Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- The VX-R Twenty power amp has a 'luxury aura'
- The VX-R Twenty's exterior is impressive
- Inside the VX-R Twenty, there is attention to detail and open-minded electronic design
- The VX-R Twenty uses high-quality components and obsessive care in designing the circuits
- The Ayre pairing with the VX-R Twenty is the closest to a 'straight wire with gain' ideal
Product Considerations
- Nothing less than exceptional is acceptable from the VX-R Twenty
Takeaway: The VX-R Twenty power amp has a luxurious feel and impressive design. It delivers exceptional sonic talent and performance.
All
VX-R Twenty
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Power Output: 200 watts per channel continuous into 8 ohms, 400 watts per channel continuous into 4 ohms
- Gain: 26 dB
- Input Impedance: 2 Mohm balanced (1 Mohm per phase)
- Frequency Response: DC – 250 kHz
- Power Consumption: 45 watts in standby mode, 200 watts in operating mode, no signal
- Dimensions: 17.25" W x 18.75" D x 3.75" H (44cm x 48cm x 9.5cm)
- Weight: 78 pounds (35 kg)
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Ayre products are fully balanced and employ zero-feedback designs, prioritizing signal purity and a non-colored sound signature over textbook measurements.
- The company customizes rather than relies wholly on industry-standard DAC chips, opting instead to bypass much of their built-in functionality and create proprietary filters, clocking, and oversampling within a Xilinx FPGA for optimized performance.
- The brand emphasizes the importance of power supply design, employing custom EI-core transformers and linear power supplies, with particular attention paid to RF filtering and isolating various circuit sections.
- Machined casework from solid aluminum billets provides structural rigidity and isolates internal components, which together with stainless steel hardware, avoid magnetic materials known to negatively impact sound.
Select products
EX-8
- Positioning: A versatile all-in-one solution for modern audio systems.
- Description: Features a modular design and extensive connectivity options, including Ethernet, USB, and multiple digital inputs, making it ideal for users seeking a flexible and future-proof system. Unlike the VX-8, which focuses on pure amplification, integrates a DAC and streaming capabilities. Its 100 watts per channel power output is suitable for small to medium-sized rooms.
VX-8 Power Amplifier
- Positioning: A stereo power amplifier designed for high-quality sound reproduction in a traditional setup.
- Description: Features zero-feedback, fully-balanced circuitry, providing a warm and musical experience. Offers more power than the EX-8, with 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms. While it lacks the integrated DAC and streaming features of the EX-8, it excels in pure amplification.
AX-5 Twenty
- Positioning: An integrated amplifier that combines Ayre's advanced technologies in a single chassis for high-performance audio systems.
- Description: Features Double Diamond output stage and EquiLock circuitry, providing exceptional clarity and control. Offers more power than the EX-8, with 125 watts per channel. Unlike the VX-8, includes a preamplifier section, offering a more compact solution for those who want high-end performance without separate components.
VX-R Twenty
- Positioning: A high-end stereo amplifier that incorporates technologies from Ayre's flagship monoblocks into a single chassis.
- Description: Offers superior power and control with its 200 watts per channel output. Shares the zero-feedback, fully-balanced design with the MX-R Twenty but in a stereo configuration, providing a more affordable option for those who want flagship performance. Its advanced power supply and EquiLock technology ensure excellent clarity and resolution, setting it apart from the AX-5 Twenty and VX-8.
MX-R Twenty
- Positioning: Ayre's flagship monoblock amplifier, representing the pinnacle of their amplification technology.
- Description: Delivers exceptional power and precision with 300 watts per channel. Features Ayre's exclusive EquiLock and Double Diamond technologies, offering the highest level of clarity and control. Compared to the VX-R Twenty, provides even greater power and separation, designed for the most demanding audio setups.
Our take on the brand
Look inside the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
Used
Ayre
What if you spend more?
.svg)
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Very clean and noise-free output signal provides a stable soundstage with a very black background at any sound level
- Exceptional bass control and depth delivers a powerful and tight bass response that underpins the overall musical experience
- Offers flexibility with mono, stereo, and bi-amping operating modes, allowing for system upgrades and configuration changes
- Dynamic and fast, reacting instantaneously to the signal it receives and delivering power and subtlety where needed
- Continues the company's aesthetic with the massive perspex front panel covering
Product Considerations
- Speaker binding posts may not be compatible with all types of speaker cable terminations, specifically thicker spades
- The control for the illuminated 'E' on the front is located underneath the amp and may be difficult to access
- May be more 'laid-back', which some may interpret as lacking ultimate transparency or strict neutrality
- Provides only for XLR balanced inputs, though Electrocompaniet can provide appropriate high-quality adaptors for RCA connectors
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Brings another level of control and depth to everything, compared to Totaldac Amp 1
- The memorable blackness of bass pinged recognition, compared to Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos
Takeaway: The Electrocompaniet AW 800 M is a powerful and versatile amplifier known for its exceptional bass control, clean output, and dynamic performance. It is a great choice for audiophiles seeking a high-quality listening experience with flexibility for system configuration.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The Momentum S250 MxV stereo amplifier delivers the extraordinary sound quality of the Momentum M400 MxV monoblock in a more affordable stereo design. The circuit topology and construction of the stereo amplifier mirror those of the monoblock, using the same ultra-efficient copper heat sinks with venturi cooling, the same 1% metal-film resistors, the same 69 MHz output transistors and the same fully complementary balanced configuration. The result is audio fidelity equaled by no other amplifier—except, of course, the Momentum M400 MxV monoblock itself.
The leading compliment to the Momentum S250 MxV Stereo is the Momentum HD Preamplifier, creating a harmony worthy of any aficionado.
The Momentum S250 MxV models feature techniques and topologies initially developed and implemented in the Relentless Mono Amplifier. This fullest expression of the Momentum circuitry is reflected in the new model name, MxV. Those with a physics background will recognize that MxV or Mass times Velocity is the equation for Momentum.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Incredibly resolving, with plenty of detail
- Perfectly controlled, 'wide' sound in terms of dynamics and panorama
- A quieter background brings forward a level of detail
- A clearly structured form, with symmetrical divisions and repetitions
- Inspired by the Relentless Epic amplifier series
Product Considerations
- Speaker jacks accept only spades and bare wires, and connecting spades from the top bends the cable significantly
- Components on the rear panel are placed close to each other and not particularly convenient to use
Takeaway: The Momentum S250 MxV amplifier delivers an immersive and detailed listening experience, making it great for those who enjoy actively listening to music. It brings out the best in loudspeakers, offering tremendous dynamics and a wide soundstage.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Klimax Solo 800 as a whole is the epitome of efficient, consistent, and accurate circuitry design. Our unique combination of digital and analogue expertise has allowed us to optimise and linearise every internal stage of the amplifier to consistently produce exceedingly high performance.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers a complete and unabridged rendition of music, offering a sense of authority and positively influencing the sound
- Presents music as a tightly unified whole, creating a singular event rather than a collection of individual sounds
- Offers beautifully balanced and poised sound across the entire frequency range, from deep bass to detailed highs
- Maintains steady output voltage regardless of changes in load, defying mains input variations, thanks to the Utopik power supply
- The Adaptive Bias Control (ABC) technology establishes and adjusts bias current in real time
Product Considerations
- The high price dictates that all other system components (source, pre-amplification, speakers, supports) need to be of similarly high quality and expense
Takeaway: The Linn Klimax Solo 800 is an uncompromising amplifier that allows one to hear their music in a new light by delivering a complete picture of the sound. It offers exceptional clarity, balance, and control over the music signal.
Video review
Our take on the brand
.png){kind=logo}
The all new TIDAL Ferios G2. We have pushed the concept of the first Ferios power amplifier to its extreme and developed an all new power supply with a true power regulation. Thus, the TIDAL Ferios mono amplifier board is certain for all practical means and purposes to be supplied with never failing power reserves and a lavish feed of clean current that will drive every imaginable speaker with ease. The generous supply of additional power is merely a welcome byproduct, really. The real goal was the absolute relaxation with which the Ferios performs, to the extent where any attempted description of sound attributes becomes meaningless. The Ferios sets simply a new benchmark over the former award winning generation.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Transparent and uncolored
- Exceptional casework and styling
- Ample power without muscularity becoming the product's defining attribute
- Utterly effortless and transparent magnification of the electrical impulse
- Allows a listener to devote their psychic energy to making an emotional connection to music
- Only has balanced inputs
Product Considerations
- Only has balanced inputs
Takeaway: The Ferios monoblock power amplifiers are some of the best electronics available, combining immediacy, transparency, and tonal beauty. Its ability to effortlessly resolve complex arrangements makes it a worthwhile choice for serious audiophiles.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Ample power with minimal distortion
- Audionet's ULA (Ultra-Linear-Amplifier) technology, originally developed for medical engineering
- Impressive dynamic prowess and the ability to plumb the hidden depths of CDs and LPs
- Subtle musical and instrumental details come through cleanly and coherently, without compromising life-likeness of tone colors and harmonic expression
- Exceptional bass reproduction, with a rich, detailed, and uniform low end
Product Considerations
- Positive and negative speaker terminals are close together, requiring caution when connecting speaker cables
- Balanced input use involves an op-amp, which some believe impacts sound quality, single-ended inputs are preferred by some
- A preamp should be used to get the best sound from these amplifiers
- Display text changes locations randomly, which some may find distracting
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Burmester sounded cleaner, airier, and more revealing, but could not quite compete with the AMP II MAX in authority over the bass frequencies and in blackness of the background
- The Pass Labs was tonally rich and pleasurably soft, plus the amp gave an extraordinarily punchy presentation, in that it bettered the performance of the AMP II MAXes, on the other hand, it was rather general in the organization of the soundstage and the background wasn't quite as black as with the AMP II MAXes
- Plinius shone in resolution, as well as delivered exceptionally dimensional soundstage and very neutral overall sound, especially in Class A mode, however, it did not have the same punch as the AMP II MAXes, and the sound wasn't equally gentle
- The McIntosh MC-501 delivered a richer and warmer sound, but with less power and extension than the AMP II MAX
Takeaway: The Audionet Max monoblocks offer a powerful and refined listening experience, making music sound engaging and detailed. Their ability to control speakers and reveal nuances in recordings makes them a great choice for serious audiophiles.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Neutral and grain-free sound, not like typical solid-state or tube amplifiers.
- Powerful and articulate bass, seamless and smooth mids, and extended, non-harsh highs.
- Exceptional build quality and a luxurious feel with immaculate laser-cut detailing and silver anodizing.
Product Considerations
- The glitzy appearance might be divisive.
- High-quality source components and speakers are required to perform at its best.
- The unit is large (almost 50cm wide) and very heavy (32kg), requiring a sturdy rack and careful handling during setup.
Takeaway: The Burmester 911 mk.3 provides exceptionally intricate, powerful, and dynamic sound, making it a very refined amplifier that is a treat for your ears. It is a top-performing amplifier made with great craftsmanship and build quality.
Video review
Our take on the brand
.png){kind=logo}
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Incredibly nimble, with every detail highlighted, providing an extra layer of resolution
- Delivers all of the detail and clarity without the traditional fatigue
- The balanced input transformer properly sums the positive and negative legs of the balanced signal, and in so doing retains much of the benefits that you normally achieve with fully balanced amps—noise rejection
- The distortion numbers are exceptional for a tube amplifier
- Compatibility with nearly every commercially available speaker, due to the support of three impedances (4 ohms, 8 ohms, and 16 ohms), and output power exceeding 60 watts with KT88s, and 80 watts with KT150s
Product Considerations
- There are no modern reproductions of the 12BY7A, requiring matched pairs to run the amplifiers
- The bias is fixed—it's selectable between settings, but dialing in the distortion could not be simplified further
- Heavy at nearly 100 lbs each, as there's a lot of iron in both the transformers and the chassis work
- A hint of tube noise was present in one channel when no music was playing, likely specific to the tubes used
- Not a wise choice to any planer but complex crossovers and difficult loads have not compressed the amp in testing
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs ampsandsound Zion Monos: The Arch Monos are more neutral, faster, and provide an extra layer of resolution, compared to the richer and more harmonic sound of the Zions
- Vs TAD: The Arch is clean, powerful, and has many characteristics of very good solid-state amp, though the TAD approach was similarly neutral in many ways, albeit with a lightning quickness that the Arch did not have
Takeaway: The ampsandsound Arch Monoblock amplifiers are a technically proficient and beautifully built amplifier that delivers exceptional detail and clarity without fatigue. If one wants a vintage but modern sound, the Arch Monoblocks could be a good choice.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Completely balanced and DC-coupled
- Uses the Class A 'X-Amp' input stage technology from the 159
- Has a high damping factor over the entire frequency range and a very wide, distortion-free Class-A range
- The thermal concept uses 'universal heat pipes' to keep temperatures constant and low, increasing the lifespan of the amplifier
- Signal processing reaches the input signal unaltered via silver cables
Product Considerations
- The Burmester visual aesthetic will not please everyone
- Power needs are consistently overestimated, and this amp has 100Wpc continuous into 8 ohms
- The single-ended RCA inputs are not available on the back panel, unbalanced input requires an adapter
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Burmester 911 Mk 3: The 216 adds extra depth, precision, control, and ability to 'wig out' bass, also more reactive and dynamically dynamic
- Vs Burmester 911 Mk 3: The 216 is the more liquid sounding of the two, is more dynamic, has better bass definition and control, a more even sounding treble, a more open midrange, a keener sense of rhythm
Takeaway: The Burmester 216 is a musical chameleon that is carefully and meticulously crafted, it will bring the best out of any genre. Its utter lack of electronic character is a huge plus, making it a worthwhile consideration for any audiophile.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Sound is better lit than previous Grandioso series, with more color and brilliance
- More natural and realistic sound
- Smooth, captivating midrange that produces no listening fatigue
- Fine detail is exposed due to its somewhat laid-back presentation
- Incredible bass
Product Considerations
- Takes days to warm-up and sound its best
Takeaway: The Esoteric Grandioso M1X is a monoblock amplifier that delivers a burnished sound effortlessly, making it good for audiophiles. It offers a natural sound with impressive bass and a smooth midrange.
Video review
Our take on the brand
How to buy
Amplifiers
Search all hifi products
Explore our database of 10,000+ new and 25,000+ used hifi products.
