and C5xe with appropriate speakers, e.g., KEF Reference 102/2s.

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