Wyred 4 Sound Recovery Review

[chops-tube]

Sort of funny it takes a review from Dan to finally get the ball rolling on the Recovery on this forum even though Randy and I have been going on and on about this thing for over a month now.

[Vintage Pete]

Well it sounds like I'll need to add this item (actually three items) to my "scroll".

[ajdo]

Dan: It would be nice if W4S would let you test a DAC-2 DSDSe, to also answer the question from an independent source reviewer like you, if W4S DAC2 DSDse re-clocker which from W4S website "lowers phase jitter by 80%", in series with the Recovery or other W4S re-clocker add-ons, does actually add to the sound and music quality. (To make a detergent analogy, would 2 re-clockers in series clean whiter than white?)
My apologies for reaterating this question but I never read any independent source test or response on the subject.
AJ

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Dan... I'm an iFi dealer also, maybe I'll order a few dozen of those 9 volt power supplies too.

Ivan.......I didn't know that. Might as well mark me down for a iFi iPower 9 volt power supply.

[Randy Myers]

Well I have pretty much answered that. I do have a DAC-1 LE, their new upgraded DAC which is very close to the DAC-2 DSDse without the pre-amp functions. They upgraded the unit adding DSD, adding the same USB circuit and upgrade many internal parts to close the gap. I also got the Femto clock upgrade. I also am the first customer to have a Recovery unit in my system (EJ had the crew build one for me to pick up on the day they started shipping), 2/1/2016.

I also spoke with EJ about adding the two together, Recovery and Femto in the DAC. He said they do two different things. One cleans the signal going into the DAC, reclocking jitter added by USB port and cabling making the internal USB processor work less and therefore not adding noise, the other reclocks the signal being feed into the DAC chip. Now I admit to not completely understanding the tech, but can only attest to that it works. Also EJ is a genius so I may not have relayed this correctly...

Also, I believe Dan actually has the DAC-2 and that was the DAC he did his initial tests on.

I have tried the W4S DAC with and without the Recovery. The Recovery does improve the music even more, even with the Femto clock in the DAC.

Also from their website:
"I already own a Wyred 4 Sound DAC with Femto clock. Will the Recovery still benefit me?
Absolutely! The two devices do separate things. The clocking in the DAC has no control over when or how it receives its signal from the sources.The Recovery works to greatly improve the incoming signal before the DAC receives it, so perfecting that allows the DAC to shine even more. The internal clock accuracy and jitter elimination of the DAC can mitigate some of the input jitter, but is no replacement for correcting it beforehand."

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by ajdo

Dan: It would be nice if W4S would let you test a DAC-2 DSDSe, to also answer the question from an independent source reviewer like you, if W4S DAC2 DSDse re-clocker which from W4S website "lowers phase jitter by 80%", in series with the Recovery or other W4S re-clocker add-ons, does actually add to the sound and music quality. (To take a detergent analogy, would 2 re-clockers in series clean whiter than white?)
My apologies for reaterating this question but I never read any independent source test or response on the subject.
AJ

AJ.......If it turns out that Pete (Vintage Pete) buys a Recovery, I am positive he will report on the experience of using it with his two DAC's, one being the McIntosh MDA1000, and the other being the Wyred 4 Sound DSD SE.

[ajdo]

Dan: Great! Look forward to Pete's unaquivical independant opinion. Would certainly add W4S Recovery to both my audio setups if it adds to my audio quality and experience.
Pete: No rush, I'm already very happy with my current audio sound quality
AJ

[jdandy]

Today I brought the Sony Vaio laptop with the high-res files up to the living room system along with the Wyred 4 Sound Recovery. I have a second Esoteric K-03 in this system and felt confident I would hear similar improvements with the Recovery in the USB signal path as I did with it in the studio system. I wasn't disappointed.

Playing Eliane Elias - I Thought About You, "Blue Room" without the Recovery was excellent, the acoustic double bass sounded authentic, Elian's voice was engaging, the piano sounded full. I inserted the Recovery into the USB cable just ahead of the DAC and played the tune again. The opening acoustic bass immediately revealed a richer wood tone vibration when the thick strings were plucked. Eliane's voice gained an essence that created the illusion I could practically feel her body heat. The felt covered piano hammers striking the strings delivered ultra clear tones that gripped my attention. I was so mesmerized I let the next two tracks play, "Just Friends" and "Girl Talk". The Recovery really does leave you wondering how this tiny black box inserted in the USB signal path can effortlessly open the window to a clearer performance from an already excellent sound system. I was only going to listen to it for a couple of songs just to hear how it impacted the living room system, then wound up sitting on the couch for over two hours listening to Herbie Hancock, Melody Gardot, Lee Ritenour, among others. I have now had the Recovery in three different sound systems and each one has had the USB digital playback elevated with it's presence in the system. The Wyred 4 Sound Recovery truly raises the bar on my high-res digital music enjoyment.

[Randy Myers]

Very cool...

[scirica]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Today I brought the Sony Vaio laptop with the high-res files up to the living room system along with the Wyred 4 Sound Recovery. I have a second Esoteric K-03 in this system and felt confident I would hear similar improvements with the Recovery in the USB signal path as I did with it in the studio system. I wasn't disappointed. Playing Eliane Elias - I Thought About You, "Blue Room" without the Recovery was excellent, the acoustic double bass sounded authentic, Elian's voice was engaging, the piano sounded full. I inserted the Recovery into the USB cable just ahead of the DAC and played the tune again. The opening acoustic bass immediately revealed a richer wood tone vibration when the thick strings were plucked. Eliane's voice gained an essence of life that created the illusion that I could practically feel her body heat. The felt covered piano hammers striking the strings delivered ultra clear tones that gripped my attention. I was so mesmerized I let the next two tracks play, "Just Friends" and "Girl Talk". The Recovery really does leave you wondering how this tiny black box inserted in the USB signal path can effortlessly open the window to a clearer performance from an already excellent sound system. I was only going to listen to it for a couple of songs just to hear how it impacted the living room system, then wound up sitting on the couch for over two hours listening to Herbie Hancock, Melody Gardot, Lee Ritenour, among others. I have now had the Recovery in three different sound systems and each one has had the USB digital playback elevated with it's presence in the system. The Wyred 4 Sound Recovery truly raises the bar on my high-res digital musical enjoyment.

Okay. Fine, fine, fine. I'll order one and compare. I already have a good LPS and the Curious Cables.