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Woo Audio Amp Owner Unite
May 8, 2013 at 8:32 PM Post #25,366 of 42,298
Quote:
vincentc said:
Hello everybody,
 
I have an issue. When I turn my setup "on" I can hear some background noise (static in my opinion).
 
Setup:
  1. Flac songs
  2. MediaMonkey
  3. USB from motherboard (Desktop computer placed on the floor close to a plug)
  4. Hi-Diamond USB2 cable
  5. Audio-gd NFB 3.33
  6. RCA interconnection cable (Audio-gd)
  7. WA6-SE
  8. LCD2, GS1000, DT880
 
So far I tried the amp alone and there is no noise, however as soon as I plug the RCA I can hear the static (with DAC "on" or "off"). Then I tried to plug the amp directly to the computer via a jack to RCA and the background appears to be worst. Therefore I think that the statics are coming from the computer but I am not sure. Could it be the quality of my plugs? I will try to use my other amp tonight (ALO PanAm) to see. Do you have any advices for me at this stage?
 
Thanks for your help!
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I had exact same problem with MF M1DAC-A to WA6-SE I could not figure out where that noise was coming from and couldn't get rid of it even after switching 3 different power supplies and 2 different motherboards lol. I ended up using Optical out from my Motherboard and Asus DX instead of USB out which solved the problem. Also It was interesting that I did not have any noise when I connect my iPad 3 to M1DAC-A via USB.
 
May 8, 2013 at 9:33 PM Post #25,367 of 42,298
Quote:
clayton sf said:
596 = Clean, almost ss sound. Bright mids and expansive bass. The highs can be a little dry. Female vocals a little forward.
 
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clean is exactly the way i'd describe it! 
biggrin.gif

 
May 8, 2013 at 10:57 PM Post #25,368 of 42,298
Quote:
senson said:
I had exact same problem with MF M1DAC-A to WA6-SE I could not figure out where that noise was coming from and couldn't get rid of it even after switching 3 different power supplies and 2 different motherboards lol. I ended up using Optical out from my Motherboard and Asus DX instead of USB out which solved the problem. Also It was interesting that I did not have any noise when I connect my iPad 3 to M1DAC-A via USB.
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Thanks for the quick reply Senson! I will try to switch to optic tonight, and use different sources. Quick question, in terms of sound quality, is optical cable better than high-end USB cable?
 
May 9, 2013 at 12:51 AM Post #25,369 of 42,298
Quote:
magiccabbage said:
thanks ill give them a read up!
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There are a lot of relatively inexpensive tubes for the WA2 that are widely available.  A few of my favorites:
 
RFT EZ81:  http://www.tubemonger.com/RFT_E_German_EZ81_6CA4_Rectifier_tubes_p/526.htm
Russian 6H23 "Rocket Logo":  http://www.upscaleaudio.com/products/6H23-%7B47%7D-6922-Rocket-Logo.html
RCA 6AS7G Black Plates:  https://www.tubeworld.com/6as7g.htm
 
I wouldn't spend a lot of time or money tracking down rectifiers.  In my opinion, the RFT's are the best I've come across and just leave them in my amp at all times.  I may purchase another pair just to have as a backup, but that's it.  You're better off researching various preamp and power tubes.  Old and European isn't always the best though, give the Rocket Logo's I linked to above a chance.
 
May 9, 2013 at 5:34 AM Post #25,370 of 42,298
Quote:
magiccabbage said:
thank you mister clayton i will do! one more question i have asked one or two people this already but ill ask you as well to be extra sure. 
 
do you think the ez80 will pair well with tung sol 5998 and jan sylvania 7308? 
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Quote:
clayton sf said:
You're welcome.
I can't answer that question because I've never owned those tubes. Ultrainferno has borrowed my WA2 and has been using it since last August. I use my WA2 with either a Mullard EZ80 or EZ81. I use RCA 6AS7 or G.E. 6AS7 and Mullard CV2493. I really enjoyed those tubes together. The RCA 6AS7 is warmer than the G.E. 6AS7. I like them both.
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It's been a while since I was rolling tubes in the WA2. I settled for RCA 6AS7G (Don't like the 5998 in this or any amp that much), Sylvania 6922 and Philips Miniwatt rectifiers. I do remember the effect of the rectifier on the sound to be minimalistic. I have to review today so maybe I'll roll in some other tubes while I'm at it. Clayton gave me some Mullard rectifiers too.
 
May 9, 2013 at 6:20 AM Post #25,372 of 42,298
Quote:
thaddy said:
There are a lot of relatively inexpensive tubes for the WA2 that are widely available.  A few of my favorites:
 
RFT EZ81:  http://www.tubemonger.com/RFT_E_German_EZ81_6CA4_Rectifier_tubes_p/526.htm
Russian 6H23 "Rocket Logo":  http://www.upscaleaudio.com/products/6H23-%7B47%7D-6922-Rocket-Logo.html
RCA 6AS7G Black Plates:  https://www.tubeworld.com/6as7g.htm
 
I wouldn't spend a lot of time or money tracking down rectifiers.  In my opinion, the RFT's are the best I've come across and just leave them in my amp at all times.  I may purchase another pair just to have as a backup, but that's it.  You're better off researching various preamp and power tubes.  Old and European isn't always the best though, give the Rocket Logo's I linked to above a chance.
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thanks for the info. i have the tubes i mentioned ordered and am gonna go with those but ill buy more in a couple of weeks. i think i came across the RCA 6AS7G before - those are the really full sounding ones compared to 5998 which are more for clarity? are the 6AS7Gs not supposed to be a bit temparmental with the wa2? or maybe that was just the 50s ones?
 
May 9, 2013 at 7:19 AM Post #25,373 of 42,298
Quick update on problem, the static comes from my computer. However, I can still hear it when I transfer the signal from my computer to the DAC via optical cable.
 
There is one thing I don't understand, both my WA6-SE and my PanAm are plug to the DAC via RCA cables but when I listen to the PanAm I cannot hear the static at all... What could be the issue?
 
And I just realised that when I touched the volume knob I can hear more static but when I stop touching it I can only hear the static from the computer. When I turned the computer "off" I cannot hear the static anymore, however if I touch the volume knob I can hear statics...
 
May 9, 2013 at 9:02 AM Post #25,374 of 42,298
Quote:
magiccabbage said:
thanks for the info. i have the tubes i mentioned ordered and am gonna go with those but ill buy more in a couple of weeks. i think i came across the RCA 6AS7G before - those are the really full sounding ones compared to 5998 which are more for clarity? are the 6AS7Gs not supposed to be a bit temparmental with the wa2? or maybe that was just the 50s ones?
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I don't own any black-plate RCA 6AS7G tubes--just the grey ones; and those hiss and sputter very lightly for about the first hour. After that either I've learned to tune them out or they are no longer emitted. Also low-sensitivity headphones do not pick up the hissing and sputtering.
 
Can anyone recommend great (or even good) low-sensitivity headphones? Thanks! The ones that I own are the Beyerdynamic DT990 600Ω which are one of my favorites.
 
May 9, 2013 at 9:33 AM Post #25,376 of 42,298
^ Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy!!!
You're my new, old best friend! :wink: ...
 
and I get to take how many back with me?
 
I'd like to say: All of the above. I just want to narrow down headphones that don't pick up some low-level hum, hiss, crackle and still let the music through.
 
I do remember listening to the HE-500 headphones and really liking them when @shipsupt came over to my place.
 
May 9, 2013 at 9:54 AM Post #25,377 of 42,298
You can take the HE500 back with you. Even the LCD-2 maybe. How does that sound :wink:
Most of my headphones are orthos or high impedance, like Beyer and Senn. Are you bored already of the DT770 AE? That one shouldn't pick up humming.
 
I would suggest however to buy some more RCA 6AS7G, a lot of them tend to hum, you just have to get "lucky" Why don't I get you a couple of new NOS ones from my dealer and test them for you, I can return them to him so I'll make sure you have a hum free nos pair for cheap (on me).
 
May 9, 2013 at 10:29 AM Post #25,378 of 42,298
Quote:
ultrainferno said:
You can take the HE500 back with you. Even the LCD-2 maybe. How does that sound :wink:
Most of my headphones are orthos or high impedance, like Beyer and Senn. Are you bored already of the DT770 AE? That one shouldn't pick up humming.
 
I would suggest however to buy some more RCA 6AS7G, a lot of them tend to hum, you just have to get "lucky" Why don't I get you a couple of new NOS ones from my dealer and test them for you, I can return them to him so I'll make sure you have a hum free nos pair for cheap (on me).
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the nicest man in the world
 
May 9, 2013 at 11:27 AM Post #25,379 of 42,298
Quote:
magiccabbage said:
thanks for the info. i have the tubes i mentioned ordered and am gonna go with those but ill buy more in a couple of weeks. i think i came across the RCA 6AS7G before - those are the really full sounding ones compared to 5998 which are more for clarity? are the 6AS7Gs not supposed to be a bit temparmental with the wa2? or maybe that was just the 50s ones?
Click to expand...

I've never had problems with the two sets of RCA Black Plates I have.  My Chatham 6AS7G's are quite microphonic though, but tube dampers help enough to make them listenable .  I think that's the risk you run with tubes in general though, especially considering the tubes the WA2 uses weren't designed with audio in mind.
 
I've never had issues with noisy 6DJ8 or 6922 preamp tubes, however if you're concerned then just stick with E88CC/6922's.  They're a premium version of the ECC88/6DJ8 tube and should have lower noise and microphonics.
 
Feel free to PM me if you have any other specific questions about tubes for your WA2.  I've had mine for a while and have tried a lot of tubes, I'd be happy to give you some suggestions.
 
May 9, 2013 at 11:31 AM Post #25,380 of 42,298
Quote:
ultrainferno said:
You can take the HE500 back with you. Even the LCD-2 maybe. How does that sound :wink:
Most of my headphones are orthos or high impedance, like Beyer and Senn. Are you bored already of the DT770 AE? That one shouldn't pick up humming.
 
I would suggest however to buy some more RCA 6AS7G, a lot of them tend to hum, you just have to get "lucky" Why don't I get you a couple of new NOS ones from my dealer and test them for you, I can return them to him so I'll make sure you have a hum free nos pair for cheap (on me).
Click to expand...

 
Since you are in EU, try to find GEC 6AS7G they are much less than US.  Out of three pair I have/had, none of them hum with WA22.
 
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