Ayre Acoustics AX-7E User Manual

Ayre AX-7e

Owner’s Manual

Integrated Amplifier

Table of

Contents

Welcome to Ayre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Connections and Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Controls and Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Numbers and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Statement of Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

A Place for Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Welcome to

Ayre

Your Ayre AX-7e offers a significant advance in the
musical performance of high-fidelity equipment.
The warmth and immediacy of a live performance
are apparent from the first listening. The
combination of superb resolution and a natural,
relaxed quality will draw you into the music, time
and time again.

This degree of performance has been implemented
using the highest levels of workmanship and
materials. You can be assured that the Ayre AX-7e
will provide you a lifetime of musical enjoyment.

To our North American customers, please be
sure to mail your warranty registration card and
photocopy of your original sales receipt within 30
days in order to extend the warranty to five
years.

2

Connections and

Installation

The Ayre AX-7e is easy to connect and use. The
following guidelines will ensure that the installation
goes smoothly.

Location

Be sure to provide at least

three inches (75 mm) of air

space above the unit.

The infrared beam of the

remote transmitter will also

travel through glass.

A good location for your integrated amplifier is in
an open-backed cabinet or on a shelf. The AX-7e
produces a moderate amount of heat during use.

It is important to maintain an adequate
supply of air flow to avoid overheating.

The receiver for the infrared remote control is
mounted behind the display lens on the front panel.
A direct line of sight from the listening position
will ensure the maximum range.

Inputs

The Ayre AX-7e offers two pairs of balanced inputs
and two pairs of unbalanced inputs. Balanced
connections are made via three-pin XLR connectors,

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while unbalanced connections are made via RCA
connectors.

When you have a choice, a balanced connection
will offer slightly higher sound quality than an
unbalanced connection.

The FET switches used in the input selector
circuitry offer transparent, noise-free switching,
with no moving parts. Please be aware that they can
be overloaded if the output voltage from the source
component is too high.

Do not use a source component that has
an output level greater than4Vrms
unbalanced, or 8 V rms balanced.

Using a source component with too great an output
level will cause distortion.

The input connectors on the

rear panel are labeled to

match the input selector

4

buttons.

Tape Outputs

In this modern era of diverse source components, it
has become impractical to pre-label the inputs with
the actual name of the source. Instead, the AX-7e
has simple icons that allow you to easily remember
the selector button associated with each source.

By connecting the “Tape Out” jacks on the rear of
the AX-7e to a recorder with analog inputs,
recordings may be made directly from the other
source components connected to your amplifier. The
tape outputs are switched on and off at the front
panel. Please refer to the section “Controls and
Operation” for further information.

If a recorder is not installed in

your system, the “Moon” input

performs exactly like the other

unbalanced inputs.

If you are connecting a recorder to your
system, be sure to connect its outputs to
the “Moon” input of the AX-7e.

This will prevent the undesired possibility of
creating a feedback loop when making a recording.

Loudspeaker Outputs

The heavy-duty output

terminals of the Ayre AX-7e

work best with speaker cables

using spade lugs.

Removing the AC power from

the unit will cause it to lose

its memorized settings and

revert to the default settings.

The Ayre AX-7e drives the loudspeakers with
balanced outputs. Since none of the output
terminals are grounded, connecting any of them to
ground may result in damage to the amplifier.

Do not connect the loudspeaker
outputs to any speaker switch-box,
accessory, or test equipment that has a
common ground connection.

AC Power

The AX-7e may be plugged directly into an
unswitched wall outlet. Although proprietary RFI
(radio-frequency interference) filtering is built into
the amplifier, in some situations an AC power-line
filter (such as those offered by Ayre) may provide
additional sonic benefits.

When the unit is first connected to AC power, the
input selector will default to “Star”, the volume will
be at “11”, the display will be “On”, and both the
mute and record output will be “Off”.

5

Controls and

Operation

The Ayre AX-7e integrated amplifier may be
controlled using either the front panel buttons or
the included remote control handset.

Remote Control

The supplied remote control handset can operate
both the AX-7e integrated amplifier as well as an
Ayre CD player. The controls to operate the CD
player are grouped towards the top of the handset,
while those for the integrated amplifier are grouped
towards the bottom.

The remote control handset uses 2 x AAA batteries,
which must be installed before use. Access to the
battery compartment is achieved by sliding the
cover on the rear of the unit.

Volume Control

The Ayre AX-7e’s exclusive volume control yields
superlative sonic performance. Field-Effect
Transistor (FET) switches combine with discrete

6

metal-film resistors to create a volume control with
crystal-clear transparency and no moving parts. The
volume control comprises 66 individual levels, each
with a step size of 1.0 dB allowing for precise
selection of the desired volume setting.

The volume level is changed by pressing the black
bar above the front-panel display. The remote
control may also be used to change the volume.

When the unit is first connected to AC power , the
volume level defaults to “11”, a relatively low
setting. After that, the current volume setting is
retained in memory when changing inputs or when
the unit is placed in “Standby”.

Mute

The mute button provides an easy way to
temporarily turn the volume of the AX-7e to “zero”.
The current volume control setting is retained in
memory and appears on the display. When the unit
is placed in “Standby”, the mute function is reset.

7

Input Source Selection

The input selector buttons are located at the right
side of the unit. Icons that match the connector
labels on the rear panel (Star, Planet, Comet, Moon)
are used to denote the inputs.

When the unit is first connected to an AC power
source, the “Star” input is selected by default. After
that, the current input selection is retained in
memory, even when the unit is placed in “Standby”.

The input selector utilizes sophisticated FET
switches. Both the signal and ground connections to
each source component are switched, so that any
un-selected components are completely disconnected
from the system. This avoids any problems with
undesired ground loops.

Tape Output

The “Tape Output” function

does not operate on the “Moon”

input. This avoids the

undesired possibility of

creating a feedback loop.

8

When the “Tape Output” button is pressed, the
indicator will light up and the signal from the
currently selected source component will be routed
to the “Tape Out” connectors. This allows a
recording to be made.

Turn the “Tape Output” off unless a recording is
being made. This will completely disconnect the
recorder from the AX-7e (including the ground
connection), avoiding the possibility of undesired
ground loops.

Display

The display of the AX-7e may be turned off, if
desired. A single blue light indicates that the
display is turned off. When further commands are
received, either from the front-panel buttons or the
remote control, the display will be activated for a
few seconds to confirm the command, and then turn
off automatically. Pressing the “Display” button
again will turn the display on.

Standby

The Ayre AX-7e is very energy-efficient, and only
consumes about as much power as a standard light
bulb when playing. If you wish to further reduce
power consumption when not playing music, the
unit may be placed in standby mode. In standby
mode, the output stage is turned off and usage of
electricity is minimized.

Processor Pass-Through

When using the Ayre AX-7e in a surround-sound
system for home theater, it is desirable to use the

“Processor Pass-Through” mode. This mode allows

your two-channel music sources to be routed
directly through the AX-7e, avoiding the sonic
degradation of most processors, and at the same time
allows the front two channels of the theater system
to integrate with the AX-7e with the touch of a
single button.

9

If you are using a surround-sound processor, connect
the front left and front right outputs of the processor
to one of the inputs on the AX-7e. Please note that
the AX-7e can accept either balanced or unbalanced
signals.

To activate the “Processor Pass-Through” mode for
that input, remove the AC power from the AX-7e
for at least 10 seconds. Then, while pressing the
input selector button corresponding to the chosen
surround-sound processor input, re-connect the AC
power.

10

The chosen input is now programmed for “Processor
Pass-Through” operation, disabling the now
redundant volume control of the AX-7e. When that
input is selected, the preamplifier section of the
AX-7e is set to unity gain (0 dB), and the volume is
controlled directly from the surround-sound
processor. The volume indicator of the AX-7e will
display “PP” to show that the “Processor
Pass-Through” mode has been selected for that
input.

To clear the “Processor Pass-Through” mode from
an input and restore normal operation, remove the
AC power from the AX-7e for at least 10 seconds.
Then, while pressing the “Mute” button, re-connect
the AC power.

Break-In

100 to 500 hours of music

played through the system will

ensure full break-in.

Due to the manufacturing processes used for the
printed circuit boards, wires, and capacitors, a
break-in period is necessary for the amplifier to
reach its full performance potential.

11

Numbers and

Specifications

Power Output 60 watts per channel continuous into 8 ohms

120 watts per channel continuous into 4 ohms

Maximum Input Level 4 V rms – unbalanced inputs

8 V rms – balanced inputs

Input Impedance 20 kΩ– unbalanced inputs

40 kΩ– balanced inputs (20 kΩper phase)

XLR Input Polarity Pin 1 = Ground

Pin 2 = Non-inverting (Positive)
Pin 3 = Inverting (Negative)

Gain 35 dB (maximum, at volume level of “66”)

12

Frequency Response 2 Hz - 200 kHz

Power Consumption 20 watts in standby mode

70 watts in operating mode, no signal

Dimensions 17-¼" W x 13-¾" D x 4-¾" H

44 cm x 35 cm x 12 cm

Weight 25 pounds

11.5 kg

Statement of

Warranty

North American Warranty

Your Ayre AX-7e integrated amplifier is warranted
against defects in workmanship and materials for a
period of ninety days from the date of original
purchase. This ninety-day coverage is automatic
upon acceptance of delivery and no registration is
required.

Additionally you have the option, at no cost, to
extend the warranty for a period of five years from
the date of purchase by returning the completed
Warranty Registration Card and a photocopy of
your original purchase receipt in the enclosed
postage-paid envelope to Ayre within thirty days of
product delivery. This optional warranty is only
available within the thirty-day registration period.

13

North American Warranty Statement

1. If any defects are found in the materials or
workmanship of this Ayre product within the
warranty period, the unit will be repaired or
replaced by Ayre Acoustics, Inc. (Ayre) or its
authorized agent.

2. Purchaser must return the product, packed in the
original shipping carton, freight prepaid to:

Ayre Acoustics, Inc.
2300-B Central Avenue
Boulder, Colorado 80301

or to Ayre’s authorized agent. The product must be
accompanied by a written description of the defect
and a photocopy of your original purchase receipt.
Ayre will not be responsible for any shipping
damage and strongly recommends the purchase of
shipping insurance.

14

3. Ayre reserves the right to inspect any product
that is the subject of any warranty claim prior to
repairing or replacing it. Final determination of
warranty coverage lies solely with Ayre.

Out-of-warranty claims will be billed for labor,
materials, return freight, and insurance as required.
Any product for which a warranty claim is accepted
will be returned to the purchaser and the cost of
shipping and insurance will be factory prepaid
within the boundaries of the USA. Units to be
shipped outside of the USA will be shipped freight
collect only.

4. Ayre strives to manufacture the finest possible
equipment, and therefore reserves the right to make
improvements on its products, without necessarily
assuming any obligation to retrofit such changes
upon its previously manufactured models.

5. The above warranty is the sole warranty given by
Ayre, and is in lieu of all other warranties. All
implied warranties, including warranties of
merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose
shall be strictly limited to the duration of the above
warranty. Ayre shall have no further obligation of
any kind, whether express or implied. Further, Ayre
shall in no event be obligated for any incidental or
consequential damages as a result of any defect or
any warranty claim, whether express or implied.

6. Ayre does not authorize any third party,
including any dealer or sales representative, to
assume any liability of Ayre or make any warranty
for Ayre. The unit must not have been altered or
improperly serviced. The serial number on the unit
must not have been altered or removed.

7. The remaining period of this warranty is only
transferable to subsequent purchasers if the product
is resold by an authorized Ayre dealer.

International Warranty

Warranty terms outside of North America may vary.
Please contact the authorized Ayre distributor in
your country of purchase for the terms of warranty
and also the service itself.

15

A Place for

Notes

Serial Number:

Purchase Date:

Dealer:

Salesperson:

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

16 Rev. 1.2

Ayre Acoustics, Inc.

2300-B Central Avenue

Boulder, Colorado 80301

www.ayre.com

[phone]