Cayin H80A or Ayre AX-7e

In all fairness, the Moon i5.3 cannot be compared to the liquidity of the Cayin. The simaudio product sounds harsh and dry by comparison.

If you need a solid state amp to compete with the Cayin, I would recommend Electrocompaniet products, as they have a tube-like presentation. I have owned the above (Cayin, Electro and SIM) and virtually everyone who has listened to the Cayin gave it a best buy consideration against twice-the-price products.

Have to agree with Sonicbeauty's "liquidity" comment regarding the Cayin. I have this in a system with the Cayin CDT-17A driving Rogers Studio 1A and it is a beuatifully liquid and and smooth sound. My only negative comment on the Cayin is that mine generates some hum which, although not audible when playing even at lower levels, is audible from a couple of feet when the volume is at zero. Thinking there was a problem with my unit, I sent it back to check/repair and it came back with exactly the same hum issue, so I assume it just doesn't rate so well on S/N ratio. Still, a great sounding amp!

Proth above sums it up better then i could,With all the positives of Ayre why would you even look elsewhere.

Me again,as for what Hens says if i buy ,be it new or used,if there is a speck of hum ,and i dont care how quiet it is ,i'm not buying it.

I own the Cayin and the sound stage is what sold me. Very specific instrument placement. The Cayin truly made my Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors disappear. My only issue with the Cayin is that the motor that moves the volume control when using the remote is too fast. Further, the volume increases quickly and I cannot listen at a volume setting higher that about eight o'clock. I wish the volume control was more gradual. I am upgrading my speaker cables to Acoustic Zen Satori. Should really smooth out the sonics of the Cayin.