Parasound JC3 or Ayre P-5xE

I found the Ayre too bright for my tastes and eventually went with an Audio Research PH5.

Unless you're opposed to tubes I'd demo the PH6, though I'd like to know how IT compares to the JC3.

Jeepers, I am a tube guy, but I owned the Ayre p5Xe for a year or two as a second phono stage, where the primary phono is a tube unit. The last thing I would ever say about the Ayre (used by me only in balanced mode) is that it is "bright". I found it to be incredibly neutral. I am kind of sorry I sold mine.

I too had the P5x, (not the e) for me as my primary phono pre for several years and kept it around through my upgrades. I was very neutral sounding to my ears.

As I upgraded TT, arm, cart, AND my ability to set it all up, so-so recordings that at one time sounded bright would become much more listenable. The whole process surprised me some. Not claiming any miracles though.

In my experience if equipment is neutral what you get out depends a lot on what goes in.

One caveat is that I only used ZYX cartdriges with the Ayre. And I ran it balanced which was clearly better IMO.

What else can I say but what I heard?

The Ayre was clearly brighter and harsher than the phono stage I had at the time, a Graham Slee Era Mark V, and had nowhere near the presence of the ARC PH5 I eventually purchased.

However I'm still wondering how the sound of the ARC units compares to the JC3.

I have had my JC-3 for a few weeks now and am just now settling into it with everything dialed the way I like it.
It is not fully broken in yet, but I can say with sincerity that all the great reviews of it are correct. This is an excellent preamp. I upgraded to this from a Lehmann Black Cube, which was excellent for it's price, but the JC-3 is in another class, as it should be considering it is 3X the price of the Lehmann.
I will post more thoughts on this as I continue to break the unit in and understand more about its characteristics. I do believe my $2350 was well spent. If you are thinking of taking the plunge you can do so with confidence.