Ayre AX-5 Twenty Integrated Amplifier Lab Report

Lab Report

While the anniversary celebrated by this 'Twenty' version of the AX-5 integrated has long since passed, comparisons with the original AX-5 [HFN Jun '14] reveal potentially far greater revisions to both the VGT (Variable Gain Transconductance) 'volume control' and 'Double Diamond' output stage than suggested by Ayre itself. Both these circuit innovations combine to create a very distinctive technical fingerprint for the AX-5 and its successor – noise, for example, is exceptionally low and the A-wtd S/N correspondingly wide at 101dB (re. 0dBW) while distortion is purely 2nd/3rd harmonic. Distortion is very consistent with frequency but not with output level or applied gain. For example, THD is as low as 0.009% at 1W/8ohm but increases to 0.04%/10W and 0.13%/100W (all from 20Hz-10kHz). The output impedance is also very flat at 0.150-0.155ohm (20Hz-20kHz), increasing slightly to 0.185ohm/100kHz, but the response [see Graph 2, below] gets flatter and more extended the lower the gain (lower VGT setting), from –2.0dB/100kHz (vol = 46) to –0.3dB/100kHz (vol = 32).

Power output is higher than achieved by the AX-5, and its load tolerance is significantly enhanced, despite the 125W/8ohm specification remaining unchanged. The AX-5 Twenty achieves 2x155W/8ohm and 2x250W/4ohm with a boost to 183W, 335W, 535W and 650W into 8, 4, 2 and 1ohm loads under dynamic conditions (the AX-5 managed 160W, 280W, 215W and 125W, respectively). This is clearly illustrated [Graph 1, below] as is the variation in distortion both with output level and decreasing load impedance. I would expect the sound of the AX-5 Twenty to vary slightly with speaker load and volume setting. PM

1020ayre.rlab1

Dynamic power output versus distortion into 8ohm (black trace), 4ohm (red), 2ohm (blue) and 1ohm (green) speaker loads. Max. current is 25.5A

1020ayre.rlab2

HF resp. from 1k-100kHz at 10W/8ohm (grey, Vol '46'; red, '40'; cyan, '38'; green, '34'; black, '32')

Power output (<1% THD, 8/4ohm) 155W / 250W
Dynamic power (<1% THD, 8/4/2/1ohm) 183W / 335W / 535W / 650W
Output imp. (20Hz–20kHz/100kHz) 0.150–0.155ohm / 0.185ohm
Freq. resp. (20Hz–20kHz/100kHz) +0.0dB to –0.09dB/–1.85dB
Input sensitivity (for 0dBW/125W) 81mV / 905mV (balanced)
A-wtd S/N ratio (re. 0dBW/125W) 100.9dB / 121.9dB
Distortion (20Hz-20kHz, 10W/8ohm) 0.038–0.048%
Power consumption (Idle/Rated o/p) 113W / 435W (31W standby)
Dimensions (WHD) / Weight 440x120x480mm / 22kg
Price £14,750

COMPANY INFO
Ayre Acoustics Inc.
Colorado, USA
Supplied by: Decent Audio, Stockton-on-Tees
05602 054669
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