Advantages of a tube CD player over an SS player?

It is true that some tube CD players just contain a tube buffer stage. A buffer is an additional circuit that the signal passes through that has no gain or amplification. If that is the case, then adding a separate tube buffer will accomplish the same thing, but requires more interconnects which will also affect the end result. IMHO, if adding a tube buffer results in a more pleasing sound, it's just masking a synergy problem somewhere else in the system.

As far as the Ayon CD-07, it appears that this is not a CD player with an added tube buffer. Their description of the player states Class A tube output stage and no buffers are used in the signal path.

I also agree with Charles1dad's comments, and both of these are excellent players. Provided there is good synergy in the rest of the system, either player should sound good, although likely a little different. My experience with another Ayre player and reviews of the CX-7 is that the sound is not anything close to being laid back. So, if your system is somewhat laid back, the Ayre could definitely add more of a lively sound, however, in another system, as in my experience, it may not suit someone's personal preference.

I would add that at the level of CDP such as the Ayre and Ayon, you would not experience the CD glare that we're so familiar with. It's a matter of which player's sonics do you prefer.

Thanks to all who have responded. Every comments is excellent and informative as to the differences addressed in the thread.

Tls49, your point about that...."there is good synergy in the rest of the system" though true will play havoc with any selection I make. As it stands, my system is Acoustic Zen Adagios, a Rogue "Sphinx integrated amp" which so far has been just short of spectacular, and the old reliable Rega Apollo. I am currently using speaker cable that I have concluded is just OK made by a company called Rogue which has NO connection to the electronics brand

I have decided to try out Grover Huffman speaker cable. Overall, the system, even when I was using separates before the purchase of the Rogue integrated amp,LEANS toward the bright side but not that much.... A consequence I believe of room acoustics, the glared playback of the Rega Apollo and just possibly the AZ's Adagios use of a 1.5 inch Round RIBBON tweeter with a Kapton membrane. The amalgram of these factors may be creating a less than smooth top end. Therefore, that is why I considered a tube CD player to (as a few members have said) may take off or smooth out the top-end brightness( which is not intolerable at all). Overall, I am also searching for much greater musicality....this has been the goal all along

However, I always liked the looks and tank-like construction of the Ayre CX-7e mp2.
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One final, but somewhat off issue point, I have noticed that traditional box speakers which received positive comments about their smooth high end usually incorporate SEAS tweeters,or Spectron tweeters (not sure of this name)which are often modified by the manufacturer.

What makes this brand of tweeter so popular with many high-end box speaker manufacturers in the US and Europe???

sunnyjim, you should also take consideration of what kind of tube you like, I personaly had a Ayon cd-2s player that had four 6h30 tubes in the player, I did not like the 6h30 tubes at all, sounded more like solid state to me, and the sound stage was not deep, or big at all, I Re-purchased another Vincent cd-s7 player for the second time, It is a pure class A out-put player as well, but it is a hybred player consisting two 12ax7 tubes, one 12au7 tube, and one 6z4 tube in the power supply, this player is way better sounding than the Ayon, the sound of real tube magic!, However, The vincent cd-s7 player recently got dis-continued after a 5 year run, Mine is brand new, and I am coming up on 400 hours of burn-in as we speak, 380 currently, the Ayon cd-2s is discontinued now too recently, that player was $6,350.00 retail, The vincent was $2,800. retail, In my opinion, price of a player has little to do with it, It depends on the sound you want, and what's available to tube roll to, If or when you want to roll the tubes, I say this because tube rolling 6h30 tubes does not have as many options to roll to, and if you get the best of 6h30 tubes, for four is like $1,200.00 och!, they still sound like 6h30 tubes!, it's really about preferance, I use a good solid state amp with the tube cd-player to great effect, the question is, do you want emotional musicality, or accuracy etc.., just as charles1dad said, you can get either one of these sounds with tube or solid state players, cheers.

I am in agreement with the comments of Charles and Lowrider above, but Audiolabyrinth has also hit on something very important which is implicit in Charles' comment but should be stated explicitly. It certainly helps to know what you like and dislike in output tubes.

Personally, I have never heard a solid state CD player that presented music with proper sophistication in the upper harmonics. That doesn't mean they don't exist, but it may be easier and cheaper to get this with tube output designs. I've heard SS digital rigs in the 60K price range that could't compete with 4-6 K tube designs in this area. Some may view this upper harmonic sophistication as a euphonic, non-linear, distortion, based on what measurements reveal, but if so, then I am partial to euphonic non-linear live venues. Tubes done well get me that which I seek in live music. Personally, I find it difficult to connect with music on an emotional level without having tubes in play in the system.

I've said this before, but at some point one gets to the level where you can't improve a system by making educated guesses. Generally, you have to bring equipment in and A/B with a variety of music to make the best possible choice.