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Wyred4sound STI - 500 for Magnepan speakers

Has anyone heard the Wyred4sound STI - 500 used with Magnepan speakers?

I have listened to a Krell s300i with Maggie 1.2's and thought that the 300 wpc into 4 ohms was a big improvement over my Macintosh MA 6300 at 160 wpc into 4 ohms.

However, the Krell is $2500 and the STI - 500 would be "only" $1995 but with 500 wpc into 4 ohms.

It seems people either like class D or they don't and I was wondering what drives them to which camp.
dsper
lak's avatar
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lak
4,626 posts
 
To my ears the Wyred 4 sound amps sound good with Magnepan speakers. I use their monoblocks with my 1.6 magnepan speakers.
gsself
46 posts
 
Magnepan 1.7 driven by Bel Canto REF1000 MkII and I couldn't be more pleased. The speakers are just getting broken in but the performance has been superior from the first play. This combination has been very revealing in a DAC comparison currently underway. The class D Bel Cantos and 1.7s are a very good match. I haven't heard the W4S amps but class D does work with magnepans in my experience. Good Luck!
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melomaniac
19 posts
 
been wondering the same. I have been using a bel canto integrated for a few years on my 2.5R magnepans, but might try a W4S because I feel that the maggies only sound their best with this amp above a certain volume - around 70 out of 100 (with 50 being the default when it comes on), which is not loud but for some situations and hours it's a bit more than I need.

the reviews I've seen suggest that the bel canto and the w4s implementations of ice power are different but in subtle ways, so I've hesitated to switch - in case it's only a lateral step rather than an improvement here. factors in favor of the w4s are the balanced inputs and the somewhat higher power. keep in mind it also depends on your room - some rooms would be just fine with a lower-power integrated, like the fine ayre amp, on your maggies.
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