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Help with tube rolling on woo audio WA22

post #1 of 20
8/27/11 at 7:42am
Thread Starter 

I just received my new wa22 about a week ago to go with my LCD2's. I purchased the updated tube set from woo audio http://www.wooaudio.com/products/wa22.html

 

The overall sound is still a little soft for me. I want a more neutral sound. I don't know anything about tubes and was wondering if anyone could help me with some good suggestions on tube upgrades? What all the numbers mean? Good places to purchase tubes if you have suggestions on new ones.

 

Thanks

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post #2 of 20
8/30/11 at 4:45pm

Are you feeding it a balanced source?

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post #3 of 20
8/30/11 at 5:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Golfnutz View Post

Are you feeding it a balanced source?



^^^ This makes a HUGE difference.

 

Secondly, look at your tubes. I'd strongly recommend the Sylvania or Tung-Sol 7236 power tubes. I recently added the Shuguang Treasure CV181-Z driver tubes and wow...great synergy with the WA22 (and my LCD-2s).

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post #4 of 20
8/30/11 at 8:27pm
Thread Starter 

Yes I am feeding it a balanced source.

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post #5 of 20
8/31/11 at 12:03pm

Seems like you have everything required to get pretty good volume out of the WA22. The upgrade tubes you have are 7236, CV181-Z, 274B, with a balanced source.  Does your source also have a volume control, possibly not turned up high enough. What about your cables, are they decent? The only suggestion I have beyond checking those items is the TS5998, it's got the most gain out of all the power tubes. You should also have a back up pair of tubes in case something happens. This will also allow you to compare them to each other in case there's actually something wrong with the tubes themselves. I'll be getting a pair of LCD-2's (rev2) in a couple of weeks, so I don't really have anything to compare to myself (other then the HD800 which sound pretty good).

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post #6 of 20
8/31/11 at 12:27pm


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by MacedonianHero View Post





^^^ This makes a HUGE difference.

 

Secondly, look at your tubes. I'd strongly recommend the Sylvania or Tung-Sol 7236 power tubes. I recently added the Shuguang Treasure CV181-Z driver tubes and wow...great synergy with the WA22 (and my LCD-2s).



What rectifier you are using?  We are the minority that love the Treasures.  I love them with either metal based GZ34 or EML 5U4G.

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post #7 of 20
8/31/11 at 12:29pm

OP, you should check out this thread http://www.head-fi.org/t/428570/woo-audio-amp-owner-unite instead opening new threads.  It has most if not all your questions there.

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post #8 of 20
8/31/11 at 5:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jc9394 View Post


 



What rectifier you are using?  We are the minority that love the Treasures.  I love them with either metal based GZ34 or EML 5U4G.

 

I've tried them with my Sylvania and Raytheon 5U4G. Fantastic bass impact and definition, liquid mids and extended/balanced treble (without being bright in anyway). Are they expensive? Yessir...likely why they get some bad press, but make no mistake about it, these are fantastic sounding tubes! I've got a 274B Sophia Princess Mesh tube coming later this week and I'm currently chasing down a Mullard 5AR4.
 

 

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post #9 of 20
8/31/11 at 6:51pm

Mullard 5AR4 is a great tube, just becareful not to run the WA22 for a long time, your amp will run much warmer than 5U4G or 274B.

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post #10 of 20
8/31/11 at 6:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jc9394 View Post

Mullard 5AR4 is a great tube, just becareful not to run the WA22 for a long time, your amp will run much warmer than 5U4G or 274B.



Will do...I usually only have a few hours per session anyway. Thanks.

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post #11 of 20
8/31/11 at 7:02pm

try to find a metal based or fat based one, they are the better version

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post #12 of 20
8/31/11 at 7:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jc9394 View Post

try to find a metal based or fat based one, they are the better version



Found a standard one for $60 locally....hard to pass up.

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post #13 of 20
8/31/11 at 7:07pm

It is a great price, you will be surprise how good it is.  i prefer it over the princess

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post #14 of 20
9/1/11 at 6:26am

At $60, probably one of the best purchases you'll make for the WA22. I have a GZ37, which comes a very close second to the EML 5U4G.

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post #15 of 20
9/1/11 at 2:42pm
Thread Starter 

I have the Sophia Princess Mesh Plate 274B rectifier and I just ordered ty EML 5U4G. Let's see how it sounds. I also have the Shuguang Treasure CV181-Z in already for the driver tubes. I have the upgraded Sylvania 7236 NOS upgraded power tubes but I've read some comments saying they just make the WA22 louder and not better so I haven't put them in yet.

 

It seems plenty loud to me already.

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