Welcome to Ayre To our North American Your Ayre AX-5 offers a significant advance in the customers, please be sure to musical performance of high-fidelity equipment. mail your warranty The warmth and immediacy of a live performance registration card and are apparent from the first listening.
Connections and Installation The Ayre AX-5 is easy to 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”.
Inputs When you have a choice, a The Ayre AX-5 offers four pairs of balanced inputs balanced connection will offer and two pairs of single-ended inputs. Balanced slightly higher sound quality connections are made via three-pin XLR connectors, than a single-ended while single-ended connections are made with RCA connection.
Tape Outputs The Ayre AX-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...
Page 8
AC Power The AX-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.
Setup and Configuration Due to the large number of available inputs (six) on the AX-5, activating only the desired inputs allows for simpler operation of the unit. If no inputs are activated, the amplifier will automatically enter the setup mode when AC power is applied.
Page 10
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 (“ ” through “ ”). 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).
Page 11
Re-Entering Basic Setup Mode To re-enter the basic setup mode to make changes to the names of inputs, make sure that the amplifier is in the low-power consumption state (right-hand pushbutton lit green—please refer to the chapter “Controls and Operation” for additional information).
On/Off (1/0) The main power switch for the AX-5 is a rocker at the top center of the rear panel. This switch disconnects the unit completely from the AC power.
If the volume control is advanced beyond the highest available level, the front panel will briefly display the message “MAX”. Mute/Low-Power Consumption The right-hand button on the AX-5 serves two functions—mute, and control of the low-power consumption mode. Mute A short press of the right-hand button (or the...
AX-5 to “zero” while retaining the current volume setting in memory. Pressing either button a second time restores the volume to the previous level. When the mute function is activated, all five decimal points in the display will light up.
Page 15
Tape Outputs/Basic Setup Mode The left-hand button on the AX-5 activates two functions—the tape outputs and the basic input setup mode. Tape Outputs The tape outputs may be controlled either by the left-hand button on the front panel, or from the remote handset.
Remote Control The provided remote control handset will operate both the Ayre AX-5 amplifier as well as an Ayre disc player. A backlight is also provided to allow easy operation in a darkened listening room. Batteries The remote handset uses four AAA batteries.
Page 17
Disc Player Configuration As shipped from the factory, the remote control handset is configured to operate the Ayre C-5xe disc player. The button with three horizontal lines operates the “Audio” function that selects between various soundtracks on a DVD disc. Please refer the C-5xe Owner’s Manual for additional details.
Page 18
The remote handset may also be easily configured to operate either the Ayre CX-7e CD player, C-5xe Stereo Universal player, or DX-5 Universal A/V Engine, which each use different command sets. Please refer to the chapter “Optimization and Customization” for details.
Optimization and Customization In most audio systems, the AX-5 amplifier only requires that the desired inputs be activated by naming them. Each source component is clearly identified and only the connected inputs are displayed in the list of available source components.
Page 20
To enter the advanced setup mode, make sure that the amplifier is in the low-current consumption state (green LED illuminated on the right-hand button). Then press and hold the left-hand button for three seconds. This enters the unit into the basic setup mode.
Page 21
Gain Offset Source components may have varying output levels. In order to maintain a more constant volume level when changing sources, the Ayre AX-5 allows a gain offset to be applied to each input.
Page 22
If you are using a surround-sound processor, connect the front left and right outputs of the processor to one of the inputs on the AX-5. When configuring that input, use the left-hand knob to select the “ ”...
Page 23
The chosen input is now programmed for Processor Pass-Through operation, disabling the now redundant volume control of the AX-5. When that input is selected, the AX-5 is set to the standard power amplifier gain (26 dB), and the volume is controlled directly from the surround-sound processor.
Page 24
”, a D/A converter will transmit the code “ ” and so forth. When the inputs of the AX-5 are activated by naming them, many of the common names will have an AyreLink alphabetical code automatically associated with it. For example, the input name “...
Page 25
In this case there is no default AyreLink code that would select this input. To address these issues, the setup menu allows each named input to be associated with an AyreLink identification code. Once you have selected the “ ” menu item with the left-hand knob, simply select the desired identification code (“...
Either change is easily accomplished with the Ayre AX-5, as there is a single resistor per channel that sets the overall gain range. This gain resistor is mounted in a terminal block and can be changed without the need for soldering.
If there are no AyreLink source components available to control the operation of the AX-5 amplifier, it may be convenient to use the trigger control from a source component. The trigger signal from a source component will...
Page 28
AyreLink ports of your components in a daisy-chain fashion as described in the chapter “Connections and Installation” with the AX-5 at one end of the chain. The unused AyreLink port on the amplifier is then used as a trigger input.
Page 29
During level-sensitive operation, applying a voltage to the trigger input will set the amplifier to the “Operate” mode. When the applied voltage drops to zero, the unit reverts to the low-power consumption mode. In the pulse-sensitive mode, a positive-going pulse will toggle the amplifier between the low-power consumption and “Operate”...
Numbers and Specifications Power Output 125 watts per channel continuous into 8 ohms 250 watts per channel continuous into 4 ohms Maximum Input Level 8 V rms – unbalanced inputs 16 V rms – balanced inputs Input Impedance 1 M – unbalanced inputs 2 M –...
In Case of Trouble The Ayre AX-5 provides comprehensive protection for both your amplifier and loudspeakers, including faults that may occur in your source components. Overheating If the unit is operated at high playback levels with insufficient ventilation, the internal temperature may become too high, triggering the thermal protection circuitry.
Rail Fuses Four internal power supply fuses protect both the loudspeakers from excessive current and the amplifier from short-circuits. If any of these fuses blows, the amplifier will not operate and the warning LED in the display will glow red. The input selector characters will change to read “FUS”...
Page 33
DC Offset The Ayre AX-5 incorporates a circuit to detect the presence of DC at the output terminals which could be harmful to the loudspeaker. In this situation, the warning LED in the display will glow red, the input will be muted, the bias will be removed from the output stage, and the amplifier will not operate.
Statement of Warranty North American Warranty Your Ayre AX-5 integrated amplifier is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ninety days from the date of original purchase. This ninety-day coverage is automatic upon acceptance of delivery and no registration is required.
Page 35
Ayre Acoustics, Inc. 2300-B Central Avenue Boulder, Colorado 80301 or to Ayre’s authorized agent. The product must be accompanied by a written description of the defect and a photocopy of your original purchase receipt. Ayre will not be responsible for any shipping damage and strongly recommends the purchase of shipping insurance.
Page 36
5. The above warranty is the sole warranty given by Ayre, and is in lieu of all other warranties. All implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose shall be strictly limited to the duration of the above warranty.
A Place for Notes Serial Number: ________________________________________ Purchase Date: ________________________________________ Dealer: ________________________________________ Salesperson: ________________________________________...
Need help?
Do you have a question about the AX-5 and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers