Woo Audio Amp Owner Unite - Page 1639

 

Amen to the 5U4GB. I've tried the Tung Sol and RCA variants, and while they may not be on the same level as the better rectifiers, they still perform well and are very cheap. I prefer the RCAs by a hair, but the Tung Sols are not shabby at all. For $30 for a pair of NOS US-branded 5U4GBs, don't bother with cheap 5AR4s.

 

I remember the hoo-haa about the EML 5U4G in the WA-5, but did anyone face any problems with it in the WA22? So far mine has hit about 1000 hours, and the only time it misbehaved was when it sparked once 5 minutes into warm-up. That was a few months back and it's still going strong.

Doesn't your WA22 run at half power when fed from the unbalanced inputs? That's not a problem?

@daverich4.. Yeah, it runs half power, but I only listen to digital sources 5% of the time, so it's not an issue, if I do, I'd unplug the LCD-2's and run a more sensitive 'phone. I much prefer vinyl hands down, any day of the week;)

I've had my EML 5U4G in my WA22, WA6, and Decware amps with no problems. Both did spark at least few times during start up but so far so good. I've got balanced sources going into the WA22 but listening to it with SE headphones.

My Phono pre has no balanced outs, so that's not an option yet... upgrade

I have now also joined the EML 5U4G club, the last rectifier I plan to throw into my WA22 mix for quite a while. So far so good on the technical/electrical end. Still trying out various driver tubes to find the best match, but for now I'm liking the Psvane 181s, which definitely were too much with the 596.

 

One thing that surprised me was the size of the box it came in, and when I opened it, I had a Death Star moment "Look at the size of that thing"

Edited by TheGrumpyOldMan - 3/17/13 at 4:19pm

I still haven't had a chance to have an EML in my WA22. So far its just been the Princess mesh, 596, and a few Mullards. Would love to hear it for extended listening sessions though.

 

"Those aren't tubes..."

 

On the 181's-- They have great detail, but they're not the last word in bass reproduction. 

Quote:

Agree. I found their main characteristic to be punchy in the mids, sometimes to much, as in the combination with the 596, IMHO of course. They seem pretty well behaved with the EML so the bass is not so much overshadowed by the mids, and that works pretty nicely for me. What would be some of your suggestions?

Is the EML noticeably larger than the Sophia Princess?

Fired up the WA2 to wind down the weekend...

 

 

Do I spy some Valvo EZ80s?  (Valvo, Phillips, Amperex are all the same depending on country of sale, if I'm right).

 

How do you like those?  If you'd like a little more linear extension, you owe it to yourself to look into some RFT EZ80s.  I use that in my Trafomatic, and it is wonderful.

 

Edit: Upon zoom, they are Ei.  I think those are made on Phillips tools once they sold them to Yugoslavia.  How do you like those?

 

Edited by hodgjy - 3/17/13 at 6:12pm

Sid...did you keep your WA22?  I thought you were selling it here...

Yup, they are Ei EZ-80's, along with some Sylvania 6DJ8's and Chatham 6AS7G's.  Honestly I wasn't able to tell much difference between the Ei's and my GE EZ-80's.  I am actually planning another purchase of a full set of tubes, so I'll look into the RFT EZ-80's.  Do you have a good source for some?

Many of the GE-labeled EZ80s are rebadged Phillips.  So, if Ei are the Yugoslavian equivalent of Phillips, it makes sense you weren't able to tell much difference between them.

 

I got my RFTs off ebay.  If you're willing to try the RFT EZ81 (I think the WA2 can handle the EZ81), tubemonger,com has them.