Can't decide on Integrated Amp - Please Help

Well, Theil and Maggies can sound that way regardless of what you run them with. Set up is key. I don't know what older Ayre stuff sounded like, but the AX7 is a great match for a speaker like that. Plenty detailed, but honest in it's presentation. It's a mellow amp if you would. It's not even close to what you assert. I've heard the Ayre on so many speakers and it so many different systems and the one constant is that it's helped all of them and even store owners have noticed the same thing, even if they weren't selling it. The AX5 is probably the best integrated I've ever heard and fits into any system and makes it better. I'm saving up for that one. The problem with the net is that folks make assumptions and in your first post you stated your feelings as fact if you would and that's skews things for the original poster and the rest of who read and don't listen. I'm not flaming you, just pointing out that unless you actually hear products together and especially the newest stuff (that we are talking about in the thread) maybe it's best not to say that you may need earplugs to listen to it. Thats not fair to the Ayre folks. I"m not a shill, just a satisfied customer....I listened to the Hegel gear, Ayre gear, Sim gear and all the rest before settling on Ayre....There are major differences in all of them and that's why there are so many products out there. I've never heard anyone say anything bad about Ayre before, I guess that's why your comments really threw me for a loop. Hope this isn't harsh as that's not how I intend it to be.

Ctsooner-You make many good points. I have not heard the flagship R series amp/pre, or the latest Evolution 7 series. I'm sure the latest Ayre products can sound fantastic when mated with the right speakers/cables ect. From my own experience I would start with a Marantz PM-11S2/3 to tackle the aggressive nature of the MA-RX6 not a AX7. Is the Marantz a better overall amp then the Ayre AX7? With my own biases/experiences I would say yes, even if the majority disagrees. The earplug comment was just poking fun at a shrill/bright treble that can occur if there is a synergistic mismatch. This was not directed against Ayre but with possible speaker synergy and room acoustics.

Monitor Audio speakers mate well with CYRUS electronics
They were featured together last month in Toronto at the audio expo here.

Simonmorty, my apologies for not responding to you last month. I did not compare the H100 to the H200. I compared it to the Ayre AX7 and Luxman l505u. I loved them all but the Hegel worked out best for me at the time. I would have been happy with any of them, that's for sure.

Dayglow, my point is that you can't make a statement that you think the Marantz is better than the Ayre when you have never heard the Ayre, let alone in the same system. That's the problem I have with your statements. I have heard the two amps vs each other. I like the Marantz unit...I like it a lot, but do yourself a favor and go listen to the amps side by side in the same system.