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Just ordered a WA5 LE!!! (pictures and impressions added)

post #1 of 134
2/12/09 at 4:51pm
Thread Starter 
I just had to share my excitement with everyone. I just ordered a WA5 LE (with Sophia Electric Mesh 300B and 274A tubes)!



Hopefully, by the end of March, I should have this beautiful amp and an HD800 in my hands! Now I just need to get a nice pair of 6sn7's. I have some Tung-Sol and Sylvania 6sn7 single tubes but no pairs.

Edit: I received the amp April 10th. I have added pictures and impressions in this thread. See the links below.

Pictures are in post #68

Initial impressions (and comparisons the the SP Extreme) are in post #103.
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post #2 of 134
2/12/09 at 5:03pm
WOW! I'd love one of those! Congrats! Take lots of pictures
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post #3 of 134
2/12/09 at 5:09pm
what happened to the Balancing Act?
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post #4 of 134
2/12/09 at 5:14pm
Well done!

I got my 5-LE a week ago and went for the PPU instead of new tubes, figuring its easier to get tubes at a later date than ship 2 crates back for the PPU retro fit.

Even with standard tubes it is stunning.

I've been at this hifi lark for 25 years - i am stunned at how good this amp is. And its on cheap chinese tubes and nowhere near burned in.

Worth every penny!

Welcome to the club :-)

Lee
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post #5 of 134
2/12/09 at 6:30pm
wow, talk about jumping into the deep end of the pool! congrats,
i'm sure you'll be pleased with the unit(s).

i'd try to get a sylvania "bad boys" 6sn7gt in pairs... superb balance
and clarity to die for... the "bad boys" have three holes in each
sections of the two plates, adding up to six holes. don't fall for
sellers that claim "bad boys" which only have two holes in each
plate, adding up to four holes...

otherwise, the rca 6sn7gt/vt-231 are the most lush and thick in
sound signature... the kenrad 6sn7gt/vt-231 has the deepest
bass that'll out-growl any other 6sn7gt... i wouldn't go for the
russian variants only because they're not known for longevity.
the regular tung-sol 6sn7gt are very fine too. balance and focus
is their strengths imo. the roundplates are extra pricey...
good luck in your choices!

here's the link for 6sn7 info:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/ref...thread-117677/
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post #6 of 134
2/12/09 at 6:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by atbglenn View Post
WOW! I'd love one of those! Congrats! Take lots of pictures
Will even try to take good pictures (in focus)!

Quote:
Originally Posted by vcoheda View Post
what happened to the Balancing Act?
Um, I decided that I couldn't afford to go balanced.... it was becoming too stressful so I got my deposit back from Craig. I am sure I will probably regret it later.
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post #7 of 134
2/12/09 at 7:18pm
Congrats Shelly, I'm sure with the tubes you ordered and the HD800, this combo should be an amazing sounding (and looking) rig.
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post #8 of 134
2/12/09 at 7:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shellylh View Post
I just had to share my excitement with everyone. I just ordered a WA5 LE (with Sophia Electric Mesh 300B and 274A tubes)! e.
Do you want a cookie?
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post #9 of 134
2/12/09 at 7:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shellylh View Post
Um, I decided that I couldn't afford to go balanced.... it was becoming too stressful so I got my deposit back from Craig. I am sure I will probably regret it later.
Maybe not.

The nicest overall system I have ever personally seen/heard has only 1 piece of balanced gear in it (an electrostatic amp). There are many paths to the goal in these little games we play. Balanced drive offers a different sound, but if SE is built well not necessarily a better one.

The prototype of the Woo-5 I heard a while back sounded really really good. I think it has been improved a couple times since (I have heard both new versions at meets, but I cant actually listen to headphones at meets so I just wander around and plug my headphones in hoping the room noise will drop for a long enough moment to hear....) If you like the sound of the 300B tube, the Woo-5 should be a rocking amp with few equals regardless of whether they force you to re-terminate & re-cable your headphones or not.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iriverdude View Post
Do you want a cookie?
Why not let this guy express his happiness?
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post #10 of 134
2/12/09 at 8:05pm
Congrats shell I'm not that jealous!
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post #11 of 134
2/12/09 at 8:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by iriverdude View Post
Do you want a cookie?
Huh????

Quote:
Originally Posted by nikongod View Post
Maybe not.

The nicest overall system I have ever personally seen/heard has only 1 piece of balanced gear in it (an electrostatic amp). There are many paths to the goal in these little games we play. Balanced drive offers a different sound, but if SE is built well not necessarily a better one.

The prototype of the Woo-5 I heard a while back sounded really really good. I think it has been improved a couple times since (I have heard both new versions at meets, but I cant actually listen to headphones at meets so I just wander around and plug my headphones in hoping the room noise will drop for a long enough moment to hear....) If you like the sound of the 300B tube, the Woo-5 should be a rocking amp with few equals regardless of whether they force you to re-terminate & re-cable your headphones or not.

Why not let this guy express his happiness?
This is nice to know. I am happy with a single ended system. I am sure that I will be very happy with the WA5LE. If not, well, there is always the FS forum.

Oh, (not to be picky or anything) but it is a "her."

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oink1 View Post
Congrats shell I'm not that jealous!
Yes you are, j/k.

Quote:
Originally Posted by takezo View Post
wow, talk about jumping into the deep end of the pool! congrats,
i'm sure you'll be pleased with the unit(s).

i'd try to get a sylvania "bad boys" 6sn7gt in pairs... superb balance
and clarity to die for... the "bad boys" have three holes in each
sections of the two plates, adding up to six holes. don't fall for
sellers that claim "bad boys" which only have two holes in each
plate, adding up to four holes...

otherwise, the rca 6sn7gt/vt-231 are the most lush and thick in
sound signature... the kenrad 6sn7gt/vt-231 has the deepest
bass that'll out-growl any other 6sn7gt... i wouldn't go for the
russian variants only because they're not known for longevity.
the regular tung-sol 6sn7gt are very fine too. balance and focus
is their strengths imo. the roundplates are extra pricey...
good luck in your choices!

here's the link for 6sn7 info:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/ref...thread-117677/
Thanks for the advice about the 6sn7's. I guess I should go for a pair instead of trying to match the single tubes that I already own.
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post #12 of 134
2/12/09 at 8:56pm
The WA5 LE with the Sophia in Houston sounded really nice - a very good choice.

You can come to the dark (balanced AND / or stat) any time... we'll be waiting, patiently... no doubt you'll get along just fine in the interim.
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post #13 of 134
2/12/09 at 9:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shellylh View Post



...This is nice to know. I am happy with a single ended system. I am sure that I will be very happy with the WA5LE. If not, well, there is always the FS forum...
hey shelly, jack offers a 20 day return period once you receive the amp.
it's in his website in the "faq" page. or you can just ask him to clarify
the return policy. good luck and have fun.
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post #14 of 134
2/12/09 at 9:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by iriverdude View Post
Do you want a cookie?
It sounds like someone has amp envy.
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post #15 of 134
2/12/09 at 9:41pm
Thread Starter 
Glad to know the balanced/electrostatic kids will still talk to me.

As for the amp that was in Houston, it was a WA6 SE. The WA5 LE is supposed to be much much better than the WA6 SE. I would probably be very happy with either of them.

Quote:
Originally Posted by pabbi1 View Post
The WA5 LE with the Sophia in Houston sounded really nice - a very good choice.

You can come to the dark (balanced AND / or stat) any time... we'll be waiting, patiently... no doubt you'll get along just fine in the interim.
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