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Preamp Recommendations Lamm, Ayre K-1x, BAT 31SE

Curent System:
Ayre V-5x amp
Levinson 390S CDP directly driving the Ayre
Dynaudio Contour 3.0 Speakers
Au24 speaker cables, Audience Power Cord, PS Audio P300 for CDP, Cardas Golden Cross XLR IC

As much as I like the transparency of the CDP directly driving the amp, the system is begging for a high quality preamp. I've never owned tube gear, but am interesting in trying a good one. I like what I have read about the Lamm LL2, the Ayre-1x, and the BAT 31SE. Of course there are so many other offerings from Hovland, Sonic Fronteirs, ARC, C-J, CAT, and so on.....

I listen to a lot of vocals (Joni Mitchell, Nora Jones, Lucinda Williams, Ella Fitzgerald) and simple jazz arrangements, and occasionaly rock (Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, dave mathews).

As lazy as it sounds, I also want/need a remote (which eliminates many). Also, for some perhaps stupid reason, I want it to handle XLR in/out since that's what I currently have.

Your thoughts and expereinces (especially Ayre or other good SS amp owners) GREATLY appreciated.
artg
Ag insider logo xs@2x
joe_stereo
21 posts
 
Hi,
I have a BATVK30SE feeding an Ayre V5x. Audience XLR and speaker cables; Avalon Ascendant speakers.

Works great!! I think you will like having a quality preamp. BTW I used (not with this exact set up) to have a Wadia 850 driving the amp directly. You lose a bit of transparency when you add a preamp. But, I really like having the preamp - I think it adds more than it interferes.
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,243 posts
 
From reading your post it was looking like you might be thinking that the Ayre K1-x is a tube preamp. It is a solid state preamp actually. Sounded like you were looking for a tube preamp.
artg OP
362 posts
 
thanks for the fast replies. To clarify Ejlif's point, I am interested in tube preamps, but added the Ayre V-1x (which i know is SS) to that mix because it has some tube like qualities, and would presumably mate up well with the Ayre amp.

I think I'll bring home a few of these and let my ears be the judge. Unfortunately, no Lamm dealers locally.
sbank's avatar
sbank
2,038 posts
 
Artg,
I'd be cautious before adding a Lamm w/o hearing it in your system. Recently, a friend was auditioning many preamps, and in his Classe Omega/Eggleston Andra/Wadia rig, the Lamm was a poor sounding match to all who heard it.
From all the great feedback I've read here on Lamm, it is probably just a synergy thing, but that's the point! Cheers,
Spencer
cytocycle
1,034 posts
 
The Lamm is incredible but I also ruled it out of my system because it doesn't have a remote (plus it has a volumn knob for each channel because it is , also it only has 1 XLR in and out I believe, and I don't know whether it is truely full differencially balanced. You can rule out the CJ equipment as it is not balanced.

I run a Rowland Synergy IIi on battery that you should consider if you are looking for a fully balanced design. The other ARC's to look at are the LS5 MKIII, LS 25 MKII, of course the Reference 2.
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