Ayre Audio Codex DAC / Headamp / Preamp

Interesting observations there! As much as I dig the Deckard I would not rate it's DAC as higher resolution than the Codex. The amp section is a different story and betters the Codex (single ended) substantially.

http://www.stereophile.com/content/ayre-acoustics-codex-da-headphone-amplifier#wM6sH0oPrvRGXl6O.97

 

I’m posting this when the last post on this thread is over two years old. However, for the sake of those who were curious about this DAC/Amp combo, I would like to post my impressions after owning the unit for six months.

Headphones: Focal Clear and Audeze LCD2-C and in the past Grado GS2000e

Headphone Amp: Jot (second revision that is slightly warm sounding) and in the past Woo Audio WA6-SE

Source: Thinkpad Laptop running through the Schiit Wyrd to Codex via USB, and Marantz HD-CD1 as CD Transport duty running Toslink to Codex. PCM files only, DSD is meh (if you care about it, Codex will do DSD64 and DSD128 via DoP).


Background: If you don’t know Ayre, they are known for these major things:

1. All of their amps/sources are solid state devices, they don’t like tubes in any of their projects they sell.

2. Their in-house sound is very balanced through out the range, with excellent focus on the mid-range, very accurate bass, and very not annoying treble (unless the recording you are playing is crap, then good bye your ears). So yes, more on the neutral side without sounding boring.

3. All of their products are built to be balanced, which means their stuff will sound best running in balance mode.

I grew to love the Ayre in-house sound since I love DACs that are more on the neutral end of things, but doesn’t sound too boring. At times depending on the recording it can round of the edges, however, their in-house sound is not warm or bright. Don’t expect the sound to fix craptastic recordings.

The Codex is an interesting project from Ayre. It’s their cheapest source/amp project they sell for $1,995 (on average their items sell for $3k and up), and it offers more than just one thing to do (DAC, DAC-Headphone Amp, and Pre-Amp to Speakers). I only use the product for the headphone piece, so I can’t comment on the pre-amp part of the unit.

I purchased the Ayre since as stated above I love their in-house sound, and I did an audition of the unit from my local dealer and love it. Hence I purchased one brand new. Break-In period is about 600 hours on recommendation from Ayre. From my experience, it sounded good out of the box new, then it sounded like shit for two weeks. Then it became excellent after two weeks. It’s strange, but I’m not alone on this part since other Codex owners I know locally experienced the same thing. For the longest time I hate Sabre DAC chips for this digital glair that I get from the high end. From Audio-GD to the Oppos, I found anything with the Sabre DAC chip to honestly sound like crap. This was the first DAC that at least in my opinion got the Sabre DAC sounded good (it’s like Ayre figured out how to implement it correctly).

I been using it as a DAC only to my Jot balanced, and as a DAC/Amp using specialty made cables from Surf Cables (I recommend them since their cables are well made, and light as hell). With the specialty made cables, Ayre is using a different connector method of running headphones balanced directly in the Codex, using dual stereo 1/8 connectors. This is the same way on the Pono player (which Ayre developed it). The newer Ayre equipment is including this connection as standard for balanced headphone operation. Of course this is an non-common connector standard, so a negative on the Codex for requiring you to buy separate connectors for running balance in the Codex (If you want, you can buy an adapter from Surf Cables for four pin XLR to dual stereo 1/8 connectors).

Before discussing the ranges, I have to point out this very thing: If running headphones into the Codex, AVOID RUNNING SINGLE-ENDED HEADPHONE INPUT AT ALL COST. It flat out sucks for starters, and two it won’t run the Codex internally in balance mode. Not enough power to drive the majority of headphones out there (Jude stated on Head-Fi video of the Codex that he like running an IEM in that input, I’m like BS, it’s crap). Grados and lower ohm headphones will not amp well from the single-ended headphone input. This completely change when you run balance input in the Codex. Headphones will sound alive since it is getting the full balance circuits, more amp to drive your headphones, and just flat out sounds better than single-ended. This of course makes sense since Ayre is all about balance circuits. Their other products don’t sound good if running single-ended. Long story short: If want to use the built-in headphone amp that is tied to the DAC get some balance cables for your headphones that will work with the Codex.

With that being side, if you have to run single-ended out with your headphones from the Codex, you will have to get a single-ended headphone amp with RCA out from the Codex. The Codex did a great job with its RCA output, of course running balance will give a better result in sound separation and a lower floor. I thought it was good with the WA6-SE amp when I had it. Of course if you purchase the Codex, then the expectation is you are most likely going to run it balance.

One possible downside to the unit is you only get Toslink and USB input. That’s fine by me since I use just a CD Player and USB from my computer.


After three months of using it as a DAC/Amp (both Clear and LCD-2C running directly in the Codex via balance connectors), here’s my thoughts:


Treble: Not annoying at all! I’m sensitive to digitalits, so I have to be really careful of my digital sources. The Codex handles this range quite with very bright recordings (Walter Becker – 12 Tracks of Whack with its digital drum machine, Ryuichi Sakamoto – Async with at times having percussions that can kill your ears in no time). It’s like this, it will show what’s there in the highs, but at times it will be polite about it. However, the politeness ends if playing a bright recording (some of my Mercury Living Presence CDs can be like this since how they were recorded back in the day). The bright records aren’t annoying through the Codex at all. However, depending on what’s your equipment down the equipment chain, it won’t do you any favors.


Midrange: This is where the Ayre is at their strongest. It’s addictive with a splash of warmth. At times it can smooth out the range, but this is all depending on what recording you are throwing at all. Back to Walter Becker – 12 Tracks of Whack, this is a very digital recording to the core, but the Codex gives the midrange just enough warmth to make you able to listen to the recording from the beginning to the end). Even poorly reduced recordings sound good here, even if the Codex is showing its recording/production flaws. If you are worried that this DAC will not make you listen to your crappy recordings, then you won’t need to worry about it here. However, even if the recording is crap it will still show issues with the recording itself (over mic vocals, muted drums, etc.). Vocals are also a strong suit with the Codex. Playing Yello – Stella Track Vicious Games makes female vocals very addicting. Not annoying in the higher octaves, which is good since at times vocals in this range drives me nuts for some reason. Male vocals are just as excllent here, in Donald Fagan – Kamakiriad, Donald’s voice sounds realistic in an otherwise very digital recording (also a great recording for testing how bright a setup is. This is a terrible album to listen to in a bright setup).


Bass: Polite at times, but very accurate. Plenty of bass to go around, including the sub-bass area. However, it won’t give you more on the lower end if the recording doesn’t have it. A perfect example is this: Kraftwerk – Tour De France Track 3 has this drum beat that can get really LOW. If you are using the LCD-2C directly in the Codex, you will hear just enough of the drum beat, however, you know there’s more. Accurate is the key here, no boom business or funess here (unless you are running an external amp that can bring out the low end). Bass guitar in my various recordings will sound fine with no boom or sticking out on a recording.


More Info: The information above is running both of my headphones directly into the Codex via its balance headphone connectors. The built-in headphone amp is no slouch on providing plenty of power to my headphones (that is if you run it balance, single-ended sucks). However, synergy is important here. Plugging the Clear in the Codex to me doesn’t cause fatigue in higher listening volumes, or cause the weird peaks in the treble range to come out. Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised that the built-in headphone amp is a good match for the Focal headphones. I know some owners like their Utopia in their Codex. At the moment I prefer running the Clear in the Codex, and not running it in an external headphone amp (like my Jot, however, the Jot does show off more details to the Clear, but can cause fatigue at higher volumes, which of course is common on them). LCD-2C into the Codex is less than perfect. While the Codex will drive the LCD-2C fine, it doesn’t bring out the omp in the low end that I want from it so much (Codex as stated above is more accurate on the bass). Running it to my Jot solves that problem.

Also I haven’t noticed too much of a difference of running a CD in my CD Player to Toslink, and the same CD as FLAC to USB. I guess depending on your setup you might hear a difference. Personally I couldn’t tell a difference.

Speaking of USB, Ayre is using the Wavelength drivers in the Codex. They are older drivers as well, so you have to install them in Windows 10s under compatibility mode under I think Windows 7 or Vista, yeah not the best on that end…. This could also cause problems with some streamers on the market with USB output to the DAC. I had this Cayin Streamer that didn’t play well with the Codex at all (surprise surprise).


With regards to Soundstage (not too much of a shock here), there’s a little more soundstage on my headphones if plugging them into the Codex directly (and not into the Jot).


DAC only: What I stated above will still be the sound of the Codex if running it as a DAC. However, depending on your amp it will change the sound (of course). I’m currently using the current version of the Jot with the smoother treble. It brings out more of the details of the recording, more low-end for the LCD-2C, but can make the Clear “shouty” a little too much that you must take it off. Then again, I just got the Jot a few days ago so this part might change. Codex will pair with tubes if you have cans that benefit better with them (running single-ended out from Codex to WA6-SE was a good match). Majority of Codex users are just using this as a DAC only, and it’s quite impressive on what the little box can do.


Final thoughts: I like it for what it is, a very impressive Sabre DAC that actually doesn’t sound like shit to me. It does more than enough for my Main setup, including the Ayre in-house sound like I love. At this time it is not upgradable*, so most likely Schiit will get better than the Codex on that front. It’s crazy that this Codex for $1,995 sound just as good as their higher price DACs in the past. At least to me the Codex is a good value.

Why the Codex isn’t popular? For starters Ayre is old school with the dealer model. They are ultra strict on what areas their dealers can sell to. However, they do allow Moon-Audio to sell the Codex through out the US, as long as Ayre doesn’t know they are selling to a dealers that’s near the customer. I think they are getting less strict on that front, Ayre teamed up with Computer Audiophile via superphonica.com and they are selling their older B-stock and some of their newer items (including the Codex) online. So I guess you can get their stuff more easier now than their dealers. Also another thing that holds the Codex is back is if you want to use it as an Amp, you have to buy separate cables (or an adapter) for your headphones. No four pin XLR on here folks. Also while I think $1,995 is a good value, other products (i.e. Schiit) can most likely surpass it. I think the price holds back the sales on it I think, but I really think it is the sales model Ayre is trying to break away from that is the biggest problem with them.

Only buy this full price if you are near an Ayre dealer who can allow you to audition it at home (just to see if you like the in-house sound, don’t use single-ended headphone input please). The best value if buying this used. Not too common to see this selling for $1,100-$1,400 on audiogon and other places. If you are curious (or have extra money in your pocket), pick up the Codex and give it shot. If you don’t like it, you can resale it for about the same price that you got it for.

* In the past Ayre do offer upgrades to their product if you ship them back to them for the upgrade. Perhaps they might do that for this unit in the future...

 

Glad you like. Listen as much as you can. Thanks for taking the time.

 

Thanks! This won't be a popular DAC after my post, however, I thought it was important to add my impressions since there isn't a lot of documentation from owners on the interwebs. I know my post is a long read, but I thought it was important to say it all.