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Woo WA22 - Page 19

post #271 of 322
1/26/10 at 12:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tosehee View Post
My stocks are different than yours.

I got unamed rectififer. For 6SN7, I got GE. For 6080, I got RCA.
Did you decide yet what tubes you're going to replace them with?
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post #272 of 322
1/26/10 at 12:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ygm View Post
Did you decide yet what tubes you're going to replace them with?
I already got Mazda 6CG7 with adapter.

I am going to be taking slow route with Power Tubes as RCA isn't too bad.

As for rectifier, probably EML 5U4G and Shuguang which is cheap as hell, but sounds pretty darn good from one of the impression I read. This needs to be verified, but I don't really care as it is quite a cheap tryout.
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post #273 of 322
1/26/10 at 12:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tosehee View Post
I already got Mazda 6CG7 with adapter.

I am going to be taking slow route with Power Tubes as RCA isn't too bad.

As for rectifier, probably EML 5U4G and Shuguang which is cheap as hell, but sounds pretty darn good from one of the impression I read. This needs to be verified, but I don't really care as it is quite a cheap tryout.
Do you have any decent 6SN7s? It would be really interesting to know how they compare to the 6CG7s.

I know Seamaster prefers the latter by a large margin, however, it would be informative to know what others think. Maybe a survey is in order.
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post #274 of 322
1/26/10 at 1:23am
I would strongly recommend 6F8G for all around performance. 6SN7 and 6CG7 both have some what limited use.

6SN7 sound very musical, romantic, less extension on both end, midrange is thick. Very bad with HD650, may work OK with HD800, DT880, K702, or cans like that.

6CG7 sound cooler than both 6SN7 and 6F8G but packed with dynamic, detail, and impact. cleaner, more airy than 6SN7. They pair great with warm rectifier like EML 5U4G mesh. When they pair with GZ34 (Cool and imapctfull sound). Then you will get crazy deep, clean, fast, and head pounding bass. But at same time they could be bright. It depends on people.

6F8G is somewhere in between but with better quality of sound. I mean those tubes have soul. I don't know how to put into words. The more I listen the more I feel spend money on 6SN7s was stupid.

Now I switch between 6F8G and 6CG7 depends on music. 6F8G get about 75% time, 6CG7 get 23% time, 6SN7 get rest of 2% ( I put them in just to check out).

I love 6F8G so much, I ask Glenn my adapter guy to make 6 of those adapters with HQ single crystal silver wires and Mundorf solder. Two for my WA22, four for my Melody KT88 Monoblocks.
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post #275 of 322
1/26/10 at 1:54am
6F8G seem to be more expensive than good 6SN7s these days. (At least on ebay).
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post #276 of 322
1/26/10 at 2:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ygm View Post
6F8G seem to be more expensive than good 6SN7s these days. (At least on ebay).
No, $75 a pair 6F8G will out perform $200+ 6SN7. Yes they are getting expensive because more and more people found they sound better.
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post #277 of 322
1/26/10 at 3:19am
I prefer Mazda for its sound signature.

I will give a try on other, but so far, EML is my next upgrade path, followed by 6AS7 tube upgrade.

When things are settled a bit, then I will probably try that route also.
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post #278 of 322
1/26/10 at 3:24am
Has anyone tried Tung-Sol 5998?
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post #279 of 322
1/26/10 at 2:28pm

Balanced vs SE headphone output

Dear WA22 users:

I have some questions about WA22 and would appreciate your help. Since I enjoy my fully balanced SS system quite a bit, I am looking for a fully balanced tube system. I have been told WA22 is a "fully balanced" amp, meaning it is differential amp and taking balanced signal from DAC. I wonder how much difference (improvement) you experience by using
* balanced DAC input
* balanced headphone output.

I would really appreciate your inputs!

(For example, from my Phoenix + DLIII system, I can clearly heard better channel separation and wider sound field with balanced DAC input. And even more so with balanced headphone output)
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post #280 of 322
1/26/10 at 2:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dukja View Post
Dear WA22 users:

I have some questions about WA22 and would appreciate your help. Since I enjoy my fully balanced SS system quite a bit, I am looking for a fully balanced tube system. I have been told WA22 is a "fully balanced" amp, meaning it is differential amp and taking balanced signal from DAC. I wonder how much difference (improvement) you experience by using
* balanced DAC input
* balanced headphone output.

I would really appreciate your inputs!

(For example, from my Phoenix + DLIII system, I can clearly heard better channel separation and wider sound field with balanced DAC input. And even more so with balanced headphone output)
I think you already have answer. On top of that, you get more dynamic, and music flow is more emotional. I would never go back to SE system. I tested using my G08 with balanced and SE output. Also I had both balanced and SE cardas headphone cable at same time. Improvment was very noticeblely large. WA22 is worth every penny. Its tube options are very flxible. There is no way a person could not find a combo to suit his/her very personal tast.


Quote:
Originally Posted by tosehee View Post
I prefer Mazda for its sound signature.
I am glad you like them.
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post #281 of 322
1/26/10 at 2:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dukja View Post
Dear WA22 users:

I have some questions about WA22 and would appreciate your help. Since I enjoy my fully balanced SS system quite a bit, I am looking for a fully balanced tube system. I have been told WA22 is a "fully balanced" amp, meaning it is differential amp and taking balanced signal from DAC. I wonder how much difference (improvement) you experience by using
* balanced DAC input
* balanced headphone output.

I would really appreciate your inputs!

(For example, from my Phoenix + DLIII system, I can clearly heard better channel separation and wider sound field with balanced DAC input. And even more so with balanced headphone output)
I used to own Phoenix with HD800.

What CAN are you using your Phoenix now? and what Cans are you trying to pair WA22 with?
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post #282 of 322
1/26/10 at 3:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tosehee View Post
I used to own Phoenix with HD800.
I know it. And you know I know it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tosehee View Post
What CAN are you using your Phoenix now? and what Cans are you trying to pair WA22 with?
Balanced DT880/600 with Phoenix. And will use another balanced DT880/600 or T1 later with WA22. 600 ohm Beyer is the only reason alluring me into tube world.

Actually, I have been thinking Sonett for some time. It is just that it uses SE DAC signal and SE AMP in nature. Even though I can get balanced headphone output, I really wonder will that last few feet of balanced cable matter with all those SE upstream (SE DAC signal + SET AMP).

(And I know you have been considering Sonett in the past. And I am not trying to stalk or intentionally follow your upgrade path )
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post #283 of 322
1/26/10 at 3:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dukja View Post
Dear WA22 users:

I have some questions about WA22 and would appreciate your help. Since I enjoy my fully balanced SS system quite a bit, I am looking for a fully balanced tube system. I have been told WA22 is a "fully balanced" amp, meaning it is differential amp and taking balanced signal from DAC. I wonder how much difference (improvement) you experience by using
* balanced DAC input
* balanced headphone output.

I would really appreciate your inputs!

(For example, from my Phoenix + DLIII system, I can clearly heard better channel separation and wider sound field with balanced DAC input. And even more so with balanced headphone output)
"I would really appreciate your inputs" - Pun intended?

When re-terminating my D7000s w/ an XLR connection, I noticed that the soundstage slightly improved and bass improved a tiny bit too. Clarity got a bit better and I don't need to turn the amp up as loud, compared to when I was just using the 1/4" headphone output. It wasn't a massive difference like I was expecting, but I don't think that the D7000s really benefit as much from being balanced as other headphones, such as an HD650 and whatnot.

Even though it wasn't a big difference, I'm glad I went balanced. I feel like this will make any future upgrades better. Let's say I want to buy an HD650 as a change from the D7000s... well if they REALLY benefit a lot from being balanced, then I've saved myself a lot of money by buying balanced equipment now. I like to look at it as a future-proof type of thing.
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post #284 of 322
1/26/10 at 3:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dukja View Post
I know it. And you know I know it.



Balanced DT880/600 with Phoenix. And will use another balanced DT880/600 or T1 later with WA22. 600 ohm Beyer is the only reason alluring me into tube world.

Actually, I have been thinking Sonett for some time. It is just that it uses SE DAC signal and SE AMP in nature. Even though I can get balanced headphone output, I really wonder will that last few feet of balanced cable matter with all those SE upstream (SE DAC signal + SET AMP).

(And I know you have been considering Sonett in the past. And I am not trying to stalk or intentionally follow your upgrade path )
:-)

I hope you enjoy Phoenix.

As for amp decision, I would have gotten Sonnett if it had more than one headphone output. Even though it takes a SE input, it's truly outputting in balanced.

The problem, to me, is that I have several phones that are balanced and SE, and I am not planning to re-cable everything (including iEMs) to balanced. WA22 just seem to fit my needs better.

If I don't use IEMs or other cans with SE, I'd 100% happy with Sonnett. It's cheaper, tube rolling is easier which equates to low maintenance cost, and its build/sound is equally great as WA22.

I chose WA22 with longer waiting period for these reasons.

1. Inputs (it's got two, balanced and SE)
2. Outputs (3 outputs, 2 balanced and 1 SE).
3. Tube rolling is both pro and con for me. I'd like the fact that there are many ways you can tube roll, but that is an added cost that is not visible at the front. I've already spent well over $200 on the tubes and probably $300+ or so in next a few weeks. That's not included in WA22.

Sonnett on the other hand, is much cheaper to tube roll, and down right cheaper due to number of tubes in the system.
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post #285 of 322
1/26/10 at 3:35pm
Since Beyer T1 have 600 ohm load, they should greatly benefit from being balanced IMHO.

@TheAudioDude
"I like to look at it as a future-proof type of thing."
me too.

@tosehee
"I used to own Phoenix with HD800."
How do you like that combo compare to WA22? Phoenix priced at $1200 USD, there are only few hundred dollars gap, ofcourse tubes cost money too.
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