I am currently auditioning an Ayre V3 with a Wadia 21 disk player and Magnepan 1.5 speakers. So far I feel this amp is giving me more of a smooth presentation of the music I listen to. Which ranges from Deep Purple's gold disk of Made in Japan to Sarah McLaughlin's latest. I have used an older Mark Levinson ML-9 for my amp. Does anyone feel this is a good move upward? I am getting this amp for much less than the price it retails for at $3800. I don't consider myself an Audiophilist but borderline towards one.

Update, I bought the V3 and it loves it's new home. I was amazed at listening to Simon and Garfunkel "Bookends" and Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever" on Mobile Fidelity. Thanks to all who sent a note, regarding this amp. I also got hooked on buying some B & W 320's for my Denon Receiver. Great Speakers, I give them a five speaker rating too.
P.S. If you are ever in Indianapolis look up the people at Sound Pro.

I've been using my Ayre for about 6 mths driving Legacy Focus speakers and it rocks. I was kind of forced to buy it from my dealer due to a bad investment in a lower quality amp. Allow me to explain. I had lots of problems with the other amp that cost $3000. This amp had lots of wpc. I didn't try out the Ayre because I thought 100wpc was not enough. I was wrong. I guess when you move up to high end you can ignore specs to a certain extent. Just listen to the music. I listen mainly to rock...sometimes very loud. I highly endorse the Ayre V3. Oh yeah . What about the speakers? They're my favorite component.

Awesome amp the V3!Mine drives a pr of Von Schweikert VR 4.5 and really makes em sing,Bass,Timing,Dynamics, Tubelike mids with grain free extented h/freq.This one does it all!!It didnt get along with my Transformer based power line filter though.Sounds best plugged straight into the wall with a good ac cable.i use an NBS signature AC.

The Ayre Acoustics V-3 is a music lover's amplifier and certainly not an Audiophile amplifier. What do I mean be this? Simple. This amplifier plays music, not "crisply defined, detailed to the utmost, mid-range bloom, transparent sound. . ." and all the other audiophile descriptive moniqures out there. You won't be happy with this amplifier if you are an audiphile, however you will be pleased beyond your wildest dreams if you are a music lover. . . and isn't that what audio equipment is supposed to do PLAY MUSIC.

lifelike midrange, lots of air on top with no transitor edge,natural but weighty bottom end, with tremendous imaging .

heavy to carry.

I have been a long time fan and believer in tubes, and a tough sell on solid state. I have been persuaded from time to time into owning the " high end solid state equipment",
only to find myself losing money on my solid state equipment and once again purchasing tubes. Some of these highly regarded names include Krell, Levinson, Classe' and Pass.
Well, I finally found a product that bridges the gap and very nicely at that. The AYRE V-1 is as smooth and grainless as any tubes I've owned, (ARC,C-J,CARY,MFA,etc.) to name a few. It images with the best of them, has tube midrange, detailed top end without the brightness, and bottom end that will startle you wihout the exaggerated punch. Charles Hansen, it's designer, was a very sucessful speaker designer,(AVALON SPKRS.), and is now proving he can also go against the more popular brands, and in my opinion, do them one better. A very enjoyable product!

Similar Products Used:

Martin Logan ReQuests, CAT pre-amp, meridian DAC and transport, VPI HW19 mkIIIw/SME V and Benz Glider, Kimber KCAG interconnects,Monster 2.2 speaker cable.