Any Ayre Codex users out there?

Kuoppis

Kuoppis

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Hi,

Just ordered a new toy for my weekend home for the holidays: Ayre Codex. Any other owners out there?

I actually just needed another DAC, but as I cannot use USB in my setup, I could not go for the QB-9.

According to Ayre the Codex is anyhow at a whisker's distance with the QB-9, which has been again very favorably reviewed after the DSD upgrade. And having a headphone amp is never wrong, if the family starts getting sick of Alice Cooper during the holiday cheer.

The preamp otion also sounds exciting, as it features all the jolly good diamond architecture used in the Twenty series.

Please share your experiences.
 
Am demoing one at home. Comparing it to my Hugo which is in essence the same functionality (world class dac, headphone amp, and preamp). The Codex is amazing for its price point - actually stupid good for $$. Not as convenient a footprint as the Hugo (Codex is small but I wouldn't deem it a portable given size and fact it must be plugged in). Regarding sound, it is not as resolute (esp headphone performance) as the Hugo but it strikes me as maybe more musical (flow and ease). The DAC performance alone is well worth the cost. I believe Ayre has outdone itself with this product proving they know how to build a dac and have priced it ridiculously low given its performance. I wasn't able to try the dual 3mm input "dual mono" headphone jack but have read that takes headphone listening to another level.
 
Dpod4 said:
Am demoing one at home. Comparing it to my Hugo which is in essence the same functionality (world class dac, headphone amp, and preamp). The Codex is amazing for its price point - actually stupid good for $$. Not as convenient a footprint as the Hugo (Codex is small but I wouldn't deem it a portable given size and fact it must be plugged in). Regarding sound, it is not as resolute (esp headphone performance) as the Hugo but it strikes me as maybe more musical (flow and ease). The DAC performance alone is well worth the cost. I believe Ayre has outdone itself with this product proving they know how to build a dac and have priced it ridiculously low given its performance. I wasn't able to try the dual 3mm input "dual mono" headphone jack but have read that takes headphone listening to another level.
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That is interesting to hear. I bought it mainly as a DAC to replace another component and to have the flexibility to exchange my integrated for a power amp, should I so choose. As the DAC portion is derived from the QB-9 it should be pretty good.

I already do have the KX-5/20 and VX-5/20, so I thought there is little that can be done wrong with Ayre.

While deciding I was also looking at the Moon Neo 280D, which has similar functionalities, but decided to go with the Ayre as the Simaudio was described as a bit lifeless in some reviews.


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Kuoppis said:
That is interesting to hear. I bought it mainly as a DAC to replace another component and to have the flexibility to exchange my integrated for a power amp, should I so choose. As the DAC portion is derived from the QB-9 it should be pretty good.

I already do have the KX-5/20 and VX-5/20, so I thought there is little that can be done wrong with Ayre.

While deciding I was also looking at the Moon Neo 280D, which has similar functionalities, but decided to go with the Ayre as the Simaudio was described as a bit lifeless in some reviews.


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Click to expand...

I am not at all sure that the QB-9 DSD is as good as the Codex (!)...
 
Jim Smith said:
I am not at all sure that the QB-9 DSD is as good as the Codex (!)...
Click to expand...


Funny you mentioned that , a local dealer said the same thing (sounded better that QB-9DSD) great DAC for the money

even the Ayre Rep quietly agreed :disbelief:
 
Kuoppis said:
That's what I want to hear :).


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Different systems - but I heard QB and I believe the codex is less dry and more musical. As if Ayre collaborated with Naim or Rega.
 
PureVinyl said:
Funny you mentioned that , a local dealer said the same thing (sounded better that QB-9DSD) great DAC for the money

even the Ayre Rep quietly agreed :disbelief:
Click to expand...

That is indeed very interesting. But I will know later on today, as I will receive my Codex in a couple of hours.


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Dpod4 said:
Different systems - but I heard QB and I believe the codex is less dry and more musical. As if Ayre collaborated with Naim or Rega.
Click to expand...

The Codex has a different DAC chip than the QB-9, even though both are Sabre. I like the Sabre chips, but they are a tad difficult to implement for not to sound harsh. But there are a number of manufacturers who do that very well.

I also had the Naim V-1 at some point, but that one was a huge disappointment. The DAC portion rolled off the highs and the HP amp section did not have enough juice to drive Senn 800s.

But my current HP set will be a good benchmark to test the Codex: Auralic Gemini 2000 with a separate power supply and a couple of other mods. I will report.


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Having heard the Codex at Mike's house when Jim Smith was there, I don'y know why you would spend more !!

It's a fantastic sounding DAC. Very natural sounding.
 
Don't dismiss the QB9 DSD. I've owned it a couple of times and it beat out a number of much more expensive DACs in my system. It is anything but thin sounding. It took the Lampizator B7 to get me to move on.
 
BruceLet said:
Don't dismiss the QB9 DSD. I've owned it a couple of times and it beat out a number of much more expensive DACs in my system. It is anything but thin sounding. It took the Lampizator B7 to get me to move on.
Click to expand...

That's quiet a big jump in price between the to and that says a lot for the Ayre product and its performance.
 
The codex is on my radar for all the reasons stated above (its a gift at its current retail price) and it has a great built in amp for cans. its going between my main system and laptop. if its better than the Bidat on redbook then it will be my primary DAC.
 
The CODEX was great in my system. But the DAC I have my eye on, in the same price ballpark, is:

https://mytekdigital.com/preorder/

blacksilver.png


trio.png
 
Yes, the Myteks are definitely interesting as well, the earlier version made quite some waves. If my main focus in the week-end home would be DSD, I would have considered that one as well. But as I am playing off a Naim UnitiServe that is not an option, so the Codex seemed a quite nice fit. In my main system I do have the Meitner MA-1, which definitely is a DSD DAC (plays however Red Book nicely as well).


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Received the Codex last week and have been running it now for a couple days. I must say I'm quite impressed with the small box, puts new life into my week-end home gear.

Ayre amps have to run in for 300 hours, so not much on the that side yet (don't have a suitable 2 x 3,5 mm balanced cable either), but the DAC has detailed but smooth highs, nice mid-bass and a well defined bottom end. A lots of fun to listen to.


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