Forté Model 5 on the way

[E-Stat]

How does this Threshold S/150 II sound to you? ...

Although I haven't heard that model, it is a slightly newer version, the first of which to use a toroidal transformer. It has a somewhat lower output and fewer output transistors for 75 watts per channel into 8 ohms and double that into 4. Appears to still have a pair of large Mallory caps. Should be similar sounding to mine at an equivalent power level.

Here's the innards

Has a taller, but less deep chassis vs. the 3. You'll note this guy added bypass caps to the mains as well. BTW, the first four digits of the serial number are the year and month of manufacture. There is an S/300 on ebay with a matching preamp where you can make out the serial to be a 1983 model. Similarly, I saw a 400A where the seller said it was a "twenty year old amp". Its serial number indicated that it was built in 1979. Which makes perfect sense since it was the forerunner to the Stasis 3 introduced in 1980.

[Feanor]

Although I haven't heard that model, it is a slightly newer version, the first of which to use a toroidal transformer. It has a somewhat lower output and fewer output transistors for 75 watts per channel into 8 ohms and double that into 4. Appears to still have a pair of large Mallory caps. Should be similar sounding to mine at an equivalent power level.

Here's the innards

Has a taller, but less deep chassis vs. the 3. You'll note this guy added bypass caps to the mains as well. BTW, the first four digits of the serial number are the year and month of manufacture. There is an S/300 on ebay with a matching preamp where you can make out the serial to be a 1983 model. Similarly, I saw a 400A where the seller said it was a "twenty year old amp". Its serial number indicated that it was built in 1979. Which makes perfect sense since it was the forerunner to the Stasis 3 introduced in 1980.

Great info. His price doesn't seem out of line considering the supposed upgrades.

I'm also looking at an Ayre V-3 MkII on the 'Gon. Any experience with Ayre? This one's quite a lot more money than the Threshold, though ... HERE

[E-Stat]

Any experience with Ayre? This one's quite a lot more money than the Threshold, though ... HERE

Unfortunately, my experience is limited to the Ayre IBE disc.

I've heard only good things about their components and I've enjoyed reading Charles Hansen's posts on AA.

[Feanor]

Unfortunately, my experience is limited to the Ayre IBE disc.

I've heard only good things about their components and I've enjoyed reading Charles Hansen's posts on AA.

Thanks. Apparently Ayre amps are a classic case of measure bad / sound good.

[E-Stat]

Thanks. Apparently Ayre amps are a classic case of measure bad / sound good.

AX-5 Measurements

"It was a pleasure to measure Ayre's AX-5, given its consistently good behavior on the test bench. Its wide bandwidth and low distortion despite the lack of overall loop feedback are a testament to the intrinsic linearity of the diamond circuit.—John Atkinson"

They look good to me, too. Nice smooth square wave response. If by *bad*, you mean largely irrelevant "double ought" THD numbers, I find that a blessing from a sonic standpoint. I'll take an "intrinsically linear" amp to one pumped up by lots of NFB anytime.

[Feanor]

AX-5 Measurements

"It was a pleasure to measure Ayre's AX-5, given its consistently good behavior on the test bench. Its wide bandwidth and low distortion despite the lack of overall loop feedback are a testament to the intrinsic linearity of the diamond circuit.—John Atkinson"

They look good to me, too. Nice smooth square wave response. If by *bad*, you mean largely irrelevant "double ought" THD numbers, I find that a blessing from a sonic standpoint. I'll take an "intrinsically linear" amp to one pumped up by lots of NFB anytime.

Yes, those measurements are very decent but they are for the latest/greatest "diamond circuit" AX-5 model. I was referring specifically to those for the 10 y/o Ayre V-3, HERE. These are nowhere near as good.

I was noticing a Ayre V-3 MkII for sale on Audiogon. I might be able to afford that but certainly not to the $10,000 AX-5.