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Wyred 4 Sound Blue Moon award-winning passive pre-amplifier with active stage If you're looking for the ultimate in transparency, and an unbelievably accurate pre-amp, then we have the product for you. Spot on imaging and an extremely wide sound stage are just a few attributes of the Wyred 4 Sound STP SE preamp. In this Special Edition unit, internal input/output wiring has been upgraded to Kimber Tcss (multi-gauge, multi-strand, continuous strand pure copper) and four crucial power-supply capacitors have been upgraded to our W4S Low ESR "Super Cap". These improvements offer improved 3-D imaging and instrument placement. This preamp is passive (in the sense of no gain) for the first two thirds of its attenuation range, with a gain stage kicking in for the uppermost third. Passive preamps have severe problems regarding input and output impedance: the lack of drive current results is a loose, floppy bottom end, and a constricted, dry top end. To solve this, W4S inserted its ultra-transparent discrete buffer stages to address this issue, which gave remarkable results. To keep the signal path clean as possible, the line stage is automatically switched in when needed, and left out when not. This offers the quietest operation for any level up to unity gain. Noise in the passive mode is < 6uV, and < 18uV in the active mode. And yes, this product is fully balanced input to output. Like any audio electronic product, everything starts with a power supply. This is the first stage that gives the STP unbelievably clean power. With a 25A Schottky bridge rectifier connected through 164,560+uF of capacitance in our proprietary TRR (Triple-Ripple-Reduction) power supply circuit, the STP preamp has more capacitance than some amplifiers! By the time power reserves supply the audio chain with power, there is no hint of noise left to buzz through your speakers. Two stages of filtering are accomplished by Nichicon Bi-polar MUSE audio grade capacitors. Wyred 4 Sound's proprietary fully balanced dual FET unity gain buffers supply the meat behind the curtains. While being sonically transparent, the buffers keep the input and output impedance right where they are needed and don’t allow for deviations like so many other passive preamps. Hand selected, matched and adjusted, each pair ensures minimal DC offset, and maximum linearity. Every preamp has to have a volume control. This preamp's implentation is special. The easy route consists of putting audio in and out of a volume control chip. However, the best possible electrical connection is made by a switch. And the best sounding switch is one that has the least resistance and can maintain at all frequencies, for this we chose to use relays. While much more expensive, slower and noisier when switching, they are sonically superior to any switcher chip on the market today. With two sets of balanced inputs/outputs, 3 sets of unbalanced inputs and 2 sets unbalanced outputs, connection possibilities are vast. Being fully balanced input to output; the phase going in comes out. When an unbalanced input is selected, an inversion circuit is connected to maintain balanced outputs and optimum versatility. Absolute phase and balance control are easily selected through the supplied remote for those out of phase recordings, and room adjustments to be made on the fly. User interface is made easy with the VFD display and optical rotary encoder. Allowing input naming and HT Bypass input selection, the setup menu is easily accessed for customization. Several display dimming steps including “off” are available through the remote for stealth operation. Powering up the STP can be done several ways, by pushing in on the volume knob (power button), by pressing power on the remote, or by the remote DC trigger input when HT Bypass is selected in the setup menu. When an input is selected to be used as the HT input, the DC trigger can be activated by a surround processor to “power up” the unit, and automatically set the volume to unity gain. This allows for all volume controls to be made through the surround processor. When the processor is shut down, so is the STP and connected gear through the DC trigger output. When two channel listening is desired, then manual operation can be executed from the front of the unit, or through the remote. “Prior to even the first note playing and taking, most in the know will agree: the STP packs a very serious volume control implementation with an overbuilt power supply, full functionality and an unusual take on the passive/active equation - all for an unheard-of low price. Many competitors at four times the sticker still rely on attenuator chips or motor-driven pots. Esoteric's superb C-03 preamp offers switchable gain from 0 to 12 to 24dB with comprehensive input level trim options, looks a lot better and is mechanically far more massive. But it also costs $10,000. The SMc Audio VRE-1 is another related passive/active concept, lacks funtionality by comparison and costs even more. Hegel's P10 is €6,000. Conceptually and where it's positioned, EJ Sarmento's STP seems like a take-no-prisoner attempt. “The STP goes for maximum dynamic range with ultra-low noise performance (an extreme volume control in a dual-differential circuit); ultimate transparency (the passive concept); real-world drive (a massive power supply coupled to an impedance-stabilizing FET buffer). “Tube aficionados could be quite shocked to discover that the STP aces the dynamic and timbre expander action one traditionally expects predominantly from superior valve units. Compared to most of those I've had through, the STP is quieter and hence, more resolved. “This preamp is thus a very compelling and exciting performer. It is clearly more intense than the C-03 and comes on song far quicker. To catch up with the STP, Esoteric's $10,000 C-03 needs to be set to at least +12dB before it activates a similar signal conditioning. That's not what I believe most experienced audiophiles would correlate with this particular circuit's general description and price. One does expect transparency, low-level resolution, great ambient retrieval and heightened spaciousness. Check that box. Delivered in full. “What one should not expect is this CineVision type color intensity. It is neither warmth nor girth. It's simply a brighter and deeper color palette from which one's system now draws. Well - cough. If it really were 'simply', it shouldn't have taken me seven years of high-volume reviewing before I finally came across it. “EJ Sarmento's solution is the perfect hybrid of an attenuation transformer passive and high-bandwidth low-noise valve preamp. Such beasts of course already roam the wild prairie. What's unprecedented is that it's all been accomplished without tubes or TVC; and it's been brought in at $1,799 with the most desirable remote-control conveniences. No matter how you turn this around in your hands and head, that's a seriously high-value proposition with extreme performance. Call it a Blue Moon Award winner with a big helping of Realsization sensibilities thrown in. Or in short, one helluva sweet deal! . . .” – 6Moons Blue Moon Award Winner (July 2009) |
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