Wyred 4 Sound Preamp On The Way

I-SIG
I-SIG Posts: 2,240
edited June 2011 in The Clubhouse
A W4S STP/SE preamp is on the way. Can't wait!

I'll post a review in the 2-Channel forum sometime this weekend, maybe even by Friday if I resurface in time....

Wes
Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

Sony 75" Bravia 4K | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Rotel Michi P5 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited June 2011
    Wicked, I'm interested in your thoughts on this piece....
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited June 2011
    Nice!!! The whole W4S line gets great reviews across the board. Look forward to your review.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited June 2011
    cool. I want to try more W4S stuff

    Jason
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited June 2011
    I will be looking forward to your review as well.

    I'm renting out a room in a local family's house at school this summer to take classes, and there's a rocking stereo setup in the living room. Has a Wyred 4 Sound DAC 2 as the preamp. First time I had ever seen (possibly even heard of) that company.
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
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  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,240
    edited June 2011
    It should be here tomorrow, but I have soccer so Thursday evening will be the night! The seller keeps saying how transparent it is. The AA DLC was also a very neutral piece so it should be interesting....

    Wes
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

    Sony 75" Bravia 4K | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Rotel Michi P5 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited June 2011
    Nice choice Wes, looking forward to your review.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited June 2011
    Wes- Nice snag! I always wondered how that preamp sounds.... I read some reviews about it and was impressed by what I read- but that's only half the story. Nice to know that someone in the club pulled the trigger. I considered getting one at some point. I'm also looking forward to the review.
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  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,240
    edited June 2011
    Thanks, guys. I already ordered some Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR IC's for the CDP and amp.

    One of the things that really caught my eye on this piece was the connectivity options with XLR and RCA. I really loved how dynamic my system was when I had the 2 Parasound amps in a vertical bi-amp deal with RCA's. The Cary mops the floor with the Parasounds in terms of cleanliness and smoothness with at least 80% of the dynamics. I just can't help dream about what a pair of Cary's connected XLR might be sound like! This is the second step in that setup....

    Wes
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

    Sony 75" Bravia 4K | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Rotel Michi P5 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2011
    Very transparent, dynamic, and quiet piece, I've very happy with mine.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited June 2011
    Good for you, hope you enjoy it. I just got the W4S DAC2 myself, still breaking in but so far my thoughts are quite positive.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,240
    edited June 2011
    It has arrived! :biggrin:

    Now the long wait for Thursday afternoon to get that puppy into action....
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

    Sony 75" Bravia 4K | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Rotel Michi P5 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,622
    edited June 2011
    Some TIPs

    1) If it is new let it break in for at least 300 hours.
    2) Use balanced connections
    3) It is cable sensitive, MIT cables don't work well. Audio Art IC3-SE cables have worked quite well for me and at least one other member.
    4) Enjoy
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited June 2011
    If MIT cables don't do well then any passive network style cable won't including Transparent. In that case ANY other cable will work fine, regardless of it being Audio Art.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,221
    edited June 2011
    Why would MIT's not work well with this Pre?? My MIT's are working just fine with the DAC..
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2011
    One day..i will have one..nice pickup..bro!
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2011
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Why would MIT's not work well with this Pre?? My MIT's are working just fine with the DAC..

    W4S pres and amps have buffered inputs, making MIT network boxes redundant and unfriendly.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,221
    edited June 2011
    Kind of a deal breaker for me as I don't want to invest in new cables just yet..
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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,622
    edited June 2011
    The Wyred pre adjusts the input impedence which is also sort of what the MIT cables are doing. Too much fiddling and it seems some detail and dynamics gets lost.
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  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,240
    edited June 2011
    Polkitup2 wrote: »
    Some TIPs

    1) If it is new let it break in for at least 300 hours.
    2) Use balanced connections
    3) It is cable sensitive, MIT cables don't work well. Audio Art IC3-SE cables have worked quite well for me and at least one other member.
    4) Enjoy

    Thanks! I have some balanced Signal Cable Silver Resolutions on the way. I really like what my current silver RCA's did for the system so I thought I should stay with silver going to the XLR's. The other reason I went balanced was to get the most out of my Cambridge Azur 840 CDP.

    I bought it used, so there should be some break-in already. The guy I bought it from said it took a mondo deal on a Halcro pre for him to part with the W4S pre.

    Wes
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

    Sony 75" Bravia 4K | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Rotel Michi P5 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2011
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Kind of a deal breaker for me as I don't want to invest in new cables just yet..
    Make your own with Neotech 24ga solid core(silver or copper) and Vampire XLR's.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited June 2011
    I've had MIT cables not work well on a number of different gear manufacturers. It happens. That's why you always have a backup and extra interconnects in your goody box. Or simply make them as Face suggested....simple. Vampire rulez.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited June 2011
    I'm breaking in a pair of Signal Silver XLR's right now along with the W4S dac2. I'm at about 175 hours now, and I am finding everything to be quite bright overall. Female vocals are a bit painful on the highs. I'm not sure if it's the dac or the cables, but I suspect it's the cables. I've read silver can require 500 hours to break in. I'm going to start swapping the Signal copper xlr's back in once the dac gets to 300 hours, just to see how the dac sounds through copper. I'll make a final judgement after the silver gets to 500 hours. If I see the brightness roll off I may go for another pair between the pre and the amp. It's definitely revealing, I just hope the brightness gets a bit more refined.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2011
    Put your old cables back in, it's not the DAC.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited June 2011
    Going to do that once the dac gets to 300 hours.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited June 2011
    The Signal Cable copper XLR's have a very, very nice tonal balance, IMO.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited June 2011
    I have yet to find a Silver cable I like in my rig.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited June 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    I have yet to find a Silver cable I like in my rig.

    H9

    Same here. I'm not a silver fan at all....copper rulez.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2011
    Depending on the cable geometry, solid core silver can sound really nice, not harsh or bright at all. Stranded silver can be useful for an overly warm rig, otherwise, no thanks.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited June 2011
    I'm willing to give the cable the benefit of the doubt up to 500 hours, then I want to reevaluate. It is definitely more revealing, no doubt about that. I've been very impressed by some of what I'm hearing, but the harshness has got to go. Possible that it could mellow out with more hours, but if it doesn't after 500 it's going to need to go...
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2011
    I hope those 500 hours come before Signal's 30 day money back guarantee is up.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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