If I like sound of Ayre Integrated I would Like...

Pass Labs INT-150 is $6500 (you could almost buy two Ayre AX-7's for that), and looks not unlike the Ayre in that it is a billet box with fins and blue LCD readout. I've not heard it. I have heard a few of his X series and would not have associated that sound with the Ayre amp I heard. Pass occurred to me as a bit cleaner and crisper for lack of a better descriptor. Ayre sounded a bit more relaxed and natural and reminded me of tubes in the way it softened what might otherwise occur as hard edges. I don't know if their integrated is fitted to that mold (based on the X series), but I'd guess it was, as opposed to his First Watt stuff, which I've also heard in passing and reminded me more of what I heard from the Ayre, though they are not the same beast. You may also consider buying used, which typically is about 40-50% off list depending upon the product and its condition. Man, for me it's all about the music and how the gear presents it. If you don't like the look of it you could always put it behind a cabinet door so you don't have to look at it.

Jaybo - you're hilarious!

Hey ...wait a minute...I resemble that remark...'' one of those old dudes who used to follow the Grateful Dead around ''...make a note I have taken offense .....I was one of those DUDES

I have a great sounding SS rig, but I can't help but wonder what the heck goes on in those little red glowing tubes in my secondary rig (Cayin A-50T). The sound is pretty sweet (into just B & W 685's). My next upgrade in my big rig was going to be the Ayre MX-R monoblocks but due to my little Cayin, I just may go with the Shindo (tubs). I know they're ineffecient, the heat issues, supposedly not the slam of SS but I am so taken back with this little Cayin, I now think I know what the big deal is about with tubes. I'd love to see a state of the art tube rig in my main room. I know I will need new speakers as well but what the heck.

DKZZZZ , How can you state that you like the sound of the Ayre and then say its price is bloated by 60%.
On what basis can you say that.If you found something that is the Ayre equal and can also save 60% then buy it.I am not an Ayre fan. I just dont enjoy posts that make unwarranted statements

Everything in audio world is overpriced. Ignorance of general audiophile is the sole reason we have 3000 different amps 300 different manufacturers who are trying to sell their "tuned-by-ear" or as I call it broken equipment at rediculous prices. That is why the prices are such. The same story is with speakers. Absolute majority of speakers are just awful and overpriced drek.
But that is why we have experts who advise bumpkins on which broken amp to match with which poorly-designed speaker to get shitty sound.
But I digress.