Woo Audio may ring a very loud bell to anyone who has been in the HiFi industry for quite some time. They’ve created masterpieces like the WA5, the WES (an amazing electrostatic pairing for the SR-009 or the SR-007), and more recently, an aluminum headphone stand that looks quite promising. While not relatively new, there is no denying that this may be one of the most beautiful and finely crafted headphone stands I have ever laid eyes on. With that being said, how does Woo’s offering fair up against the competition?
The Design & Functionality
Setting up the Woo Audio stand is relatively easy and since it’s a very user friendly product, there really isn’t a need to discuss the installation instructions. The design of the Woo Audio headphone is breathtaking. The aluminum is chiseled to perfection, and the sleekness of the stand is absolutely magnificent. Woo Audio’s logo is seen on the bottom foundation of the stand, and looks very modern as well. It’s nice to see that Woo Audio puts both beauty and quality into the same perspective, as they are both equally important in their own ways.
When it comes to functionality, it really doesn’t get any more simple than this. It’s a headphone stand, and what’s the purpose of headphone stands? To provide a hanging station for your cans, and I’m happy to say that Woo Audio has perfected the way their stands implement the feature so smoothly, and you can even adjust the stand vertically anywhere from 11” to 14”. Unlike the single version, this one has a top bracket for two headphones, and there is enough room if you wanted to fit something like a Sennhesier HD800 or a HiFiMan HE-6 on the same setup. They both fit perfectly and look so much sleeker than on a desk.
Vs. Other Stands
Even though I haven’t tried a lot of the other stands available on the audio market (I’m set for a comparative article in the coming months), I think we can take a few things into perspective before considering any final options. If I were to go the DIY route, I’d have to find a CNC machine that would cost a ton of money, or make it by hand, which would still take quite a while to do. I can already see why Woo Audio is selling this at such a fair price. Quality plus budget friendliness equals one happy customer.
Another stand that seems to be quite the rage these days is the Sieveking Sound Omega headphone stand. A beautiful stand that’s made out of a few different types of very unique wood combinations. With that being said however, Woo Audio’s option already beats the Sieveking Sound Omega by default in terms of price and functionality. A $75 double headphone stand versus a $140 single headphone stand. Woo’s already taken a pretty good head start in both those categories, and once I get Sieveking’s offer soon, we’ll have to see how good Woo’s aluminum is to Sieveking’s wood.
Final Thoughts
I honestly don’t think I could be more impressed with Woo Audio’s headphone stand. They offer an outstandingly well built product that combines both great functionality into a user friendly package. And as an added bonus, the price isn’t too shabby at all. I highly recommend you give one of these a go, as Woo Audio definitely makes some of the most attractive products ever, wether it be stands, amps, or DAC’s.
Woo Audio HPS-R & HPS-T @Woo Audio
Edited by Austin Morrow - 12/22/11 at 7:55pm
