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What solid state dac is similar to Ayre CX-5e?

I have recently aution a few system on my trip to New York. After comparing a few cd player, I felt Ayre's sonic attributes would suit me the best. I would buy it now if I want a cd player.

My recent experiment with PC audio was a great success and confirmed that PC audio is the way to go. The convinience of PC interface simply make me listen to more music! Therefore, I need a dac instead of a cd player.

My system consists of the following:
Aesthetix Calypso preamp
Art Diavolo amp
Audio Note speakers

I would like to focus my search for a solid state Dac as the few tube dacs (Audio Note, Wavelength, and MHDT )I tried was too much of a good thing in my full tube system.

I really Ayre sound as I thought it was very neutral in a way that no frequency range stand out. I could not detect any noticable charateristics. It is refreshing that all of the cds i play all sound different. Of course, all of the tube units I tried sounded more "beautiful" especially at the dealer's all solid state system.

I hope I have provided enough information for you to make recommendation. My budget would be in the same ball park as the Ayre.
Thanks

Here
kentchai
maxx2man
24 posts
 
there are 2 dacs you should definitely check out that are in your price range. Both the Berkeley Audio Alpha Dac and the Weiss Engineering Minerva are getting rave reviews and are approx 5 grand each. the guys who designed the Berkeley were responsible for the Pacific Microsonics Model 2 - one of the greatest dacs ever. Robert Harley has stated on the Forum of avguide.com that the Berkeley is the best front-end he's ever heard in his system.
the minerva just got a great review in soundstage.com. also, it does fire-wire which supposedly takes it's performance to another level.
Good luck.
kentchai OP
32 posts
 
Maxx2man,

Could you please describe the sound characteristic of the Berkeley Dac, since you have been playing with one? I could not find any review online as it is a new product. Have you heard an Ayre, a comparison will be awesome here?

The Weiss look really interesting, I am going to look into it.

Cerrot,

Thanks. Your description of the esoteric is very helpful. I need to look up the price for D05 to make sure i can afford it:-)

Thanks.
bar81
754 posts
 
The next product Ayre is producing is a USB dac. There's a lot of info, including the upcoming -R series source on AA.
kentchai OP
32 posts
 
Thanks everyone for your inputs.
telstar
8 posts
 
Keep in mind that USB is limited to 96khz, no matter how good the Ayre implementation may be.

I suggested Mr. Hansen to go the firewire route instead, but I think he wont, the usb dac is a low end retailing around 2k. Later an ethernet DAC will come ;)
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