Wyred4sSound - Anyone Own One?

drumminman

Thinking about increasing amp power beyond what my Odyssey Stratos Stereo Plus (w/ cap upgrade; 150 wpc 8 ohms/220 wpc 4 ohms)delivers. Of course I would like whatever decision I make to be as cost effective as possible, so the budget is around $1500-2000. What I like about my Stratos is it?s incredibly clean and open sounding, great retrieval of detail, great soundstaging. The reason for the upgrade is my big Polks are rated for 750 wpc, so I?m sure that more power would improve what already sounds very good. If I go for the monos I would build Darqueknight?s AI-1 dreadnought rather than strap the negative binding posts.

Options so far include:
1-converting Stratos Stereo to a Stratos Monoblock Extreme and buying another from Klaus (180 wpc 8 ohms/~270 wpc 4 ohms)

2-buying a pair of Wyred4Sound sx-500 monoblocks (250 wpc 8 ohms/ 550 wpc 4 ohms)

3-buying a W4S st-500 stereo power amp. From what I?ve read it?s essentially two monos in one chassis with 1 power cord, same power rating as #2

All amps above are rated as high current designs and all are stable to 2 ohms. They would be driven by an Odyssey Candela tube linestage.

The speakers I?ll be driving are my SDA 2.3TL?s with full Xover mods and the Solen 10 AWG 16 mH inductor. Not sure what the impedance on these speakers is, but before the Solen replaced the stock inductor it was listed as 8 ohm nominal. I?m guessing it?s dipping as low as 3.5 to 4 ohms.

Does anyone own these W4S power amps and care to comment on their experience? Online reviews I?ve read have been mostly very positive, but real world experience with Polk SDA?s would be great.

Open to other ideas too!

leroyjr1

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1327023695&/Wyred-4-Sound-ST-1000-570wpc-a

pearsall001

I'm sure FACE will be chiming it shortly. He is a big advocate of the W4S line. He's the man you want to talk to. I've read nothing but high praises for the line.

unc2701

You should probably get your ears on some icepower amps first. W4S does mod the modules (the stock input stage has a low impedence- they raise this to ease the load on the preamp), but the difference in sound between your typical class A/B and icepower is far bigger than stock icepower vs W4S.

You can pick up a stock 125 watt module for about $200, so if you want to take icepower for a whirl on the cheap, that's the way to go; 15% restocking fee on a $2000 amp is $300 and you've got nothing to show for it, whereas you can always resell the modules on audiogon.

drumminman

unc2701 wrote: »

You should probably get your ears on some icepower amps first. W4S does mod the modules (the stock input stage has a low impedence- they raise this to ease the load on the preamp), but the difference in sound between your typical class A/B and icepower is far bigger than stock icepower vs W4S.

You can pick up a stock 125 watt module for about $200, so if you want to take icepower for a whirl on the cheap, that's the way to go; 15% restocking fee on a $2000 amp is $300 and you've got nothing to show for it, whereas you can always resell the modules on audiogon.

Hey UNC, have you heard the W4S amps? Part of what I'm wrestling with is how much difference there is between an A/AB design (like my Stratos) and the ICEamps. The reviews I've found are pretty complimentary, but there's no way to get my ears on one without purchasing.

Re: your module idea, where would I buy these them? The only ones I've seen are around $500. Also, are they plug and play? I don't have enough electronics knowledge if there is building required or circuits to complete.

unc2701

I used icepower 250asp modules in HT and 2 channel for about 2 years before selling them plus a 500asp that only saw some subwoofer duty and some center channel duty. I'm thinking about picking up some 125 wattx2 ones for a bedroom rig.

I've auditioned a W4S amp in a store that had it as a trade in and heard the old 5 chx125 one in a friend's rig- I couldn't justify the cost over the raw modules, but others here may disagree. It could also be largely dependent on the impedence match up with your pre-amp (the so-called synergy).

The modules pop up on audiogon and ebay- usually Hong Kong sellers, so buyer beware. I don't see the guy I got mine from selling any right now. Hook up is stupidly simple: 3 jacks and sellers often include the plugs w/ wires. One you wire to a power plug; one goes to L/R input, ones goes to L/R output. If you can solder an RCA plug, you can do this. You would need to come up with an enclosure.

Where are you in NC? If I do pull the trigger on some modules, I can certainly let you borrow one to try out.

unc2701

Here's a seller w/ them for $220. Again, buyer beware:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/B-O-125ASX2-500W-ICEpower-Amplifier-/160678585386?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item256930a42a

I should mention that not all the modules have the power supply on-board. The ASX and ASP ones do, so you need a lot more electrical experience to build a power supply for, say, the 1000a module.

Face

I've owned a few and have heard them on a few different speakers, none were SDA's though. All ICE modules are non-common ground and need an isolation transformer.

unc2701

Face wrote: »

I've owned a few and have heard them on a few different speakers, none were SDA's though. All ICE modules are non-common ground and need an isolation transformer.

You sure about that? The ASX modules can be bridged by feeding an inverted signal to one channel which usually means common ground, but I haven't dug through the documentation to confirm this....

SolidSqual

I've owned much of the W4S lineup and can tell you the mono and stereo versions of the amps sound identical. I'd go with the 1000 watts modules for your gear, but you might save a few bucks with stereo. W4S would probably mate well with SDA because the speakers are typically on the warm side. W4S amps by comparison are very neutral with the ability to tighten up the bottom end of the SDAs.

FTGV

unc2701 wrote: »

You sure about that? The ASX modules can be bridged by feeding an inverted signal to one channel which usually means common ground, but I haven't dug through the documentation to confirm this....

I had a 250 ASP module and can confirm that series uses bridged/balanced output stage thus non-common ground.It appears you are correct in that the ASX series appears to be common ground so have the option of bridging.

drumminman

Face and and SolidSqual:

Sounds like you guys have direct experience with the W4S amps, yet no longer have them. Which ones did you own, how long did you use them in your rigs and would you share the reason you got rid of them? Also what speakers were you driving and what pre did you use (SS or tube)?

UNC2701, I'm in Hillsborough near Chapel Hill.

Thanks.

unc2701

Ha- I'm just south of Chapel Hill. It's been awhile, but it was one of those places on Glennwood going into Raleigh that had the Wyred amp (there's two or three audio shops in a row there). Wouldn't hurt to call around, you never know. Audio Advice used to have their used gear list on the webpage, but I don't see it anymore.

Anyhow, if I do get some modules, I'll shoot you a PM- I'm definitely circling around the 125watt ones, (don't see the 1000ASP in my future right now), but it'll give you a taste of how they sound...

Face

drumminman wrote: »

Face and and SolidSqual:

Sounds like you guys have direct experience with the W4S amps, yet no longer have them. Which ones did you own, how long did you use them in your rigs and would you share the reason you got rid of them? Also what speakers were you driving and what pre did you use (SS or tube)?

I've owned the STI-500, and still own a ST-500, SX-500, and Mini MC-5. I sold the STI to go with a STP-SE/SX-500 combo. I've also used a hot rodded Mapletree Line 2A with them and the combo sounded good.

I also agree with Mike about the monos not sounding any different. As for speakers powered by them, a few pairs of Tannoys and some custom builds.

SolidSqual

drumminman wrote: »

Face and and SolidSqual:

Sounds like you guys have direct experience with the W4S amps, yet no longer have them. Which ones did you own, how long did you use them in your rigs and would you share the reason you got rid of them? Also what speakers were you driving and what pre did you use (SS or tube)?

UNC2701, I'm in Hillsborough near Chapel Hill.

Thanks.

Relevant to this conversation, I've owned the 2nd generation 250, 500 and 1000 amps used by W4S in various configs. I used two ST amps to biamp a set of Emerald Physics Loudspeakers for a few years with excellent results. I had a few preamps during that time, but all had tubes. My favorite combo was a BAT VK3ixSE amp with ST-Custom Amp (ST amp with 250 module (highs/mids channel) and 500 module (lows channel). You would also be very well served with a W4S Pre SE given your SDA speakers. My Emmys were very neutral speakers so the addition of tubes in my case warmed things up just enough to suit my taste. You would probably have excellent results with an all W4S system so long as you stay with the SDAs.

I now use tube amps in my current system because I've eliminated the need for a preamp and my source is very neutral albeit extremely musical. Consequently, I've sought the extra bit of honey from my tube amps. In addition, my current speakers get freaky with tubes. However, I just received a set of Monarchy SM-70 Pro amps that sound amazing with my gear and may actually topple my Quicksilver MidMonos as best mono for the buck.

Basically, you gotta understand your system and what is required for synergy. Build your system around your speaker. Make certain you don't plan on selling the SDAs in the near future unless you can replace them with a speaker that will jive with the gear you own. This is a common issue once upgraditis sets it. You buy better speakers, but they don't achieve synergy with your gear and you are left with a system that sounds worse and costs more.

drumminman

SolidSqual, thanks for the reply. Food for thought! I've put so much time, effort and money into my SDA's and am so pleased with the improvements that I'll be keeping them for a long time.

I'd be using an Odyssey Candela tube linestage, which should mate well with a W4S PA according to W4S. I've been on audiogon doing a little research. Folks with high end gear experience there who have purchased seem to really like them. One guy compared them to his very expensive 250 watt Manley monoblocks and came away impressed. Of course, the Manley's are still in his system. The W4S was good, but couldn't beat 142,500 tube amps.

Face: so they're still in your system. So far what I've found on the internet is that the people who bash them have little to no experience with them. They've heard other Class D designs they weren't impressed with. The descriptions of the sound character that I've read seem to be pretty much what I'm look for.

Still looking for the fly in the ointment. . . . .they seem like such a good bang for the buck!

SolidSqual

The Candela is a nice tube amp and was actually the first tube amp I used with my W4S amps. If you like the Candela, check out the Rogue Perseus. That pre is all balls and capable of producing a wider soundstage and greater resolution than the Candela. You would be rockin hard with the SDAs.

drumminman

SolidSqual wrote: »

The Candela is a nice tube amp and was actually the first tube amp I used with my W4S amps. If you like the Candela, check out the Rogue Perseus. That pre is all balls and capable of producing a wider soundstage and greater resolution than the Candela. You would be rockin hard with the SDAs.

Rogue Perseus? Uh-oh, I may be in trouble :eek:

drumminman

unc2701 wrote: »

Ha- I'm just south of Chapel Hill. It's been awhile, but it was one of those places on Glennwood going into Raleigh that had the Wyred amp (there's two or three audio shops in a row there). Wouldn't hurt to call around, you never know. Audio Advice used to have their used gear list on the webpage, but I don't see it anymore.

Anyhow, if I do get some modules, I'll shoot you a PM- I'm definitely circling around the 125watt ones, (don't see the 1000ASP in my future right now), but it'll give you a taste of how they sound...

SolidSqual wrote: »

The Candela is a nice tube amp and was actually the first tube amp I used with my W4S amps. If you like the Candela, check out the Rogue Perseus. That pre is all balls and capable of producing a wider soundstage and greater resolution than the Candela. You would be rockin hard with the SDAs.

SS, which tubes did you run in your Candela? I'm a total newb when it comes to tube rolling and I had no idea what to expect, but
since I switched from the stock JJTesla to Vintage RCA Cleartop organ tubes, it performs at a much higher level.

UNC, for almost 20 years I lived just off Mann's Chapel Rd so I know southern Orange/Northern Chatham county really well!

SolidSqual

I can't remember it was so long ago.