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Woo Audio WA8 Review - Head-Fi TV
May 2, 2016 at 12:21 AM Post #198 of 903
35fle said:
  I'm waiting on someone to demo the WA8 with the Kse1500
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Unless WA8 has an undocumented line out, the only way to connect to a KSE1500 is via the headphone out to the line in of the KSE amp. While it would technically work, very doubtful anyone would want to do that.
 
May 5, 2016 at 1:50 PM Post #201 of 903
Just received my WA8...talk about a brick, this thing is about the size and actually as heavy, maybe heavier.  DO NOT DROP on anything, it will be destroyed, the WA8 will most likely survive.  Solid is an understatement, it is a work of technology art.  Space grey, a bit deeper, more metallic looking than Apple's space grey...beautiful!  I can't overstate how solid this thing is...The volume knob is smooth...is it metallic or solid plastic, can't tell yet.  The clear glass (thick plastic?) thru which the tubes lie is very sexy.  Turned on and hooked up to my Mac Pro via MC21 using Senn 800s.  Dead cold but warms up quickly.  The SQ is very pleasant however any judgments will take time, certainly very smooth sounding with a great bottom end...the first quality noticed.   SOLID, SOLID is the overwhelming first impression.  
 
May 5, 2016 at 4:42 PM Post #202 of 903
Almost three hours into listening and the battery indicator is showing 2 leds glowing, so about 3.5 - 4 hours hours is about the limit unless several charge/discharge cycles improves this a bit.  The sound has opened up, tube holographic soundstage as expected with a very smooth yet lively presentation.  WA8 is moderately warm, not concerning.  Bottom end is prominent and a pleasant surprise.  A favorite of mine is Jackson Browne's two volume live acoustic set. There are many live audience clapping and vocal sibilant sounds.  The WA8 portrays these sections smooth and natural, not rolled off, just to my liking.  Again with Senn 800S, just what I was expecting and hoping for.   The listening session includes the built in DAC, very impressive.  If you are using Senn 800/800S this maybe the amp for you.  Plenty of power at 300 Ohms (3.5 on the volume dial is a very comfortable level with great detail).  I have sold my LCD2/3, X, just too heavy with limited soundstage...over rated and undependable.  Many new owners who have laid out big bucks tend to report glowing reviews, maybe an unconscious way to justify/rationalize,  however with the limited listening session so far this amp/DAC warrants all the pre-release hoopla, albeit at a price.  As a means of comparison I do not lack for  great equipment to compare including WA22, WA6SE, DAC2 HGC, Grace 902, etc. Now onto the Hifiman 400S,  a favorite "budget" phone and somewhat soft presentation compared to the Senns. Oh yes, the WA8 is dead silent, most likely due to lacking rectifiers and good design choices...this will be a welcome outcome for tube amp lovers.
 
May 5, 2016 at 6:48 PM Post #203 of 903
amham said:
  Almost three hours into listening and the battery indicator is showing 2 leds glowing, so about 3.5 - 4 hours hours is about the limit unless several charge/discharge cycles improves this a bit.  The sound has opened up, tube holographic soundstage as expected with a very smooth yet lively presentation.  WA8 is moderately warm, not concerning.  Bottom end is prominent and a pleasant surprise.  A favorite of mine is Jackson Browne's two volume live acoustic set. There are many live audience clapping and vocal sibilant sounds.  The WA8 portrays these sections smooth and natural, not rolled off, just to my liking.  Again with Senn 800S, just what I was expecting and hoping for.   The listening session includes the built in DAC, very impressive.  If you are using Senn 800/800S this maybe the amp for you.  Plenty of power at 300 Ohms (3.5 on the volume dial is a very comfortable level with great detail).  I have sold my LCD2/3, X, just too heavy with limited soundstage...over rated and undependable.  Many new owners who have laid out big bucks tend to report glowing reviews, maybe an unconscious way to justify/rationalize,  however with the limited listening session so far this amp/DAC warrants all the pre-release hoopla, albeit at a price.  As a means of comparison I do not lack for  great equipment to compare including WA22, WA6SE, DAC2 HGC, Grace 902, etc. Now onto the Hifiman 400S,  a favorite "budget" phone and somewhat soft presentation compared to the Senns. Oh yes, the WA8 is dead silent, most likely due to lacking rectifiers and good design choices...this will be a welcome outcome for tube amp lovers.
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Congratulations!!! We would love to see a pic or two of your WA8 + HD800s system. 
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WA8 Eclipse is the smallest amplifier we've ever built and a lot of tech goes inside of it. We hand build every product we sell in our own facility in NY. Thanks for everyone's patience with their order. We're getting them out as quickly as possible. 
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May 5, 2016 at 7:56 PM Post #204 of 903
amham said:
Almost three hours into listening and the battery indicator is showing 2 leds glowing, so about 3.5 - 4 hours hours is about the limit unless several charge/discharge cycles improves this a bit.  The sound has opened up, tube holographic soundstage as expected with a very smooth yet lively presentation.  WA8 is moderately warm, not concerning.  Bottom end is prominent and a pleasant surprise.  A favorite of mine is Jackson Browne's two volume live acoustic set. There are many live audience clapping and vocal sibilant sounds.  The WA8 portrays these sections smooth and natural, not rolled off, just to my liking.  Again with Senn 800S, just what I was expecting and hoping for.   The listening session includes the built in DAC, very impressive.  If you are using Senn 800/800S this maybe the amp for you.  Plenty of power at 300 Ohms (3.5 on the volume dial is a very comfortable level with great detail).  I have sold my LCD2/3, X, just too heavy with limited soundstage...over rated and undependable.  Many new owners who have laid out big bucks tend to report glowing reviews, maybe an unconscious way to justify/rationalize,  however with the limited listening session so far this amp/DAC warrants all the pre-release hoopla, albeit at a price.  As a means of comparison I do not lack for  great equipment to compare including WA22, WA6SE, DAC2 HGC, Grace 902, etc. Now onto the Hifiman 400S,  a favorite "budget" phone and somewhat soft presentation compared to the Senns. Oh yes, the WA8 is dead silent, most likely due to lacking rectifiers and good design choices...this will be a welcome outcome for tube amp lovers.
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Your impressions match mine exactly. I also echo your sentiments with respect to the build quality and solid feeling. The weight is really surprising and makes it clear this is a high quality, transportable unit. The feeling if luxury is definitely commensurate with the price.

Interested in hearing your comparisons to the other amps.

Mine is still breaking in since it's just about a week old but on a very quick comparison to my liquid carbon using a Questyle QP1R on the line-in for both units the Wa8 is slightly warmer, has deeper, punchier bass, is a bit more nuanced in the midrange and has what appears to be more detail on top. Take this comparison with a grain of salt since level matching was done by ear and the LC is optimized for fully balanced performance, but the impression was the same with both my k10ua and Lawton modded th900. The LC sounded more neutral and the Wa8 more fun.

I love the LC so the fact that Wa8 compares favorably at this early stage of break-in is amazing to me. Can't wait to try the digital input since the dac is supposed to be quite good.
 
May 5, 2016 at 10:18 PM Post #205 of 903
Thanks all for the impressions. Please let us know if you are using 2 or 3 tubes and what the differences in sound are.
 
I think the days are numbered for my WA7 LOL
 
May 6, 2016 at 2:15 AM Post #207 of 903
uelover said:
Why is that so?
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My first choice would have been WA8 but it was still in prototype. I am going to listen to the production model at the next meet and decide there. Don't need both.
 
May 6, 2016 at 2:32 AM Post #208 of 903
bflat said:
My first choice would have been WA8 but it was still in prototype. I am going to listen to the production model at the next meet and decide there. Don't need both.
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I see. not sure if the wa8 beats the wa7.

Anyone knows if the wa8 would do he1000 justice? Or would lcd X be a better choice?
 
May 6, 2016 at 11:22 AM Post #209 of 903
amham said:
  Just received my WA8...talk about a brick, this thing is about the size and actually as heavy, maybe heavier.  DO NOT DROP on anything, it will be destroyed, the WA8 will most likely survive.  
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LOL. I love this description. So great.
 
amham said:
  ...The volume knob is smooth...is it metallic or solid plastic, can't tell yet.  
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Metal or plastic knob, can anyone confirm?
 
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