C1000P - Initial Impression

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jim.......I can certainly appreciate your comments on the Ayre MX-R amps, and the KX-R preamp, not to mention their new Ayre C-5xeMP universal player. This is spectacular gear, gorgeous design and build quality, and all are receiving rave reviews from everyone who hears them. The 45 pound solid aircraft aluminum blocks that are CNC milled for the amp and preamp enclosures are works of art.

Along with some contemplation on a second pair of PMC EB1i speakers for the studio, I have also been giving some thought to those three Ayre pieces in place of my studio McIntosh system. The Ayre MX-R, KX-R, and C5xeMP are highly desirable audio pieces. I would be pleased to own them.

Having heard the C-5xeMP, KX-R and MXR combo with the new Wilson Sasha, that was a system that brought goosebumps and I am not easily impressed. Having lived with the C-5xeMP and KX-R but with the Lamm M1.2s instead of MXR and Sophia 2's the combination is a slightly different presentation since the Lamm's are different from Ayre MXR. Both had their strengths but the strengths of the Lamm/Sophia 2 are more important to me since they have to do with the harmonic structure within the content of the music that Lamm's are able to convey in a more colorful way. The MXR/Sasha was impressive and musical, the Lamm/Sophia is simply hypnotic. The Lamm/Sasha? I'll tell you more on that later when the Sasha are in my system.