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Ayre VX-5 Twenty
The Ayre VX-5 fully-discrete, fully-balanced, zero-feedback amplifier features our exclusive Equilock circuitry and our Diamond output stage giving it both the power and control for the most demanding musical passages. The VX-5 is every bit the refined and sublime musical masterpiece you have come to expect from an Ayre product. With the addition of our new Diamond output stage this amplifier packs a punch so palpable you will find yourself clinging to the essence of every note. Make a VX-5 the foundation of your music system and redefine your expectation of what an amplifier should do.
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Professional Reviews 92/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
91/100
Build Quality
91/100
Value for Money
95/100
The smooth, grain-free Ayre VX-5 Twenty delivers a beautifully open presentation, with midrange presence that makes voices feel alive and highs that stay effortless and refined. SoundStage Solo also praised its expansive imaging and controlled bass, while noting it can sound slightly laid-back and may run out of steam with demanding speakers at extreme levels.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Exceptionally smooth, refined sound with no hint of grain or edge in the highs.
Expansive, precisely mapped soundstage and imaging that rivals far pricier amplifiers.
Tight, well-controlled bass that avoids blur or woolliness at normal listening levels.
Excellent build quality with construction that does not feel cheap.
&
Cons
Slightly laid-back presentation may not suit listeners seeking a more forward sound.
Can run out of steam and distort when pushed to very high SPLs with difficult speakers.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 91/100
Reviewers praise the VX-5 Twenty for its smooth, grain-free presentation, with an open and refined top end and midrange presence that makes voices sound natural and alive. Its imaging is especially strong, and its bass control and overall composure are excellent at normal listening levels, though one review notes a slightly laid-back character and that it can run out of steam when pushed very hard.
Transparency Resolution
92/100
Doug Schneider describes 'utter smoothness across the audioband' with 'no hint of grain or edge,' plus 'truly effortless highs.' That points to a very clean, transparent presentation with a refined, low-fatigue character.
Tonal Balance Musicality
90/100
The midrange is praised for giving voices 'authentic and alive' presence, and the amplifier is described as 'extremely natural' and 'utterly engaging.' The main caveat is a 'slightly laid-back character overall,' which keeps it from sounding fully forward or exuberant.
Dynamics
86/100
The VX-5 controls bass well and drives Magico S5s to fairly high listening levels with confidence, sounding 'fantastic' at normal room levels. But the review also says it 'ran out of steam' and distorted at ear-splitting levels, so its authority is strong but not unlimited.
Soundstage Imaging
95/100
Imaging is singled out as 'beyond reproach,' with an 'expansive, well-defined soundstage' and precisely placed images. Schneider even compares it favorably with a much more expensive amplifier, which strongly underlines its spatial performance.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
91/100
The reviews explicitly call out the VX-5’s 'excellent build' and note that nothing about its construction 'spells cheap.' Ayre’s careful implementation is also reflected in the balanced and unbalanced input provision and the low-current operating mode, though the reviews focus more on the solidity and execution than on detailed internal engineering commentary.
Value for Money
95/100
The review calls it 'one of the best bargains in high-end amplifiers today' and says it should compete with much more expensive amps from other brands. That is unusually strong value praise for a $14,000–$15,000 power amplifier, especially given the explicit comparison to pricier competitors.
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Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Ayre VX-5 Twenty
- Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
- Ajasom — in-store — Amadora, Lisboa, Portugal (website)
- Akustik Strauss — in-store — Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bayern, Germany (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audible Elegance — in-store — Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (website)
- Audio Advice — online and in-store — Raleigh, North Carolina, United States (website)
- Audio Advisor — in-store — Michigan, United States (website)
- Audio Artisans — in-store — Bozeman, Montana, United States (website)
- Audio Connection — online and in-store — Verona, New Jersey, United States (website)
- Audio Magic — online and in-store — Preston, Victoria, Australia (website)
and 41 more verified dealers