Great review and video. Thanks for (finally) showing the side of the amp opposite the tube window (think you're the 1st to do so) and for showing the included case. Hopefully Woo can fix the headphone pop issue.

Obviously a glowing report, however at this price the "dangerous" pop needs to be fixed even if this means delaying the rlelase date.

Yes. Certainly needs fixing. While there is a simple workaround, to just unplug headphones before you switch it off, it did scare me twice. Of course, I don't know if that is pandemic and affects all WA8 or just mine. And yes a glowing review. I didn't expect it to be that glowing, but that thing is really really good. We had a mini meet a few days back and everyone came back to the WA8. The Woo Audio guys really delivered something great here..

Great review, though not surprising based on my impresssions last fall of a pre-production unit.

Deginitely agree that the loud pop needs to be addressed. Besides underrmining the perceived quality of a unit at that price point, if I recall correctly unplugging a load from a tube amp is not a good idea unless the amp has been designed with open load protection.

Bumner on not charging via usb. That would have been a good feature.

Any comments on how the amp section compares to the Liquid Carbon? I realize the units don't compete directly, but since you have the LC right there ....

Thanks @brams Great suggestion indeed. I didn't actually compare them properly - but might get the unit back eventually for a few days and can then do the comparison. Also I must admit, I didn't use the WA8 a lot as Amp only (via the 3.5mm line in), only a short while to see it works fine, which I probably should have done more extensively. Once I get my hands back at his baby I will do the comparison and update the review, since the LC is not going anywhere .  Cheers!

Got a listen at the Nashville meet. Great sound, really fun! Except for the switches, the build quality was amazing, it was just at much fun to look at as listen to.

I too own the Liquid Carbon and can't ever see myself getting rid of it. Nothing I have heard touches it at anywhere near 4x the price and I cannot imagine how their higher end product could be significantly better in sound quality.

I truly believe based on my short audition of the WA8 that it can be a similar game changer.

It is a soft 'pop' when power cycling the amp. This will not cause harm the headphones or the amp. We recommend to disconnect the headphone if the soft 'pop' bothers you.
 
Important: when switching between 2 or 3 tube mode, turn OFF the amplifier first, this resets the output. Otherwise, you may encounter distortion in the sound.

@HiFiGuy528 If you mean that your eyes only "softly" pop out of your head Everyone who heard the pop didn't find it soft at all. Anyhow, I will put your statement into the review - good to know it's not harmful - but it is certainly not "worthy" of a $1,800 amp and you should seriously fix that in a revision in my opinion. Anyhow - it's the only drawback and there is a workaround.

Great review. Wonder how it will fare with HD800 & HE1000 ?

@punit I shall find out Friday

@Koolpep I've heard the prototype with both. Guarantee you'll be pleased!