Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE
The STP-SE brings fully balanced control, a discrete resistor-ladder volume, and flexible buffered passive/active operation to ambitious systems. 6 Moons highlights its unusually generous Vishay-equipped, remote-controlled architecture for the money, while comprehensive inputs, dual outputs and home-theater bypass make it a remarkably adaptable line stage.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
75/100
Build Quality
85/100
Features Connectivity
92/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Fully balanced architecture and remote-switched discrete resistor-matrix volume control with premium Vishay components deliver exceptional feature value.
Buffered passive/active design keeps voltage gain disengaged through volume steps 1–63, engaging it only when higher output is needed.
The fully equipped STP-SE was positioned at roughly one-third to one-quarter the cost of more vaunted competing preamps.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 75/100
The supplied review extracts do not provide direct listening impressions of the STP-SE's tonal character, dynamics, resolution, or spatial presentation. Its balanced buffered-passive/active architecture and low-noise specifications suggest a technically ambitious design, but the available reviewer evidence is too limited to make stronger sound-quality claims.
Transparency Resolution
75/100
Reviewers do not directly describe the STP-SE's clarity, detail retrieval, noise floor, or transparency in the supplied material. The product specification cites very low noise and a resistor-ladder volume control, but no listening account confirms how these attributes translate in a system.
Tonal Balance Musicality
76/100
The available review excerpts offer no specific comments on tonal balance, timbre, warmth, neutrality, or musical engagement. The STP-SE's passive-first operation may appeal to listeners seeking minimal signal alteration, though this is not directly assessed by the reviewer.
Dynamics
75/100
The supplied reviews say little about macro-dynamic impact, microdynamic nuance, or the preamp's ability to drive different downstream components. Its automatically engaged line stage is intended to provide gain when needed, but there is no reported listening evidence about its dynamic behavior.
Soundstage Imaging
74/100
No supplied review passage discusses image focus, stage width, depth, or layering. As a result, there is insufficient reviewer evidence to characterize the STP-SE's spatial performance.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
85/100
The STP-SE is specified with a half-inch machined and anodized front panel, Neutrik XLR connectors, gold-plated RCA connections, substantial power-supply capacitance, and a five-year warranty. The supplied reviews do not comment on long-term reliability or fit-and-finish in use, but the published parts and construction details indicate a thoughtfully executed component.
Features Connectivity
92/100
This is an unusually flexible line-stage preamplifier, with three RCA inputs, two XLR inputs, two RCA and two XLR output sets, full balanced operation, remote control, balance adjustment, phase inversion, and configurable home-theater bypass. Dual trigger outputs and the buffered passive/active arrangement further support integration into complex systems; it does not include a phono stage, DAC, or headphone output.
Value for Money
94/100
6 Moons highlights that the fully equipped, balanced STP-SE costs roughly one-third to one-quarter of certain highly regarded competing preamplifiers. The reviewer specifically points to its remote-controlled discrete resistor volume control and premium Vishay parts as unusually generous equipment at its asking price of approximately $1,999 to $3,749.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Standard STP-SE Features
- Input / Output wiring upgraded to Kimber Tcss wire 2nd stage filtering caps (4-22,000uf caps) are upgraded to the Wyred 4 Sound Low ESR "SUPER CAP" designed for power supplies Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) Optical rotary encoder (volume knob) Fully functional remote control 12V DC Trigger input (to automatically activate HT Bypass mode) Two - 12V DC Trigger outputs Home Theater bypass (customizable for any input, also DC Trigger input selected) Balance control Absolute phase control (0°/180°) Efficient (no heat) Tripple-ripple reduction circuit contains 164,560uF of capacitance Extremely low noise floor Fully balanced input to output Buffered passive/active design Automatically switched in Line Stage (when more volume is needed) Discrete volume control using dale RN55d resistors Unbalanced to Balanced conversion (when RCA input selected and XLR outputs are being used) Idle power consumption = 15w Rugged construction ½” Machined and Anodized front panels 60kΩ input impedance 3 sets of gold plated unbalanced (RCA) inputs 2 sets of gold plated unbalanced (RCA) outputs 2 sets of Neutrik Balanced (XLR) inputs 2 sets of Neutrik Balanced (XLR) outputs Factory Selectable mains 115/230VAC Compact size (17”W x 4”H x 13”D) 22 lbs. Covered by a 5 YEAR WARRANTY
- Stage 1 Upgrade Adds
- 4 Schottkey diodes 4 premium inductors 24 Vishay Z-Foil resistors
- Stage 2 Upgrade Adds
- All upgrades in Stage 1 Premium upgraded Fuse Upgraded IEC inlet W4S discrete regulators 48 Vishay Z-Foil resistors located in the resistor ladder volume control 16 upgraded high frequency filter capacitors Green OLED display
- Specification
- Typical THD+N 20Hz-20kHz (A Wt) @ 2V: <0.003%
- Specification
- Noise (A Wt / Vol ≤ 63): < 6µV
- Specification
- Noise (A Wt / Vol ≥ 64): < 18µV
- Specification
- Noise 20Hz-20kHz (Vol ≤ 63): < 9µV
- Specification
- Noise 20Hz-20kHz (Vol ≥ 64): < 27µV
- Specification
- Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz: ± 0.020db
- Specification
- Channel Tracking (All Steps): < ± 0.050db
- Specification
- IMD: < 0.002%
- Specification
- Crosstalk 20Hz-20kHz (Vol ≤ 63): > 106db
- Specification
- Crosstalk 20Hz-20kHz (Vol ≥ 64): > 96db
- Specification
- Output Impedance (Vol ≤ 63): 113Ω (50Ω for Stage 1 or Stage 2)
- Specification
- Output Impedance (Vol ≥ 64): 78Ω
- Specification
- Input Impedance: 60.4kΩ
- Specification
- 6db gain
- Specification
- Maximum Output Voltage: 9V RMS
Manufacturer's Description — Wyred 4 Sound
Stereo Pre-Amp
Looking for an elite pre-amp designed for the most critical listener? Look no further than our STP-SE. The 'SE' stands for special edition and as our customers and reviewers will tell you, this piece of equipment is special, indeed.
The STP-SE's stellar performance and upgrades begin with its wires: Kimber Kable's patented TCSS wiring, a highly passive multi-gauge, continuous strand pure copper that allows for greater dielectric movement than most other wires in its class. We then add our trademark Low ESR "Super Cap," an extremely low noise floor and a fully balanced circuit and the results are spectacular 3-D imaging and instrument placement.
A 25A Schottky bridge rectifier connected through 164,560+µF of capacitance via our proprietary TRR (Triple-Ripple-Reduction) power supply circuit ensures exceptionally clean power delivery to optimize audio quality. Standard operation in a passive state and gain to boost the signal only when needed brings you the utmost fidelity. The STP-SE's resistor ladder volume control, built with our discrete proprietary design, guarantees the STP-SE's volume control is clean, accurate, and transparent.
Stage 1 Upgrade
Our available Stage 1 STP-SE upgrade features 24 Vishay Z-Foil resistors, four premium inductors, four Schottkey diodes. These enhancements which focus on the power supply and input/output buffer circuits present greater fidelity and definition.
Stage 2 Upgrade
The Stage 2 upgrade, includes all of the above plus our discrete proprietary regulators, an upgraded IEC inlet, 48 Vishay Z-Foil resistors located in the resistor ladder volume control, 16 upgraded high frequency filter capacitors, an Premium upgraded fuse, and a green OLED display. Direct attention to the signal path throughout the volume control and filtering circuit yields major enhancements to an already exceptional product.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE
- Elite Audio UK — online and in-store — Pittenweem, Escocia, United Kingdom (website)
- Hi Fi Mansion — in-store — Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Mister Hifi — online and in-store — Raamsdonksveer, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands (website)
- Reference Analog — online and in-store — Moore, Oklahoma, United States (website)
- Theatermax LLC — in-store — Boca Raton, Florida, United States (website)