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Ayre vs Bel Canto?

I've currently an Ayre V5Xe that is in for repair and the dealer let me borrow a Bel Canto S300. Now, in a lot of ways it doesn't come close to matching the Ayre, but in many ways it also injects a lot of good things into my system that it seemed to be lacking. Not sure if this is because my amp was dying or just something the Bel Canto does better. Despite some of it's shortcomings I'm enjoying it quite a bit.. and this has me thinking about Bel Canto's better amps, specifically the REF500Ms or the REF1000M mkIIs

Has anyone ever compared these with the Ayre??? Used them in concert with Ayre equipment (I have a CX7e-MP and K5Xe-MP)? Or do you own them and can give me a mini review? other amps you compared them too etc?

Speakers are modded maggie 1.6s, cables are Synergistic Research.

Thanks
adwiegert
tkmetz
91 posts
 
I have not heard the Ayre gear in my system.

I am currently using Bel Canto DAC3vb, VBS1, and M300 amps and my system has never sound so natural and musical with digital sources.

Check out the review of the S300 Pre3 and M300 at 6moons dot com. The reviewer notes the differences between the s300 and M300 perfectly IMO.

I tried both amps with a variety of speakers and liked the M300 better with all of them. The S300 is very pleasant, but sounds a little soft at all frequencies and uninvolving compared to the M300. I assume that the latest 500M or 1000M amps are better yet (there is a review of the M300 vs REF1000 S1 at Stereo Times) and would sound quite good with the 1.6 which I owned for a while.

Happy Listening

Tim
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
I have no direct experience with AYRE amps, but have reviewed Bel Canto REF1000 Mk2, and more recently Ref500M on Positive Feedback. The Ref500M article is a comparative review discussing audible differences with Ref1000 Mk.2 (also called Ref1000M). The article can be found at:
http://positive-feedback.com/Issue50/bel_canto500.htm

G.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,316 posts
 
I have not heard Ayre, but tell more about what specifically you like and not about the BC in comparison to the Ayre and I might offer an opinion regarding how the ref1000M2 might compare.
theo's avatar
theo
2,690 posts
 
As just an injection of advice only. I would wait till you get your Ayre back. As mentioned it was failing and may have been deteriating the sound quality of a period of time. And as we grow older a day at a time, we don't recognize the differences as much as one whom hasn't seen us in two to three years. You may find once the repaired Ayre is back in your system that the differences are not as wide spread as you notice now. I am sure your dealer may allow you to do an in home A-B if he sees an opportunity for a sale.
jax2
3,031 posts
 
I would agree with Theo's advice. I've had both Bel Canto 1000's (original version) and the VX5e in my system and personally preferred the Ayre there. Music seemed to have more weight and substance as I recall, BUT I did NOT do a direct comparison and it was not with the newer 1000M. I would wait and compare yourself to your repaired Ayre before making any commitments.
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