Ayre KX-5 User manual
Ayre KX-5
Owner’s Manual
Variable-Gain Line Stage Preamplifier
Table of
Contents
Welcome to Ayre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Connections and Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Setup and Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Controls and Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Optimization and Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Numbers and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
In Case of Trouble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Statement of Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
A Place for Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Welcome to
Ayre
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.
Your Ayre KX-5 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 KX-5
will provide you a lifetime of musical enjoyment.
Quick Start
The Ayre KX-5 is extremely flexible and versatile.
However, many of the features are primarily of
interest to the advanced user.
The information required to get started is
contained in the following three chapters of this
manual.
The remaining chapters cover additional
information that may be read at your leisure.
2
Connections and
Installation
The Ayre KX-5 is easy to set up and use. The
following guidelines will ensure that the installation
goes smoothly.
As shipped from the factory, none of
the inputs are activated. The desired
inputs are activated by assigning them
names as described in the following
chapter, “Setup and Configuration”.
Location
A good location for your preamplifier is in an
open-backed cabinet or on a shelf. The KX-5
produces very little heat. However be sure not to
block the airflow of other components.
The infrared beam will also
travel through glass.
The receiver for the remote control is behind the
display lens on the front panel. A direct line of sight
from the listening position will ensure maximum
range.
3
Inputs
When you have a choice, a
balanced connection will offer
slightly higher sound quality
than a single-ended
connection.
The Ayre KX-5 offers four pairs of balanced inputs
and two pairs of single-ended inputs. Balanced
connections are made via three-pin XLR connectors,
and single-ended connections use RCA connectors.
In this era of diverse source components, it is not
possible to pre-label the inputs with the name of the
source. The inputs are labeled “1” through “6”.
Make a written note of which source components
are connected to which numbered input. The
connected inputs will be named after AC power is
applied to the KX-5 amplifier, as described in the
chapter “Setup and Configuration”.
Main Outputs
Both pairs of balanced main
outputs are wired in parallel
and provide identical sound
quality.
The KX-5 connects to your power amplifier via the
main outputs. Two pairs of XLR outputs provide
easy connection for passive-biamping or with a
powered line-level input subwoofer. A pair of RCA
outputs are also provided for legacy equipment.
4
Tape Outputs
The Ayre KX-5 provides tape outputs, allowing
connection of the selected source component to a
recording device or headphone amplifier. The tape
outputs utilize balanced XLR connectors. Should it
be necessary to connect a tape output to a
single-ended component, high-quality adapters are
available from your Ayre dealer.
Turn the tape outputs off unless they are
currently being used. This will completely
disconnect the auxiliary components from the
KX-5 (including the ground connection),
eliminating the possibility of undesired ground
loops or other interference.
Unlike the main outputs, the tape outputs will not
convert the signal from a single-ended source to a
true balanced signal. Instead, the “hot” signal will
be present on pin 2 of the XLR and pins 1 and 3
will be grounded. This allows a balanced component
connected to the tape outputs to internally perform
the single-ended to balanced conversion without the
need for adapters.
AC Power
The KX-5 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.
5
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
KX-5. 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.
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 may be
joined in any convenient
order.
The linked components should be connected in
daisy-chain fashion, connecting each component to
another until all of the linked components have
been connected.
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.
6
Setup and
Configuration
Due to the large number of available inputs (six) on
the KX-5, activating only the connected inputs
allows for greater ease of operation of your system.
If no inputs are activated, the amplifier
will automatically enter the setup mode
when AC power is applied. Only the active
inputs will be included in the list of available
source components.
Activating Inputs (Basic Setup Menu)
The desired inputs are activated simply by naming
them. When AC power is first applied to the unit,
the front panel will briefly display “KX5” and “FWX”
in sequence, where “FWX” indicates “Firmware
Revision X”, where “X” is a letter from “A” to “Z”.
Assuming that none of the inputs have yet been
configured, the unit will then automatically enter
the setup mode and the front panel will display
“SET UP” briefly. Then it will display “OFF 1”,
(meaning input 1 is “off”) to allow the naming
(activation) of the inputs.
7
KX5
FWX
OFF 1
SET UP
Refer to your notes describing which source
components are connected to which numbered
input.
Use the right-hand knob to scroll to the desired
numbered input (“OFF 1” through “OFF 6”).
When you have reached the desired input number,
use the left-hand knob to scroll through the list of
available names (shown at the left). Selecting “OFF”
disables that input, while selecting any other name
from the list will activate (enable) that input.
Select a name describing the source connected to the
chosen input, and it will automatically be entered
into memory. The display will show the name has
been assigned to the chosen input.
Repeat the process of naming the remaining desired
inputs. When all of the desired inputs have been
named, press the left-hand button to exit the basic
setup mode. The front panel will briefly display
“EX SU” to indicate that the unit is exiting the
set up mode. Then the unit will return to the
system-sleep mode, indicated by the green LED in
the right-hand switch.
8
OFF X
INx X
PC X
CD X
PH X
DVD X
SCD X
SSP X
DIG X
TNR X
AUX X
D/A X
DAT X
CDR X
CBL X
TV X
VCR X
LD X
DX5 X
C5X X
QB9 X
CX7 X
DX7 X
D1X X
EX SU
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