How would you compare Ayre to Parasound?

"vast majority of Vandersteen users have their speakers connected to Ayre amps. "

Baloney! :-) There are tens of thousands of Vandersteen speakers out there and Ayre's entire production wouldn't equal a small percentage of that total.

Ayre and Vandersteen are both great companies but your statement is simply hyperbole. :-)

A few years back, I bought a pair of JC1's for my Vandersteen 3A Sigs I had at the time. I was using a Aesthetix Calypso preamp in a all balanced system.
I did not like the Parasound sound with this combination. (I actually invited some knowledgable audio friends over and they agreed) No doubt, the JC1's are powerful but in a muscle car kind of way. They do not offer up the same kind of holographic imaging nor the soundstage depth. I switched to a Ayre V5Xe and the sound was definitely more to my liking. However, I found the Ayre a little light in the bottom. I then switched to a Theta Dreadnught I in a 2 channel configuration. It provided the same great mids but with a better bottom. Maybe not quite the beautiful imaging of the Ayre but wonderful overall.
I know the JC1's have received a lot of good press but I honestly believe if you want the absolute best out of Vandies, use a no feedback amp. (The JC1's have a moderate amount of negative feedback at about 28db.)
I'm now looking to purchase the Aesthetix Atlas amp which has built switchable 6 db filters required of the higher series Vandersteen's.

>>have listened several times to the KX-R, which may be the best of the best right now.
Cipherjuris<<

Well, until there is a universal definition and understanding of "best", this is just silly rhetoric.

>>the vast majority of Vandersteen users have their speakers connected to Ayre amps.<<

More of stringbean's nonsense and inexperience comes to light.

Funny though.

"I've had a V-5xe in my system for about 5 years now and I too think the magic is missing"

You mean you have suffered with "no magic" for 5 years.....and counting? What gives?

Shakey