I’m struggling to decide about buying an Ayre DX-5 DSD SACD & etc Player

[Echolane]

My CD player is down and I don’t have an SACD player for my audio system, I’m into really good sound and the new SACD players with the best audio quality run $10,000 to $16,000 and more (Marantz, Luxman, and Esoteric). I can’t afford that. I looked for used, first at the well regarded Ayre C-5xe but fairly quickly discovered that an Ayre Dx-5 DSD has much better sq. As does the DSD version have much better sq than the underlying DX-5. As far as I know the Ayre Dx-5 DSD s the best of the used market at around $5000. Which is still a big chunk of money, but not as much as the best of the new. Dare I invest in a product that must be about ten years old? I know an Oppo transport is used in the Ayre and I have an Oppo that could be used in case of need.

But still….. are there any other good choices out there with primo sound quality? I know there are Oppo’s that play CDs and SACDs but they are for video systems. They need a monitor to do setup. I would prefer something.suitable for a traditional audio system that does not have a TV or monitor.

 

[Chorus]

To Ayre is human. Keep searching my child...

 

[Echolane]

To Ayre is human. Keep searching my child...

Thanks so much.

 

[dan31]

I would keep searching and saving.
For SACD I would consider the Denon 110 Anniversary player. I think it’s $3.5k.

 

[gds7368]

I would suggest a home demo of a Marantz 30n before I bought the used Ayre.

https://www.marantz.com/en-us/product/cd-players/sacd30n

A year or so ago I had a home demo of the 30n and the MSB Select transport at the same time. The 30n was a great sounding unit, and I couldn't believe how competitive it was at 1/10 the cost of the MSB transport.

FWIW for five years my system had an Ayre KX-R 20 preamplifier with CX-7eMP CD player (which I used a transport through various Berkeley Audio DACs, first Alpha series 1 then Alpha series 2 then Reference1). Both Ayre units performed flawlessly during my ownership, and customer service was A+ as the dealer seamlessly sent both round trip to Ayre for upgrades (KX-R to KX-R 20, CX-7e to CX-7eMP). Heck, my friend has a QB-9 DAC and Ayre recently came out with a QB-9 20 upgrade ... and Ayre doesn't even make the QB-9 any more! Great customer service by Ayre IMHO.

Review | Ayre Acoustics QB-9 Twenty

I've never written a review like the one you're about to read, but I've also never had an opportunity like this. Ayre Acoustics offered me a chance to spend as much time as I needed with its new QB-9 Twenty digital to analog converter and the previous generation QB-9 DSD. Ayre kindly sent both un...

audiophilestyle.com

The Ayre CD player was gone well before my demo of the 30n and Select 2 transports - and the Ayre components were in different rooms - so I cannot start to comment on Ayre transport (never had the DX-5) vs 30n. It is also worth noting that my Ayre ownership preceded Charles Hansen's unfortunate passing in 2017. Not sure how that affects the company.

 

[pdubya]

The DX5 is built on the bones of an Oppo and has a video section. If buying used you will want to be able to access the setup menus through video-out in order to make sure all settings are as you desire. I recently sent my 10 year old unit in for repair — for a few hundred bucks, why not, just to keep as backup — and can vouch for their 2022 service quality. Presumably they would extend service to secondary owners? BTW, the Charlie-era dsd DAC in the DX5 still sounds pretty good.
Brand new Marantz probably better option, particularly as you can likely get a 30 day return window buying from the likes of MusicDirect.

 

[Echolane]

.

I would suggest a home demo of a Marantz 30n before I bought the used Ayre.

https://www.marantz.com/en-us/product/cd-players/sacd30n

A year or so ago I had a home demo of the 30n and the MSB Select transport at the same time. The 30n was a great sounding unit, and I couldn't believe how competitive it was at 1/10 the cost of the MSB transport.

FWIW for five years my system had an Ayre KX-R 20 preamplifier with CX-7eMP CD player (which I used a transport through various Berkeley Audio DACs, first Alpha series 1 then Alpha series 2 then Reference1). Both Ayre units performed flawlessly during my ownership, and customer service was A+ as the dealer seamlessly send both round trip to Ayre for upgrades (KX-R to 20, CX-7e to CX-7eMP). Heck, my friend has a QB-9 DAC and Ayre recently came out with a QB-9 20 upgrade ... and Ayre doesn't even make the QB-9 any more! Great customer service by Ayre IMHO.

Review | Ayre Acoustics QB-9 Twenty

I've never written a review like the one you're about to read, but I've also never had an opportunity like this. Ayre Acoustics offered me a chance to spend as much time as I needed with its new QB-9 Twenty digital to analog converter and the previous generation QB-9 DSD. Ayre kindly sent both un...

audiophilestyle.com

The Ayre CD player was gone well before my demo of the 30n and Select 2 transports - and the Ayre components were in different rooms - so I cannot start to comment on Ayre transport (never had the DX-5) vs 30n. It is also worth noting that my Ayre ownership preceded Charles Hansen's unfortunate passing in 2017. Not sure how that affects the company.

Thanks for the good tip on the Marantz player, I had seen the more expensive one. I think it costs around $8000 if I remember correctly, which is too much for me. I’d be better off going for either one of the Marantz options simply because they are newer. It’s not entirely a no-brainer though because the Ayre sold for something around $10,000 around ten-eleven years ago. And the DSD option added another $1200 to the price. So it’s a little hard to pass up the opportunity to own a $12000 player for a fraction of its original pricel. Adjusted for inflation, it is equivalent to something costing around $16,333 today.
I sure wish I could audition them all , but that’s not easy in this day of rare brick and mortar stores.

 

[Muser]

Echo:

Whether the Oppo players are to your standard or not, I don't know. However, Oppo provided a nice app available for iOS. I like it very much, but for me I could only get it to work while it was connected by ethernet - that was during the period dealing with my dad's Alzheimers (or mine?) so maybe that's not necessary. I don't know about other OSs.

Good luck,

Larry

 

[Al M.]

I would keep searching and saving.
For SACD I would consider the Denon 110 Anniversary player. I think it’s $3.5k.

A friend swears by this Denon. He also says build quality is stunning.

 

[Echolane]

The DX5 is built on the bones of an Oppo and has a video section. If buying used you will want to be able to access the setup menus through video-out in order to make sure all settings are as you desire. I recently sent my 10 year old unit in for repair — for a few hundred bucks, why not, just to keep as backup — and can vouch for their 2022 service quality. Presumably they would extend service to secondary owners? BTW, the Charlie-era dsd DAC in the DX5 still sounds pretty good.
Brand new Marantz probably better option, particularly as you can likely get a 30 day return window buying from the likes of MusicDirect.

I’m in contact with Ayre. They still offer an upgrade for the original DX-5. In fact, they still service even their oldest products. I wish more companies would have this ethic!

 

[Echolane]

Echo:

Whether the Oppo players are to your standard or not, I don't know. However, Oppo provided a nice app available for iOS. I like it very much, but for me I could only get it to work while it was connected by ethernet - that was during the period dealing with my dad's Alzheimers (or mine?) so maybe that's not necessary. I don't know about other OSs.

Good luck,

Larry

Hmmm, that’s interesting. I didn’t know Oppo has an iOS app and I own two Oppo players, the early 83SE and the latest (and sadly, last) 205. I’ll have to check it out.
But as for choosing an Oppo to put in my audio system, I don’t think so. The only model with a linear power supply is the 205 and I need that for my TV system. All the others have switch mode power supplies, a decidedly inferior non-audiophile choice as far as I am concerned.

 

[Gregadd]

From the Movie Ronin:
"Where there is doubt there is no doubt."

 

[Echolane]

Right or wrong, I’m going to buy a used Ayre DX-10 DSD. It was a well regarded player in its day retailing for > $10,000 which is around $16,000 today adjusting for inflation. Though it doesn’t mean that a better player hasn’t come along. But the thing is, I can’t afford the better player!
Thanks to all for the feedback.

 

[dan31]

You should be happy.

I still use an Ayre C5xe MP. I have a spare transport. It has been in service for almost 18 years. Hard to beat that. Great digital sound and I’m and dedicated to Vinyl LP and silver discs, CD/SACD. No streaming for me except the occasional podcast on my phone.

 

[Echolane]

You should be happy.

I still use an Ayre C5xe MP. I have a spare transport. It has been in service for almost 18 years. Hard to beat that. Great digital sound and I’m and dedicated to Vinyl LP and silver discs, CD/SACD. No streaming for me except the occasional podcast on my phone.

Congratulations on your 18 year old Ayre CD/SACD player! Eighteen Years in use makes your player a very good investment. I will need mine to last another 5-10 years based on demographics for women of my age. Depending on the manufacturing date of mine I’ll hope to get the same eighteen years that you’ve got. Plus mine will be gone over thoroughly before it is upgraded to DSD. So I hope to do as well as you are doing.

Unlike you, I love to stream my music. I have ripped all my CDs and play them almost exclusively. In fact, I’ve never enjoyed my music more than I do now. I think I’ve acquired more music in the last three years than I acquired in the last 50. And because I rip my CDs I don’t feel the need to buy new. That saves me a lot. Though it doesn’t pay for the equipment needed to stream, that’s for sure! . I’ll have to admit that. I also have a significant LP collection which I almost never play. I want to acquire an LP cleaner because I can’t stand the idea of playing dirty records. I had the experience of listening to one of my records before and after it was cleaned. The difference was absolutely jaw dropping. I have hardly played an LP since.

 

[gds7368]

Congratulations on the upcoming Ayre purchase!

For an inexpensive record clean I might suggest this (my friend has one and swears by it)

New And Improved - Spin-Clean® Record Washer Complete Kit - Store - Spin-Clean® Record Washers

New and Improved "Complete Kit" Available Through Our Official Online Store. Includes FREE Shipping! NEW snap-in rollers design NEW wedge-fit "stay-in-place" brushes NEW easy to clean basin NEW feet design for added stability Easily deep-clean both sides of your vinyl records at the same time...

spinclean.com

 

[Echolane]

A Congratulations on the upcoming Ayre purchase!

For an inexpensive record clean I might suggest this (my friend has one and swears by it)

New And Improved - Spin-Clean® Record Washer Complete Kit - Store - Spin-Clean® Record Washers

New and Improved "Complete Kit" Available Through Our Official Online Store. Includes FREE Shipping! NEW snap-in rollers design NEW wedge-fit "stay-in-place" brushes NEW easy to clean basin NEW feet design for added stability Easily deep-clean both sides of your vinyl records at the same time...

spinclean.com

Thanks for the great tip on a record cleaner. It does look like a good substitute for the very pricey ultrasonic cleaners. And with nothing whatever that would need maintenance it is a winning idea.

As for the Ayre, I’m sure I’ll like it.

I have to ask you about your Ultra K Series Transformer. I have a Trifield EMI tester that records the peak to peak levels of “dirty” electricity. Mine is exceptionally dirty and I’ve been looking for solutions. It looks like you have a gadget expressly for this purpose. I hope you will tell me about it.

 

[Wavetouch]

Just FYI, modded Oppo BDP-95 by Wavetouch audio is a universal player and available to buy ($6,000). I, Wavetouch, modify it. I think my modded BDP-95 is the best SACD regardless of the cost. Listen to my modded BDP-95. Alex/Wavetouch

 

[Echolane]

It sounds fabulous! Really appealing! I have an Oppo BDP-83SE and I’ve checked in with two mod sites and they are both former mod sites because of problems with parts availability.
I also have the Oppo UDP-205 and I suppose it could still be modded but am averse to losing Oppo’s support if my machine is modded, Besides, the 205 is in my TV system and I’m seeking a SACD player for my primary audio system.
I have a really good deal pending with Ayre. They are upgrading a DX-5 with the DSD upgrade, this after going over everything very thoroughly. I double checked with the author of the good review on the DSD version. He still stands by the review, I think it was 2014, and recommends it even against newer SACD models on the market. In fact he continues to use his own Ayre DSD player. As well Ayre continues to standby all their older products. That said, the transport is always the weak link. That is a potential problem but since I own an older Oppo I am no longer using and which was lightly used anyway, I feel protected. If it turns out that it doesn’t sound as good as your Wavetouch mod, well then I’ll just have to live with it anyway because I can’t really afford the newest players that are considered “audiophile” quality. IOW, very costly.
BTW, I went to the Wavetouch site and didn’t see anything about Oppo mods. What am I overlooking?

 

[Wavetouch]

Hi Echolane,
Thank you for kind words!
I don't list modding work on my web-site. I only mod what's in my video (Oppo 95, SCL audio, aka. Bakoon, AMP-5521). Best regards,
Alex/Wavetouch