Any thoughts on this amp?

NJPOLKER
NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
edited December 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
Thinking about trying a different amp some day soon.

Any of you fine folks have any thoughts on this one?

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1329579807&/Wyred-4-Sound-ST-500
Post edited by NJPOLKER on
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Comments

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2011
    It's an excellent amp. What gear will you be pairing it with?
    "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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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited December 2011
    Face wrote: »
    It's an excellent amp. What gear will you be pairing it with?

    I am wondering how it will compare with by Belles 350a. Anthem Pre2L with Mazda and Mullard tubes, MF A5 cdp and a pair of Sonus Fabers. I have no problems with the Belles but like most of you guys out in the audio world always wonder how other equipment sounds.
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited December 2011
    I don't think it'll be an improvement over the Belles. The Anthem will probably match with it quite well, so you'll really be giving it the best shot it can have, but I think you'll wind up sticking with what you've got.

    Look for any of the icepower threads here- Wyred does certainly do some modifications to the icepower modules, but that difference is small compared to the change from Class A or Class A/B amps. There are plenty of cheaper ways to get your ears on icepower and see if you like the sound; if you do, they have great resale and you can move up to a more powerful Wyred piece to get that sound a little more refined.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
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  • BitenAgain
    BitenAgain Posts: 15
    edited December 2011
    that is a good deal. thank you for bringing it to my attention. I just bought it. Just kidding. I would not do that. Just wanted to keep you on your toes.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2011
    unc2701 wrote: »
    Look for any of the icepower threads here- Wyred does certainly do some modifications to the icepower modules, but that difference is small compared to the change from Class A or Class A/B amps. There are plenty of cheaper ways to get your ears on icepower and see if you like the sound; if you do, they have great resale and you can move up to a more powerful Wyred piece to get that sound a little more refined.
    IMO, that is their best sounding amp, YMMV. I agree on the resale too, if you don't like it, you'll only miss out on shipping +/- $50. I just sold a ST-5000 after owning it for over a year and got exactly what I paid for it. As far how it compares to your Belles, I'm not familiar with how it sounds, but it doesn't appear to be no slouch either.
    "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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  • cubdog
    cubdog Posts: 835
    edited December 2011
    I haven't heard the WFS but I am a big fan of Ice Power. Mine are the first amps I have owned that I don't think about. I think that's a goog thing.

    cubdog
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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited December 2011
    My personal experience with Ice Power is that the amps are more speaker specific than SS or tube amps. Your best bet may be in mating it to a tube preamp. Personally, I think the seller is asking a pretty high premium, typically used gear (other than McIntosh) goes for 50% of new. Do some research on pricing. As others have pointed out, trying out this used unit after negotiating one won't cause much financial pain if you decide it doesn't fit your personal sonic nirvana.
    Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2011
    W4S products have better resale than Mac.
    "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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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited December 2011
    W4S and EMO products have great resale for some reason and same with all the new anthem MRX receivers too. Its always a good idea to buy somthing like this and have alot of fun for the $50 like face said
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited December 2011
    Face wrote: »
    W4S products have better resale than Mac.

    +1 Kind of like Bryston- they're pretty bullet-proof, so that keeps the resale high. However, unlike Bryston, the warranty is non-transferable and a good bit shorter.

    Shipping a Mac is flirting with a big repair bill.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited December 2011
    W4S resale value must be regional, as I've seen nothing above 50% sells in a reasonable time period up here in the PNW.
    Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
    Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
    Former Staff Member TONEAudio
    2 Ch. System
    Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
    Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
    Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
    Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
    Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited December 2011
    unc2701 wrote: »
    Wyred does certainly do some modifications to the icepower modules, but that difference is small compared to the change from Class A or Class A/B amps.
    I may be wrong but I believe the biggest change is the addition of an input buffer to raise the lowish input impedance of the stock module.Assuming it is designed correctly it should be relatively transparent thus altering the basic modules sonic signature little while making the load as seen by the preamp easier.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2011
    In addition to the buffer, there are modifications to the boards themselves.
    "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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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited December 2011
    FTGV wrote: »
    I may be wrong but I believe the biggest change is the addition of an input buffer to raise the lowish input impedance of the stock module.Assuming it is designed correctly it should be relatively transparent thus altering the basic modules sonic signature little while making the load as seen by the preamp easier.

    That was all they did on their early amps- which I really couldn't tell from stock. As Face points out, they've started doing more to the boards themselves. Power supply, maybe? Drawing a blank.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2011
    DC servo and coupling cap sections of the modules, I'm not sure what else.
    "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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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited December 2011
    FTGV wrote: »
    I may be wrong but I believe the biggest change is the addition of an input buffer to raise the lowish input impedance of the stock module..

    Thats very under rated in my book, the importance of impendence matching between gear. If you have a very simplistic system, wouldn't be that big of an issue but the more gear you throw in the mix, it can become one.
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited December 2011
    Rarely is the ratio of output to input impedance an issue assuming active circuits(not passive attenuator) but the point I was trying to make was that a properly designed input buffer should cause little change to the sonic character of the stock IcePower module while serving the purpose of impedance conversion. UNC's comparison comment seems to suggest as much, atleast in his opinion. As for throwing more gear into the mix, only the preamp will see the amplifiers input impedance.Therefore if there were to be a less than ideal match between them it won't directly affect other pieces of equipment,but over all noise floor could take a hit. The general rule of thumb is to have an input impedance that is atleast 10x that of the output impedance of the stage preceeding it.Certainly the vast majority of modern SS gear will meet that goal.
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