Ayre Acoustics MX-R User Manual

Table of

Customization and Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Contents

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

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

Controls and Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Numbers and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

In Case of Trouble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Statement of Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

A Place for Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Welcome to

Ayre

Your Ayre MX-R mono power amplifier 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 MX-R will provide you a lifetime of musical
enjoyment.

2

Connections and

Installation

The Ayre MX-R is easy to hook up and use. The following
guidelines will ensure that the installation goes smoothly.

Location

Do not stack the Ayre MX-R directly with

other components, as this may restrict the

airflow or induce hum into the audio

circuitry.

A good location for your mono power amplifier is on the floor
near your loudspeaker, in an open-backed cabinet, or on a shelf.
The Ayre MX-R produces a moderate amount of heat during
operation. Be sure to provide at least three inches (75 mm) of air
space above the amplifier and two inches (50 mm) on each side
to allow for proper airflow.

It is important to maintain an adequate supply of
airflow to avoid overheating the amplifier.

AC Power

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

3

Input

The MX-R mono power amplifier can be driven by a
preamplifier or directly from a line-level source (e.g., D/A
converter or CD player) that has a volume control.

A balanced input connector is provided to achieve the highest
sound quality. Should it be necessary to connect a single-ended
preamplifier or source component, high-quality adapters are
available from your Ayre dealer.

When you have a choice, a properly implemented
balanced connection will offer higher sound
quality than a single-ended connection.

4

Loudspeaker Outputs

The heavy-duty output terminals of the

Ayre MX-R work best with speaker cables

using spade lugs.

The Ayre MX-R drives the loudspeakers with balanced outputs.
Since neither of the loudspeaker output terminals are grounded,
connecting them to ground may damage the amplifier.

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

AyreLink Ports

The AyreLink communication system provides a convenient way
to control your audio system. There are two AyreLink ports on
the rear panel of the MX-R amplifier. Each port has four
contacts and contains both an input and an output. Both ports
function identically and may be used interchangeably.

AyreLink connections are made with commonly available
two-line telephone line cords using modular (RJ-11) connectors.
(These are the cords that connect the telephone set to the wall in
many countries.) They are readily available in different lengths
and various colors at most electronics stores.

The linked components may be joined in

any convenient order.

Be sure to use two-line telephone cords to make
AyreLink connections. These can be identified by
the four gold contacts on each connector.
Single-line cords with only two gold contacts will
not function in this application.

The linked components should be connected in daisy-chain
fashion, connecting each component to another until all of the
linked components have been connected.

5

When connecting the linked components to form
a chain, be careful not to connect the two ends of
the chain. Closing the chain to form a loop will
cause the AyreLink system not to function.

If there are no other AyreLink components in your system, the
MX-R amplifiers may also be controlled by a trigger output
from another component. In this case, connect the AyreLink
ports of your amplifiers in daisy-chain fashion as described
above. The unused AyreLink port on an amplifier at either end
of the AyreLink chain can then be used as a trigger input.
Additional details can be found in the chapter “Customization
and Configuration”.

6

Controls and

Operation

The Ayre MX-R has a front-panel button for conventional
stand-alone operation. The amplifier may also may be controlled
by other linked components via the AyreLink communication
system. Alternatively the AyreLink port may be used to accept a
trigger signal from another component, thereby controlling the
amplifier’s operating state.

Status LED and Standby Button

There is a status LED on the amplifier’s front panel that
indicates the operational status of the unit.

The status LED on the front panel is also the
standby button. Pressing this button selects
between the “Standby” and “Operate” modes.

Green = Standby

Blue = Operate

When the amplifier is first connected to AC power, the status
LED will glow green, indicating that the unit is in “Standby”
mode. When the listener presses the front-panel button, the
unit changes to “Operate” mode and the indicator light glows
blue.

7