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Ayre vs Boulder

I am upgrading my electronics and have distilled the choice between Ayre and Boulder for my current system.
I auditioned the MX-Rs in my previous system running WP/8s with Cardas GR SC and was not sold. However, those early amps may not have been broken in and I believe the Cardas GR SC is not actually optimal for these amps.
I heard the MX-Rs driving Vandy Quattros through Audioquest Sky and heard some serious music.

The Boulder 1000 series is also in contention. They are the most neutral electronics I have heard and the 1012 DAC Pre saves a lot of cabling and power cords.

The YG Anat IIs I am using are quite revealing.

Boulder's Yin vs Ayres's Yang?

And what cables have worked for you with these both superlative electronics?

If you could reveal the secret of life, that would help with the decision as well.
khrys
lucky_boy
29 posts
 
As a MX-R owner, I advise to go for the MXRs. They sound great and look sexy and I really like the compnay's first class customer service. Also, Ayre products have better resale values.
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,958 posts
 
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......Khrys!!!
I'm wondering just how you settled on Ayre & Boulder??? I've heard Boulder a few times now & could not care less for its sonics. Of course, my personal opinion & choice. Different from yours.
However, I did like the Ayre gear w/ the Vandy 5A. But I wonder if this is the only combination?? (I'm thinking that I do not want to get stuck in a Spectral-Avalon tight-lock scenario).

Looked @ your system. You are certainly not wanting for financial resources!! :-) Thus, did you ever consider Gryphon (from Denmark)? I've heard several components of their system - Adagio CDP, Sonata Allegro Pre & Antillean Sig stereo amp. I honestly believe that Gryphon sonics will be superior to atleast Boulder & perhaps even Ayre. The Gryphon gear is expensive but it is worth every penny IMHO. For a man of means like yourself it should be more attainable. Just my 2 cents worth.
Jeff Fritz of UltraAudio posted a superb review of Gryphon gear in 2004. It's in the SoundStage.com archives.
See if you can arrange an audition.
frankpiet
307 posts
 
don´t know the vandys but my current set up Boulder 1060 + 1021 + Avalon Indra sounded better than the MR-X or Pass X 350.5 paired either with my 1021 or the borrowed 781i from Wadia going into the Indras. So to me Boulder is the clear choice over Ayre although I´m a BIG Ayre fan (used to have AX-7e + CX-7e, C-5xe with K-1xe and V-5xe later V-1xe). Boulder makes the most neutral and most revealing/ transparent electronics I´ve ever heard. But I strongly believe that KR-X + MR-X driving the right speakers is on par with my Boulder set-up.
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