STP-SE
STP-SE
STP-SE

Wyred 4 Sound

STP-SE

$1,999
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 (<6µV Passive, <18µV active) 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. 

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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

Note: Due to the expensive specialty parts as well as the extensive labor involved with the upgrade, Stage 1 and Stage 2 STP-SE orders are non-refundable.

STP-SE Specs:
  • Typical THD+N 20Hz-20kHz (A Wt) @ 2V: <0.003%​
  • Noise (A Wt / Vol ≤ 63): < 6µV
  • Noise (A Wt / Vol ≥ 64): < 18µV
  • Noise 20Hz-20kHz (Vol ≤ 63): < 9µV
  • Noise 20Hz-20kHz (Vol ≥ 64): < 27µV
  • Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz: ± 0.020db
  • Channel Tracking (All Steps): < ± 0.050db
  • IMD: < 0.002%
  • Crosstalk 20Hz-20kHz (Vol ≤ 63): > 106db
  • Crosstalk 20Hz-20kHz (Vol ≥ 64): > 96db
  • Output Impedance (Vol ≤ 63): 113Ω (50Ω for Stage 1 or Stage 2)
  • Output Impedance (Vol ≥ 64): 78Ω 
  • Input Impedance: 60.4kΩ
  • 6db gain
  • Maximum Output Voltage: 9V RMS
Download:
STP MANUAL v2.2.pdf (Size: 124.29 KB)

"It is easy for a reviewer to burn a lot of words describing something. However, there just isn’t much that can be said about this unit’s very minimal and elusive sonic character. The Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE-2 preamp is unremarkable, and that is precisely why it is so special. It easily beats much more expensive competition with its benchmark, state of the art resolution and lack of character."

  -JERRY SEIGEL
     10AUDIO                                                                        READ FULL REVIEW

"Give this pre-power combo an hour to warm up and you’ll soon see that it’s a crisp, detailed and neutral sounding package with plenty of wallop."

  -DAVID PRICE
    HI-FI CHOICE                                                                  READ FULL REVIEW

"To say my experience with the STP SE was mind-blowing would be an understatement.... its virtually unspeakable in the audiophile world to say a tubeless preamplifier possesses all the smooth and inviting characteristics of the most modern and affordable valve units, while at the same time raising the standards of what’s expected from a sub-$2k preamplifier to new stratospheric heights. But, that is exactly what I am saying."

  -STAFF
    HIGH FIDELITY REVIEW                                                READ FULL REVIEW

"Unless you pitted standard and Stage II STP-SE against each other, you'd never suspect that the first obscured anything at all…. As it turned out, it didn't take a silly-money über system to hear that the standard SE's lens still was of lesser magnifying power than Stage Deux’s…. It meant that EJ's parts swaps were most strategic and with it, surprisingly effective…. It all seemed to be about removing minor barriers in whose absence recorded urgency, intensity and directness communicated themselves more strongly…. this is a machine of quiet but true reference calibre! Blue Moon Award: STP-SE with Stage 2 modification"

  -SRAJAN EBAEN
     6 MOONS                                                                       READ FULL REVIEW

"I am enjoying the new STP-SE very much. It beats the Leema Libra (£5,995 or ~$8,000), Bryston BP26 and Chord Electronics CPA5000 ($20,000) that I listened to – more transparent and does not compress dynamics.... The STP looks and feels great to me."

  -L.E.

"holy s**t the amount of detail I am hearing on my vinyl records is astounding!!! I have my favorites that I am familiar with and it is as though someone added music that wasn’t there before. Also the bottom end is so much better!! I’m sure it will only get better from here "

  -JOHN P

"You guys really did build a world class product, I have unit like the Bat Rex and I'll go in record and state that is is far better to my ears."

  -DONALD N

"The preamplifier is terrific and I am so glad that my dealer recommended it to me."

  -PHILIP S