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Woo Audio WA22 vs Audio GD Phoenix

post #1 of 12
12/27/11 at 7:57am
Thread Starter 

Hi there,

 

 

I'm a long time Head Fi reader and here is my first post.

At first I wish to thanks everyone for all the content they bring, it's an awesome place.

 

I got an HD 800 and I can't decide betwin the two amps :

 

- Woo Audio WA22

- Audio GD Phoenix

 

I know they are not the same, Tube vs SS. But I ask the question anyway.

 

Which one should I buy ?

 

On the speaker side of things, I'm a big fan of Accuphase A class amp and Kef Reference speakers.

 

Thanks for your help.

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post #2 of 12
12/27/11 at 5:48pm

The WA22 with tricked out tubes is going to run you 2x the Phoenix...just an FYI.

 

That said, I've never heard the HD800s sound better fully balanced on a WA22 (with a good balanced source). biggrin.gif

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post #3 of 12
12/28/11 at 11:31pm

Just got a HD800 too and considering a balanced amp as well.  My source/DAC has balanced out.  Looking at the WA22 .  With amp and balance cables for the HD800, it could set me back $2500.  $1000 more then I want to spend.  Not sure if the type of music I listen to would greatly benefit from a upgraded amp.  Mostly Chinese pop, Top 40, some Jazz and classical piano.

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post #4 of 12
12/29/11 at 7:20am
Thread Starter 
So far, I change my mind every five minutes. smily_headphones1.gif

If you guys have other option... (as long as it's balanced).
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post #5 of 12
12/29/11 at 6:46pm

Phoenix you can just turn on.  WA22 you can roll tubes.  Just sayin' wink_face.gif

 

Edit:  Also you need a balanced source for the WA22, or you are wasting a lot of the amp.  Not sure about the Phoenix.


Edited by pyramid6 - 12/29/11 at 6:48pm
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post #6 of 12
12/30/11 at 3:33am

Have you considered the Audio-gd Master-5?

 

Supposed to be better than the Phoenix and still runs cheaper than the W22.

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post #7 of 12
12/30/11 at 8:57am
Thread Starter 

I dunno the Master 5, I gonna have a look at it, thanks.

 

I got a balanced PS Audio DAC.

 

Do you guys know better SS amp than those two audio GD ? (for the HD800 I mean)

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post #8 of 12
12/30/11 at 10:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacedonianHero View Post

The WA22 with tricked out tubes is going to run you 2x the Phoenix...just an FYI.

 

That said, I've never heard the HD800s sound better fully balanced on a WA22 (with a good balanced source). biggrin.gif


Not trying to put any pressure on you but i forgot that Red and Black tube amp that is on back order. The guy that designed it made many DIY headphone amp boards... I forgot what it's called, but the HD800's would also do good with that.

 

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post #9 of 12
12/30/11 at 11:04pm

If you want something to really help both price and sound, have you considered a B-22?  Should be many around who can point you in the right direction and the amp sounds great with almost anything....IMHO

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post #10 of 12
12/31/11 at 12:28am

Below $2000, the balanced beta 22 is a fabulous choice imo. However, if you are keen to tube roll or just like the way tube amps sound in general, I would strongly suggest you consider the Littledot Mk6+. It is a superb amp and in my experience actually better than the wa22 (a stock maxed one btw) when used with Suguang CV-181zs. Even with the Shuguang's and a good pair of driver tubes, the Littledot only runs about 1.3-4k usd after shipping. The Littledot so far has been great with the LCD-2s, 3s, Beyer T1, HD-800 and He-500. The only time it wasn't very good was on the HE-6. In fact, I was rather surprised that it runs grados rather well too.

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post #11 of 12
12/31/11 at 2:46am

I'm inclined to suggest tubes with the HD-800s for sure. That being said, I did use them with a Phoenix for quite a while and enjoyed them.

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post #12 of 12
12/31/11 at 3:30am
Thread Starter 
It's getting hard to decide smily_headphones1.gif

The b 22 will have to be build, do you know who can do that?

I'm not a tube guy, I'm looking at tube because it looks like it works great on HD800. So I'll need a very neutral tube amp.
Something like an Audio Research without the brightness in the highs.
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