Wyred 4 Sound Remedy Reclocker - Product Review

The Wyred 4 Sound Remedy Reclocker is proof positive that your hi-fi is only as good as its weakest link. Crap in, crap out as the old saying goes.

In my case, the weak link would be the Sonos Connect.

From an end user point of view, the Sonos is fabulous. The UI is one of the best going around, noticeably better than most I have experienced from higher end hi-fi manufacturers, so it is a real shame that it is let down somewhat by its lacklustre sonic performance.

That however, remains a problem no longer. Enter the Remedy Reclocker. 

The Remedy sits between the source and your DAC of choice and the long and short of it is that it receives all the ones and zeroes from the digital output, rectifies any timing errors, upgrades the bit depth and sample rate (up to 24 Bit/96 kHz) and effectively outputs a much better digital stream to your DAC.

It sounds almost crazy that this would have much of an audible effect, but it really does.

My reference system consists of an NAD M2 Direct Digital amplifier. This amp was made for digital audio. In fact, it too re-clocks digital audio, theoretically deeming an external reclocker unnecessary. 

However, connecting via the Remedy made a noticeable improvement to the sound of my digital music. 

For starters, the image was obviously wider. Hard pans to the left and right felt further apart than ever before. 

There was also significantly less digital 'sheen' or 'glare' to the sound. By that, I mean a squeal-ish sound that I find occasionally presents itself in higher frequencies.

It all resulted in music that had a greater sense of air to it, a greater depth, ultimately resulting in better sound.

Now, I know what you're thinking, some might argue that the use of a $599 device to maximise the performance of a $549 device seems a tad absurd, but when it brings the quality of that $549 device up to that of a hi-fi quality streamer, who can fault it?

Listening to my 'High Fidelity' playlist via Tidal was a sheer pleasure.

One of my favourite demo tracks lately has been 'Soldiers Eyes' by Jack Savoretti. This opens with a violin on the left channel. In the past, it has almost bordered on harsh, but with the Remedy, there's a sense of smoothness in its stead.

'Poison & Wine' by the now defunct Civil Wars has a hardness on Joy Williams' vocal, and to a degree it is the recording, but it presented itself significantly more coherently via the Remedy.

Adele's 'Someone Like You' prompted me to connect again direct from the Sonos Connect to the M2, but the benefits from the Remedy became even more obvious once it had been removed. I noticed an immediate narrowing of the sound field and an increase of harshness on her vocals.

The Wyred 4 Sound Remedy Reclocker is an excellent addition to a digital based audio system, particularly if, like me, you've prioritised the user experience over downright fidelity.

I could have quite easily carried on using my system the way it was, but having now experienced first hand how much improvement the Remedy has brought, it shan't be leaving.

*Please note* At time of review, I was using the Remedy with the supplied 'wall wart' power supply. I will post a follow up thoughts once adding a Linear PSU.

Wyred 4 Sound Remedy Reclocker $599 RRP

Australian Distributor

Deep Hz Audio

www.deephzaudio.com

sales@deephzaudio.com

Associated Equipment

Sonos Connect

NAD M2

Chord Company Odyssey 2 Speaker Cable

PSB Synchrony One Towers

Wireworld Supernova 7 Toslink Cable

Chord Company Anthem Tuned ARAY Coax Cable