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Woo Audio 3 vs Darkvoice 337SE vs Little Dot MKIV SE vs Other

post #1 of 19
1/29/09 at 9:50pm
Thread Starter 
The title says it all. I am trying to decide on a tube line stage/ headphone amp. I am using Sennheiser HD650s and the output from the pre out will be going to a NAD c272 amp. I am after a neutral presentation, forward, good bass but not accentuated, and amazing 3D sound stage. Any advise is apriciated I just want to see what the community thinks.
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post #2 of 19
1/29/09 at 10:30pm
Bad poll. those amps are not even in the same league (price and performance wise

woo 3 - OTL using 6AS7 and 6922
LD IV - OTL, but totally different tube family - EF95 and 6H30P
DV337 - OTL also but 6AS7 and 6SJ7.

the OTL design benefits hign impedance cans. Are you using the NAD to plug the HD650 into? Then it will be a waste. BUT if you are plugging the Senn into the one of the above and using its pre out to feed your NAD to power speakers, then I would go with the LD. The DV's pre out is so-so. The woo does not use the power tube for the pre-out. whereas the LD uses both driver and power tubes for the pre-out. So less waste and any tube rolling is put to good use.

Probably better to edit OP to reflect intended setup
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post #3 of 19
1/29/09 at 11:06pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by glitch39 View Post
Bad poll. those amps are not even in the same league (price and performance wise

woo 3 - OTL using 6AS7 and 6922
LD IV - OTL, but totally different tube family - EF95 and 6H30P
DV337 - OTL also but 6AS7 and 6SJ7.

the OTL design benefits hign impedance cans. Are you using the NAD to plug the HD650 into? Then it will be a waste. BUT if you are plugging the Senn into the one of the above and using its pre out to feed your NAD to power speakers, then I would go with the LD. The DV's pre out is so-so. The woo does not use the power tube for the pre-out. whereas the LD uses both driver and power tubes for the pre-out. So less waste and any tube rolling is put to good use.

Probably better to edit OP to reflect intended setup
The preouts are just go feed the poweramp for speakers but the headphones will plugged directly to the headphone amp.
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post #4 of 19
1/29/09 at 11:22pm
My vote goes for the LD
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post #5 of 19
1/29/09 at 11:28pm
My vote goes for the LD
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post #6 of 19
1/29/09 at 11:42pm
Has anyone heard DV 337SE at all?
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post #7 of 19
1/30/09 at 10:58am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by glitch39 View Post
My vote goes for the LD
Why is that when in many other threads you have stated that the Woo 3 had a much larger and 3D sound stage?



Corey
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post #8 of 19
1/30/09 at 11:00am
Thread Starter 
Also the preamp functions are highly important to my choice over all. I have heard that the Darkvoices are poor in this area.
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post #9 of 19
1/30/09 at 3:06pm
as you mentioned, the pre out function is important to you. I've had the Woo 3. as an HP amp, it is better then the LD. but the pre-out is average and also the power tubes are not used in the cicuitry.
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post #10 of 19
1/30/09 at 4:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by glitch39 View Post
as you mentioned, the pre out function is important to you. I've had the Woo 3. as an HP amp, it is better then the LD. but the pre-out is average and also the power tubes are not used in the cicuitry.
So the LD is a better preamp.


Corey
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post #11 of 19
1/30/09 at 4:38pm
For a Woo3 and DV337 comparison, check out Skylab's amp review thread.

From his review, in terms of headphone amp performance, the DV337 is a level above the Woo3. I am not sure how they rank when used as a preamp however.
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post #12 of 19
1/30/09 at 5:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kbug View Post
Has anyone heard DV 337SE at all?
I have a DV 337SE, it's Real and it's Spectacular!!

Very Strong Dynamic amp(2 watts). Has enough power seems Like you can weld with it. HD650's really sing with it.

Uses EF80's as Input Tubes and 6AS7 series as Output tubes. I live under a bridge and it keeps me warm at night!!

Definitely a long term keeper. Has more Capacitance, and much better resisters than the stock 337, and rewired for EF80. Basically a Factory Mod'd 337.

Unfortunately I can only compare it to Zero, Yulong DAH1 Mark, and LD MK V. Blows them all away. Effortlessly runs all the canz I have.
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post #13 of 19
1/30/09 at 5:31pm
One of the many reasons I chose an MK IV SE is because the preamp output quality is reportedly better than the others. Eventually I'm going to get some power amps to hook up to my speakers, I just can't afford it at the moment.
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post #14 of 19
3/7/09 at 1:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by glitch39 View Post
Bad poll. those amps are not even in the same league (price and performance wise

woo 3 - OTL using 6AS7 and 6922
LD IV - OTL, but totally different tube family - EF95 and 6H30P
DV337 - OTL also but 6AS7 and 6SJ7.

the OTL design benefits hign impedance cans. Are you using the NAD to plug the HD650 into? Then it will be a waste. BUT if you are plugging the Senn into the one of the above and using its pre out to feed your NAD to power speakers, then I would go with the LD. The DV's pre out is so-so. The woo does not use the power tube for the pre-out. whereas the LD uses both driver and power tubes for the pre-out. So less waste and any tube rolling is put to good use.

Probably better to edit OP to reflect intended setup
Slight correction here the 337SE uses the EF80/6BX6 input tube and not the 6SJ7 as you have above. The 337SE is not the same as the 337. Considerable difference. ALL the resisters are different. The quality of the Point to Point wiring is better. The Caps are upgraded and Larger. Also the Input tube is different. Then finally there are the cosmetic differences. The 337SE is truly a Special Edition, or Mod'd addition. Lots of folks pay for Ultra EDitions or Factory Mods, and that's what it is. I got a lot of PM's about the differences being only the Gold Faceplates. Not true. Also the Gold Facelates grow on you quick, they look VERY nicely done. After you throw the Cheap AZZ Plastic gold knobs out and replace them with Solid pieces that match the anodizing of the faceplate.

Here are a few pix:

Stock 337
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337SE
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Very STRONG Amp. Just warm and Lush enough to be Tubes with the detail and resolution of SS.

.
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post #15 of 19
3/10/09 at 8:29pm
I have never seen anything wired together this way. You called it "Point to Point". Is this normal? What other amps are wired this way?
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