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Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE Preamp

Who has purchased one of these preamps (either the SE version or the non-SE version).

What do you think of this preamp? Passive up to a certain point then active. I have got to assume that at my listening levels, I would probably fall into the passive almost all of the time. I read the review on 6Moons, but to be honest, (1) it really didn't say much of anything about the performance and (2) I am not so sure I have very much faith in the reviewer. The review seemed to cover more about the build approach to this piece and offered no real comparisons with regard to sound performance.

Any comments on how this unit performs (passive and active) in terms of:
Sound temperature (warmish, coolish, completely neutral)
Body, texture, emotion experiences
Sound staging - airy, focused, defined, wide, deep, forward, congestion with certain types of music or volume levels, etc. . .
Accuracy at the different frequencies, macros and micros

Any comments in general? Recommendations and comparisons would be great.

Reference:
Amp = Krell FPB 300C
Sources = Northstar CD transport or Logitech/slim device duet going to DCS Purcell and Delius
Speakers = Wilson W/P 5.1

Also considering: Ayre (V5e), Pass (X1 or XP10), ARC (15 or 16 or 26), Calypso (previously owned & loved), JRDG Capri (previously owned, very good).

Thanks very much in advance for your opinions.
ckoffend
ckoffend OP
684 posts
 
Poul, thanks for that info. That is the gist I got from my bit of research on the preamp. Have you been researching the preamp or just inquired out of curiosity?

Anybody own one yet who cares to offer comments and comparisons?
narrod
1,064 posts
 
"So you need to first understand the concept to..."

I would offer that it is up to the manufacturer and, by extension, the reviewer to explain the concept in a clear and understandable way.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
I'm not realy confused about having no gain at all. I'm just trying to learn the concept of having a variable gain. Intrigued another words. If 'it is what it is', the preamp might stand for its price as a complex logic device no doubt. I realy wish it had some phono boards.
poul
3 posts
 
Ckoffend, I am seriously looking at this, since I at times are at the very far end of my otherwise superb passive's volume setting. I agree with Narod's observation, and find the current Wyred adds more informative than the Underwood add that implies (to me) that a shift from passive resistance to active gain occurs at a certain volume setting.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
To my understanding of such 'concept' looks like logical gain settings depending on input/output sources parameters. Can't call it completely passive though because it's buffered and form zero to a positive gain the unit switches logically.
If this is what I understand, than the unit worth trying.
Don't know if UnderwoodHIFI would charge 15% restocking fee, but dealing with dealer or directly somehow this can be negotiated.
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