I got the 10% percent discount and free shipping November promotion. The Woo Audio WA6-SE needs no introduction, Woo Audio has the products and the path to the summit of head-fi on lock. This amp looks great and it kicks butt, like a Shaolin master from Wudang mountain. I'm throwing my Schiit in the garbage can, just kidding, I'm keeping my Vallhala 2. Too early to critically compare the two amps, the WA6-SE needs more time to bloom. I am very familiar with the sound of the Schiit Valhalla 2 with stock tubes. Straight out of the box and head to head with a well used Valhalla 2, the WA6-SE is a significant step up in overall sound quality. The rectifier in the picture above is not the stock rectifier that came with the amp. The reviews on the stock rectifier the Electron Tube 274B are mostly bad so I got a better rectifier with mostly positive reviews. The Valve Art 274B, it looks almost identical to the stock rectifier. A closer look reveals larger black plates and glass enclosure, the Valve Art 274B has more mass than the stock rectifier. It was a cheaper upgrade for now, I'm going to wait awhile before I roll tubes and upgrade the power cord. I know from experience that "burn-in" time is required with amps. On the Woo Audio web site there's a "Woo Audio Amplifier Comparison Chart" under FAQ. According to team Woo, the WA6-SE is rated four out of five stars in six sound quality categories. The highest score is 30 stars, the WA6-SE is 24.5 stars total. Dynamic response is the WA6-SE's strong point, 4.5 stars out of 5 stars, judged by Woo. Absolutely a step in performance over the Schiit Valhalla 2. The dynamic response of the Valhalla 2 is not even close to the dynamic response of WA6-SE. I still have love for Schiit, I'm going to keep the Valhalla 2. I love the euphonic mid's of the Valhalla 2. The initial sound of the WA6-SE confirms to my ears what other reviews say about the sound characteristics of the WA6-SE, the sound is on the solid state-ish side of tube, the other side being the warmer maple colored side of tube.
http://wooaudio.com/docs/wooaudio_amplifier_comparisons.pdf
Source: Sony Play Station 1, DragonFly by AudioQuest
Headpones: Grado Labs GS1000e, HiFiMan HE 400
Interconnects: AudioQuest Golden Gate
Power Cord: GadKo hospital grade power cord, UL listed 15 amp 14awg wires, (I think listening sessions after midnight sound best)
1/7/2016
Sophia Princess 274B mesh plate rectifier, expanded stereo width, improved instrument separation compared to stock rectifier. I also purchased a pair of Westinghouse fat bottle 6FD7's but I still have them boxed.
http://kenrockwell.com/apple/ipad-2-audio.htm