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Has anyone compared Ayre K-1xe to ARC Ref 3 or VTL

I have an Ayre K-1xe preamp with phono stage - which I love.

But I have since acquired an Aesthetix Io Signature, so I no longer use the Ayre's built-in phono stage, which occupies one of the Ayre's 3 balanced XLR inputs. The Io sounds noticeably better through the balanced XLR connections than the single ended connections.

More recently I acquired an Exemplar Denon 5910 with balanced XLR outs only. I also have an Ayre C-5xe, which also sounds much better through the balanced XLR connections than the single ended connections.

I asked Ayre to remove the phono card and return its associated balanced XLR input to line stage. Ayre refuses to remove phono cards from its preamps. So now I have to choose between compromising the sound of vinyl or digital through the C-5xe.

All of this sets the stage for me to sell the K-1xe. I'm considering replacing it with an ARC Ref 3 or a VTL 7.5. I would welcome thoughts from those with experience with these 3 preamps.

Thanks,

Ed
Ag insider logo xs@2xcipherjuris
soundisntmusic
55 posts
 
hi ed,
although there is no rhyme or reason in terms of equating price with quality in high end audio, synergy issues aside, if you find that the ref 3 stacks up very closely to the vtl 7.5 mk 2 after a controlled side by side audition of good lenght, i would be quite astonished. the vtl 7.5 mk 2 is really in a very different league pricewise.

since you mention the c-5xe run single ended is bass shy, then i hope you give it full opportunity via bal with excellent cables when you audition preamps. if you audition the vtl 6.5 with the ayre cdp, use the cdp2 connection, the path is different from the cd1, more direct. similarly, when auditioning the ref 3, also try the sdp via the monitor, which has less electronics in the pathway. more open overall, though a bit raw at the top, depending on IC and PCs.

i am unfamiliar with the VD rev 2 bal ICs, other than what i have read. i form no solid opinions on what i havent auditioned.

cheers and happy new year. marc
jtimothya
612 posts
 
My experience with the C-5xe found it exhibited less smearing and improved mid bass when run with balanced cables into a true balanced line stage. Overall, an improvement in clarity. I experimented with identical RCA and XLR ICs and the difference was easy to hear. Maybe Serquei can re-terminate that Indra ;->

If you haven't seen it already, you might check MarcM's Soundstage comparo of the Ref3 and VTL TL 7.5 series 1 - he used both with a couple different Lamm amps. It looks like VTL has changed the voltage gain on the series 2, so maybe now it could fit with your 1.2s. While you're looking, I'll suggest considering the 2 box Atma-Sphere MP-1 linestage - with or without its optional phono section (which I'm willing to bet will turn the ear of more than a few IO owners. :-)

Is your tone arm cable terminated w/ XLR fittings?

Regards and happy new year,
Tim
hikejohn
69 posts
 
My experience is that the Ref 3 is not in the same league as the VTL 7.5 mkII (never listened to the 1st version)...but it is the best pre that ARC has made....but be careful which version you get....apparently they have made running changes/improvements...had friend who got one on audiogon...but his judgement was that it was not as good as the "current" version....whatever that might mean from the factory....but I suspect that many companies make running changes...
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