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best tube amp under $1000 not needing all upgrades - Page 3

post #31 of 44
1/27/10 at 10:57am
Have you taken the plunge for one yet KunalRaiker? I did the other day (with Sophia rectifier) and cannot wait.
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post #32 of 44
1/27/10 at 11:33am
I've stopped talking about Darkvoice, in spite of loving my 337, because the status of that company is unclear to me.
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post #33 of 44
1/27/10 at 12:04pm
Sorry, but I dont see how a manufacturer's offering different options (6, 6 PDPS, 6 SE) and component upgrades to the customer is a form of dishonesty or creating illusions. In fact, I see it as a plus and a value-added service.
Each has been reviewed and compared at meets, and there are notable differences between them if you read the listening impressions. Check ichinichi's and takezo's comments upon doing the cap upgrades on their WA6 and Orcin's review on the stock WA6 versus WA6 SE.
It may be subtle, but then most difference in component changes are, unless you were using really poor components to begin with, which Woo does not seem to be doing.
If you want a great stock amp at the 1000 USD mark from Woo, then you have two options in the WA6SE (TC) and WA2 (OTL), plain and simple I think. As to whether the upgraded components make a worthwhile difference to you cost-wise, only you can decide of course. But the effects of the upgraded parts do seem to be audible to the discerning listener.

Good luck with your choice, I'm sure all the amps recommended here will be quite excellent sounding.


Quote:
Originally Posted by keithhr1 View Post
I greatly appreciate all the feedback from my query, a lot of interesting amps have been mentioned, Sonett, Decware csp-2 among others, but once again, the woo special version of the WA6SE is $1050 a modest $400 over the WA6, but they also offer another $900 of upgrades that is already supposed to be a special edition of an already good amp, the WA6, soooooooo they have a WA6 ($620) or (950) the WA6SE (1050) or ($1975), so they have a WA6 for less than $700, but if you want what they consider the best version of the same amp starting with WA6, it's almost $1300 more. I just don't see it, don't get it, find it somewhat dishonest, or at least misleading, and I find it somewhat irritating. I would much prefer to buy from someone else who makes no illusions as to what they are selling, Woo just seems way to complicated a choice for me, because I would just have to have the best version. Than again the WA5 LE is only $500 more than the jazzed up WA6 SE with all the upgrades
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post #34 of 44
1/27/10 at 12:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by musicmind View Post
Sorry, but I dont see how a manufacturer's offering different options (6, 6 PDPS, 6 SE) and component upgrades to the customer is a form of dishonesty or creating illusions. In fact, I see it as a plus and a value-added service.
Each has been reviewed and compared at meets, and there are notable differences between them if you read the listening impressions. Check ichinichi's and takezo's comments upon doing the cap upgrades on their WA6 and Orcin's review on the stock WA6 versus WA6 SE.
It may be subtle, but then most difference in component changes are, unless you were using really poor components to begin with, which Woo does not seem to be doing.
If you want a great stock amp at the 1000 USD mark from Woo, then you have two options in the WA6SE (TC) and WA2 (OTL), plain and simple I think. As to whether the upgraded components make a worthwhile difference to you cost-wise, only you can decide of course. But the effects of the upgraded parts do seem to be audible to the discerning listener.

Good luck with your choice, I'm sure all the amps recommended here will be quite excellent sounding.
I agree with this.

The upgrades are there for those who wants to improve further upon the base model. It's a value added service, not trying to rip someone off.

I actually wish there is such upgrade options for WA22 as well. If it did, I probably went ahead and got that instead.
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post #35 of 44
1/27/10 at 4:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post
Upstateguy, are you suggesting that Donald has shills? I don't know of any. Other than being on good personal terms, I have no interest. For the record, I like Craig Uthus and Ray Samuels, too.

Do you have a specific criticism of his amp or business practices? I'd like to know.
This is very off topic, but your post deserves an answer. I got into it with Donald and Mike before and par for the course, most of it was deleted.

I don't bother doing that any more, except to occasionally ask who knows who.

Caveat Emptor.

USG
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post #36 of 44
1/27/10 at 4:50pm
I have both the WA6 and the Decware CSP2, which have been offered for consideration in this thread.
Both are very clean and clear sounding amps under $1k.
I recently moved the WA6 from Sacramento to San Diego and needed to get a replacement for the Sacramento location.
Where did I put my money?
I bought another Decware CSP2.
Compared to the CSP2, the WA6 seemed a bit dry. The CSP2 had the magic.
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post #37 of 44
1/27/10 at 5:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by St3ve View Post
Have you taken the plunge for one yet KunalRaiker? I did the other day (with Sophia rectifier) and cannot wait.
I'am still waiting to find one , don't want to get anew one right now.
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post #38 of 44
1/27/10 at 10:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdmoorman View Post
I have both the WA6 and the Decware CSP2, which have been offered for consideration in this thread.
Both are very clean and clear sounding amps under $1k.
I recently moved the WA6 from Sacramento to San Diego and needed to get a replacement for the Sacramento location.
Where did I put my money?
I bought another Decware CSP2.
Compared to the CSP2, the WA6 seemed a bit dry. The CSP2 had the magic.
I have two, too!
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post #39 of 44
1/27/10 at 11:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by upstateguy View Post
This is very off topic, but your post deserves an answer. I got into it with Donald and Mike before and par for the course, most of it was deleted.

I don't bother doing that any more, except to occasionally ask who knows who.

Caveat Emptor.

USG
I'm friends with Mike and Donald. I, too, like the Sonett very much. What does that make of me?
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post #40 of 44
1/28/10 at 12:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
I've stopped talking about Darkvoice, in spite of loving my 337, because the status of that company is unclear to me.
Darkvoice sells strong in China, as they gain a lot of domistic market.
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post #41 of 44
1/28/10 at 1:41am
Sonnett has a glowing reviews and backed by many great reviewers and respectful members in HF. I don't think there is any doubt about its performance by any relationship with Donald.
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post #42 of 44
1/28/10 at 2:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by moonboy403 View Post
I'm friends with Mike and Donald. I, too, like the Sonnett very much. What does that make of me?
Quote:
Originally Posted by tosehee View Post
Sonnett has a glowing reviews and backed by many great reviewers and respectful members in HF. I don't think there is any doubt about its performance by any relationship with Donald.
I thought I'd point out that the spelling of the amp's name is Sonett. Not to be the spelling police, but you know, it'd probably help to spell it correctly for people who might look for this amp via the Head-Fi Search function....
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post #43 of 44
1/28/10 at 12:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Asr View Post
I thought I'd point out that the spelling of the amp's name is Sonett. Not to be the spelling police, but you know, it'd probably help to spell it correctly for people who might look for this amp via the Head-Fi Search function....
You are absolutely right. thanks for the correction~.
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post #44 of 44
1/28/10 at 4:10pm
Well, I can highly recommend the Raptor. You're looking at $1175 new, and you can definitely get one under a grand used. No upgrades needed or found for this great amp.

I had a stock WA6 w/Sophia Princess and really enjoyed it, but I preferred the extra punch and dynamics that the Raptor delivered. Good luck in your search.
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