Ayre Acoustics K-5x User Manual

Ayre K-5x

Owner’s Manual

A y r e

K-5x

Preamplifier

Table of

Contents

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

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

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

Numbers and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Statement of Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

A Place for Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Welcome to

Ayre

Please send in your warranty

registration card so we can

stay in contact with you.

Your Ayre K-5x 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 level of performance has been implemented
using the highest level of workmanship and
materials. You can be assured that the Ayre K-5x
will provide you a lifetime of musical enjoyment.

2

Connections and

Installation

The Ayre K-5x preamplifier is easy to hook up and
use. The following guidelines will ensure that the
installation goes smoothly.

Location

The infrared beam of the

remote transmitter will also

travel through glass.

When you have a choice, a
balanced connection will offer
slightly higher sound quality

than an unbalanced

connection.

A good location for your preamplifier is in an
open-backed cabinet or on a shelf. 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. However, the beam will also
reflect off of most wall surfaces with a reduced
range.

Inputs

The Ayre K-5x offers two pairs of balanced inputs
and two pairs of unbalanced inputs. Balanced
connections are made via three-pin XLR connectors,
while unbalanced connections are made via RCA
connectors.

3

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

buttons.

If a recorder is not installed in

your system, the “Moon” input

performs exactly like the other

unbalanced inputs.

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 K-5x has
simple icons that allow you to easily remember the
selector button associated with each source
component.

Tape Outputs

By connecting the “Tape Out” jacks on the rear of
the K-5x to a recorder with analog inputs,
recordings may be made directly from the other
source components connected to your preamplifier.
The tape outputs are switched on and off at the front
panel. Please refer to the section “Controls and
Operation” for further information.

If you are connecting a recorder to your
system, be sure to connect its outputs to
the “Moon” input of the K-5x.

4