Ayre VX-R and MX-R: Is one better than the other?

[Portugal]

Originally Posted by Tomictime

(...)
Choose stereo amp because we have a favorite Stickley cabinet that we house the system in and mono blocs on the floor were not preferred.
(...)

Stunning amp. Congratulations.

Do you play it with the cabinet doors closed without heat issues?

Pedro

[Ritmo]

Originally Posted by Tomictime

After 8 hours of listening using MXR as baseline amp, we chose the VX-R. Amp arrived as ordered in black finish - pictures really do not do it justice. True Industrial ART ! Choose stereo amp because we have a favorite Stickley cabinet that we house the system in and mono blocs on the floor were not preferred. yes i understand some tradeoff on speaker cable length. VXR is even in output with amp it replaced a 10 YO Mac MC202. Ayre runs MUCH warmer and sounds better with 17 hours or so. So far I hear the very clear and finely etched midrange so evident in the MXR. Breakin will get better as I also pile hours on recently acquired ARC REF 5SE. part of the push to A new amp was I wanted to run balanced thruout signal chain. Have balanced Vandersteen Model 7 filters on order as i intend to eventually upgrade to 7 from 5a i have now.

Sort of a rambling first post but thought i had some small kernal of value to add to the vxr mxr conversation.

jim

Welcome Jim!

Looks like you are system is coming together nicely. Congratulations!

Mike

[Tomictime]

Thanks for the fine Welcome!
Happy fathers day to all the Dads.
Some answers:
May subscribe in future, thanks for asking.
We removed panels off back of cabinet and do run the system w doors open. I could leave the door closed on the pwr amp side when we had the Mac. I suppose that I could close the door w Ayre as it has thermal protection, but do not want to chance it.
Yes the 5a Vandersteens do have a room equalised and adjustable and powered sub so that factored into our decision. I do not believe this zeroes out bass as a consideration in amp choice - with the Vandy 7's at dealer, i believe the Aesthetix Atlas had the better bass over the MX-R. Hope that helps.
Next project is the balanced Model 7 hi pass filters, which have shipped, so will be hearing those soon !
JD

[jwhite613]

Tomictime... Welcome To AA!!!