Next upgrade, DartZeel or Ayre

Dazz....c'mon!....No power amp is in a class of it's "own"!!There's lots of good stuff around.

Best.

I can't comment on the DartZeel as I've only heard them at shows. I can, however, comment at length about the Ayre MXR - KXR combination, as I've had the monoblocks for almost 2 years, and the new preamp for the past several months.

The monoblocks are, IMHO, very deserving of the accolades they have garnered. They truly combine the best performance features available from world-class tube and solid state amplifiers. I am aware of quite a few industry stalwarts who have made the MXRs their reference amplifiers (several of whom had been die-hard tube loyalists). An important benefit of the MXRs vis-a-vis the DartZeel amp, is the fact that being monoblocks, they can be located immediately adjacent to their respective speakers, to keep to an absolute minimum the speaker cable length (which has a very significant positive impact, all other factors kept constant).

While the MXR was a breakthrough product for Ayre, the KXR takes it to another league. I really believe the KXR is the most significant product Charlie Hansen & Co. have yet designed - a defining product. On the one hand, it is the most expensive audio product I've ever bought, on the other hand, it very well may represent the highest value per dollar spent. To put it another way, these components will certainly be my reference preamp and amp for the next decade (or two).

Effortless and musical are the best way to describe them. The dynamic range available regardless of volume is a true revelation. While I believe there is a synergy between them, I don't believe they need to be used together to show what each can do -- any system could benefit from either component separately, or both together.

Feel free to e-mail me if you would like to know more. - Pete -

thanks for the inputs.

in my 15+ years of audiophile life, I did have to send some pre & power amps to be serviced and one as far as Canada. the experience is painful and expensive, I would rather not have to deal with it again. but life is full of changes and I am sure I will move again, so owning a gear made in the local neighborhood is not the gating factor though a bonus.

I never heard the DartZeel, but I did hear Ayre combo in dealer with not too optimized setup. Ayre combo sounded good, but given I was not familiar with rest of components and room acoustic, I wasn't ready to give up my BAT 150SE & SF Line 3SE+ for the Ayre combo + lots and lots of cash yet. I know many many solid state amps claim "tube like" midrange and transparency, but I haven't heard one in my life. I don't need absolute neutrality when listen at home, I am not looking for that. instead, I am looking for music that can lift my soul and carry me away after a long day at work. somehow I had the impression DartZeel would be the better of the two to do that, maybe it's the gold face that's glowing softly under dim light that creates the warm feeling.

still searching.

Mono blocks from Dartzeel are on the way too!
Should be ready for production run by spring 2009 if all holds well...one more option!

Semi,

like you, I had never heard a SS component that sounded like tubes do...till I heard the Ayre AX-7E, which I bought. I was so impressed with the integrated, that I went ahead and bought the KX-R. Needless to say, I am very happy with the preamp, even though I was a diehard tube loyalist.

You really need to audition the MX-R. If it is anything like the KX-R, you will not be disappointed.