RMAF 2013 Show

Stereomojo Review of Ayon Audio Crossfire and Ayon S-5 Music Server

AYON

Ayon is one of our favorite companies. Made in Austria and way overbuilt, outstanding consistent quality.

The distributors stand behind their product, too.

This is the new Ayon Crossfire. It’s their most powerful SE-triode integrated amplifier featuring single-ended triode circuitry with the exceptional Ayon 62B power tube.
Zero dB feedback, pure class A operation for the most natural fast and authentic 3D holographic sound.

Features

Full-featured single-ended vacuum tube stereo integrated amplifier
SE – pure Class-A triode vacuum tube-circuit design
AA62B Power output tubes high peak current & high voltage delivery
Timer warm up circuit for all tubes, extends tube life
Ideal also for more difficult loudspeaker loads
Dual choke filtered power supply for AA62B
Single choke for pre and driver stage (6H30)
Automatic power tube protection circuit system
0dB Negative feedback
2 separate power transformers (anode – high voltage and filament – low voltage)
Power transformers are encased, excellent damped and RFI/EMI shielded
Innovative power supply provides a high speed energy delivery on transients
All transformers are sealed with an anti-resonance compound material
Selected, premium quality passive components used in all applications
High speed capacitors
MKP signal caps
Teflon tube sockets with beryllium- copper spring pins, custom made by Ayon Audio
Shortest possible signal paths
Gold-plated industrial grade PCB
Teflon isolated – internal wiring
Silver matrix – internal signal cable
Central one-point star earth grounding
External static bias adjustment – rear panel
Fully hand assembled to insure the highest level of craftsmanship
Alu-brushed anodized anti-vibration-resonance and non-magnetic chassis
4 line inputs & 1 direct input – for pure power amp operation
DC-Power filter
AC phase polarity control indicator
Ground switch
Mute function – RC
WBT/Germany – binding posts
WBT/Germany – input jack
Bias analog-instrument with mV scale
Metal remote commander
See what we mean by “over built”?

This is their S5 Music Server with separate tube supply. Yum. Again, look at the features:

Full-featured Network Music Player/DAC/Preamp
Class-A triode vacuum-tube output stage for single-ended & balanced operation
User interface on QVGA 3.5” TFT display
Internet radio (vTuner)
UPnP streaming from PC via 100base-T Ethernet /
Streaming audio from USB HS (mass storage device)
WAV (lpcm) – up to 192khz/24bit
FLAC – up to 192khz/24bit
AIFF
AAC, HE-AAC (up to 24bit 96 kHz)
LPCM (up to 24bit 192 kHz on wired LAN and up to 24bit 96 kHz on wireless LAN)
NetAPI with Ayon app for iPad, iPhone/iPod and Android
Logical sequenced soft-start power up for extended tube life
Warm up function
0dB negative feedback (of any kind )
Ultra short signal path
Simplest direct circuit path for purest musical sound and high reliability
Low output impedance for driving long runs interconnect to an amplifier, and any tube or solid state power amp
No solid state devices in the analog tube output (signal path )
Minimal discrete wiring for optimum signal propagation
No followers or buffers in the signal path
No DC servo that degrades the signal
High quality parts throughout
Separate analog output stage for left and right channel
Burr Brown D/A converter
Upsampling 24bit/192kHz and on/off switchable
Ethernet ( RJ45 )
Memory stick or USB drive
WIFI
BB A/D converter 24/192
Digital input – S/PDIF (RCA), I2S , AES/EBU, BNC & TosLink
2 x USB type “A” inputs for Memory stick or USB drives
Digital output – S/PDIF (RCA)
Dual Electrical-Analog Volume control system
2 pair analog line input ( RCA)
1 pair analog line input ( XLR)
1 pair Tape out ( RCA )
Separate Display for Network-Player and Volume/ Inputs
Power Supply
The power supplies have been further refined with new components and enhanced AC line noise filtration. Separate power transformer windings and filters provide total isolation between the input and output stage which makes this a pure power source and it is a critical attribute for a 6H30 output stage. We also use electrolytic capacitors with much larger storage capacity to make up for the loss in filtering when using resistors in lieu of inductors.
Dual R-Core / Low noise – insulated power transformers for digital & analog separated
Innovative power supply provides a high speed energy delivery on transients
Separate and isolated power supplies over each stage of amplificationAC power line filter to avoid noise and hash from entering into the unit.
Four times tube rectification for 6H30 analog output stage
Choke with Film caps
10 separate voltage regulators

This is another one of the few things I saw at the show that I WANT!