Wyred 4 Sound Recovery Review

[Masterlu]

Walter... Welcome to AA!

[jdandy]

Walter.......Welcome to Audio Aficionado.

You did say that there was a subtle difference when the Recovery was used with the Wyred 4 Sound DSDse, so you are experiencing some improvement. You also said there was improvement with the Straight Wire USB cable. So, you are experiencing some additional audible improvement there, just perhaps not as great as you had anticipated. The 100 hours of break-in on your Recovery is sufficient.

Like I mentioned in my Recovery review, my initial sense of change was in feeling there was a more relaxed flow to the music with more space between instruments and voices. I also heard a slightly more three dimensional sound stage with more accurate localization of performers. These differences with the Recovery in the USB cable path before the DAC don't necessarily jump up and grab you, it is more like a slightly better focusing of the entire musical presentation. Also, don't discount the importance of a quality USB cable.

[birdland]

Dan, thanks for the reply. Yes, there is a subtle difference. I guess I just expected more based on some people's description of what they heard with the RUR in the path.

What do you think would be the next step?

1. Better power supply - thinking about the iFi iPower here?

2. Better short USB cable between the RUR and DAC?

3. Better USB cable between the computer and the RUR?

Thanks,
Walter

[jdandy]

Walter.......I went with the iFi Power supply and felt the performance was elevated slightly with the ultra quiet power supply. I am using top of the line Wireworld Platinum USB cables, a three meter from my laptop to the Recovery and half meter from the Recovery to the USB input on my Esoteric K-03.

So to answer your question, better power supply and better USB cables should further elevate what the Recovery is doing. One of the things to keep in mind with high-end audio, even with quality tweaks like the Recovery, small improvements come at an incrementally higher prices. With audio it never seems to end. Such is life.

[birdland]

thanks again.

I will definitely get the iFi power supply.

Over the weekend I put a few more hours on the RUR plugged into the iFi nano DSD. I compared the sound directly into the DAC vs with the RUR in the path. I think I now hear what everyone in this thread is talking about.

It seems that one can hear the difference much easier with higher resolution files as compared to CD resolution files. I tried various types of music. Owner of a Lonely Heart by YES seemed to bring the difference to the forefront. With my headphones, the sound stage seemed to be wider, instruments were clearer, voices fuller actually all instruments more fleshed out. I think I just needed to train my brain on what to look out for or maybe I was a little bit more scientific in my comparison. OR maybe the RUR just needed more time.

I read good things about the Oyaide NEO d+ USB Class A USB cable but I'm not impressed - maybe again, not enough burn in time.

I am hesitant to buy an expensive USB cable because I do not want to push my stereo to far into the detailed end of the spectrum. I've heard that solid silver Wireword Platinum can do that in some systems.

[Randy Myers]

Hello, I am happy with the Recovery, but like most tweaks in decent level systems, much of the differences are subtle... the iFi iPower helped and a decent USB cable. I don't have the level that Dan does, but a solid mid-level Wireworld was worth it. I also grabbed a short WW cable to go from the Recovery to the DAC.

[Wyred4Sound]

Originally Posted by birdland

Hello - I just registered although I have been quietly reading various threads here.

I hope that someone is still monitoring this thread.

I have a W4S DAC-2 DSDse with Femto clock and an iFi nano DSD.

I recently purchased the W4S Recovery based on various comments here and on other sites. The RUR has about 100 hours on it.

When I first received it, I really could not tell much of a difference using headphones on my iFi nano DSD. So I played music through it until around 100 hours and again listened to it on the nano and again not much difference. I connected it to the W4S DAC-2 DSDse in my main stereo system and I noticed a subtle difference. However, nothing close the the extent that has been discussed in these threads.

I do not have extremely expensive USB cables. I am still using the original power supply and the short USB cable that came with the RUR. I tried using a 2 m Oyaide NEO d+ USB Class A cable and 1 m Straight Wire USB cable. The Straight Wire cable may have been marginally better.

So I'd like to know what I am missing? You'd think that you would not require expensive USB cables to hear the improvement. After all, the RUR is supposed to clean things up. Obviously, I am missing something.

Could there be something wrong with my RUR? Maybe 100 hours isn't enough?

I cannot seem to edit my profile so I cannot enter my equipment so here it is when using the RUR:

Windows Laptop using foobar2000 ASIO -> RUR -> W4S DSDse -> ARC LS25 -> 2 ARC VT100 MkII -> Martin Logan SL3s

Thanks,
Walter

Hi Walter,

Nice system you have there. Hopefully now with even more time on the Recovery, you can discern a larger improvement than previously. As others have stated, you should notice that the soundstaging, dimensionality and realism of, as well as your engagement with, the sound improves with the Recovery in the chain. Also as reported, many find upgrading the power supply and/or USB cables to be worthwhile. YMMV. We hope you are continuing to enjoy it. Suggest that you let it remain in your system for a while, then taking it out and listening. I suspect that the difference will be noticeable and you'll want to re-insert the Recovery. If you need any personal support from us, you can always contact us directly at support@wyred4sound.com.

Cheers,
Tony - Wyred 4 Sound

[birdland]

I appreciate all of the replies, comments and suggestions from everyone. I was breaking in the Oyaide NEO d+ USB Class A cable a bit more, then Ivan offered me a deal I couldn't refuse.

Now, I'll have to break in the new two new Silver Starlight cables - work, work work.

If the Oyaide USB cable sounds good, I'll use it in my desktop system.

[birdland]

Hi Tony, I didn't realize that you were on AA as well.

Yup, I decided to purchase the RUR. It was on sale so it was an easy decision.

I'm sure I'm going to enjoy the RUR in my system.

[Kt77]

Hi Dan | Guys,

First off I'd like to thank Dan for such an excellently written review, as it caused me to go from an UpTone Audio Regen and iFi Nano iUSB 3.0 Power to said W4S Recovery, and the improvement couldn't have been more needed, yet I went one better within 3 days of using the iFi iPower 9V, and ordered one of those cheap LPS that are being made and sold out of China called the ZeroZone 9V unit.

And as nice as the iFi iPower supply was over the stock one for said device, this one really seemed to offer an even more balanced as well as refined sense of texture, timbre accuracy to the mix, where instruments and voices sound even more organic if you will. As I've just received a TeddyPardo Teddy 9V | 2A LPS in the mail an hour ago, in which I'm allowing to reach room temperature prior to adding it into the system, all I can say is that while some of these devices like audio components in themselves can be seen subjectively by some........, even the buyer of the iFi Nano iUSB 3.0 Power stated he sold his Intona USB Isolator device the following morning, as he merely heard what it was lacking in comparison, and here he much preferred the cheaper unit. So in hindsight if seems it's more a matter of how said devices match into the end users mindset sonically as based upon synergy as opposed to mere cost, no!.

And while it seems that many are taken with the Curious USB cable, I'm much much much happier relying upon what I hear through the use of ( 2x ) Audience Au24 SE USB cables it's not even funny. But as this has become part of my final destination as far as components go, it has proven to be well worth it, and a beautiful journey which is nearing its end.

Thanks again Dan........., as you really told your tale in such a manner which really struck home.

Regards,
O_o scar