w4s sti1000 or belles 150a ref for audio physic??

I love the Belles gear. I have owned a 150A HotRod and a 350 Reference and a 21A preamp and they were wonderful. Just my .02 worth...

I compared ICE amps (Bel Canto Ref1000 MK I) with Belles 350A and 150A Reference monoblocks, and for my preferences I preferred the Belles. To me, the ICE amps produce music that lacks any human quality. The Belles amps are nicely balanced and neutral, while still conveying a human touch to the music. Bass is extended and controlled, and the highs are clear without grain or etch.

IMO, the Belles 150A Reference are at their best when used in monoblock configuration.

I couldn't disagree more with the above two posts. I have never been a fan of ICE amps, but I currently have the W4S STI-500 in my system and it is very definitely an exception to the rule.

It's highs are airy and give you a wonderful sense of percussive sounds, bite on guitar strings and recording venue acoustics. Play something like Rodrigo y Gabriela's new 11:11 CD and you'll be mesmerized for the rest of the day at least. And the amp is not overtly bright or harsh, but rather, feathery, delicate, and easy on the ears.

The midrange is wonderfully detailed and musically satisfying, with a very nice presentation of timbre and instrumental harmonics.

And the bass is taut, articulate, and extended. It sounds just right, not overly damped. It serves up bloom with detail in spades all day long.

I've reviewed the Belles 150A in the past and at that time it wasn't exactly the best amp I had heard. Unless it's gotten orders of magnitude better since then, it won't compete with the Wyred amps.

For CD, I'm running my player through an excellent 6SN7 tube line stage and then into the Wyred. For my vinyl playback I'm running my battery-powered Nova Phonomena solid-state phono stage directly into the Wyred. In both cases, the sound is about as good as it gets.

See the recent review of the STI-1000 at sixmoons.com. From what I'm hearing with the STI-500, it's right on the money.

Happy Holidays!

Plato, so it's clear if apples to apples are being discussed, it would help to clarify your post above. Did you review the Belles 150A or 150A Reference? Also, did you review the stereo 150A, or the 150A monoblocks? There is a difference at each level.