best tube amp under $1000 not needing all upgrades

Jan 27, 2010 at 2:33 PM Post #32 of 44
I've stopped talking about Darkvoice, in spite of loving my 337, because the status of that company is unclear to me.
 
Jan 27, 2010 at 3:04 PM Post #33 of 44
Sorry, but I dont see how a manufacturer's offering different options (6, 6 PDPS, 6 SE) and component upgrades to the customer is a form of dishonesty or creating illusions. In fact, I see it as a plus and a value-added service.
Each has been reviewed and compared at meets, and there are notable differences between them if you read the listening impressions. Check ichinichi's and takezo's comments upon doing the cap upgrades on their WA6 and Orcin's review on the stock WA6 versus WA6 SE.
It may be subtle, but then most difference in component changes are, unless you were using really poor components to begin with, which Woo does not seem to be doing.
If you want a great stock amp at the 1000 USD mark from Woo, then you have two options in the WA6SE (TC) and WA2 (OTL), plain and simple I think. As to whether the upgraded components make a worthwhile difference to you cost-wise, only you can decide of course. But the effects of the upgraded parts do seem to be audible to the discerning listener.

Good luck with your choice, I'm sure all the amps recommended here will be quite excellent sounding.
smily_headphones1.gif



Quote:

Originally Posted by keithhr1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I greatly appreciate all the feedback from my query, a lot of interesting amps have been mentioned, Sonett, Decware csp-2 among others, but once again, the woo special version of the WA6SE is $1050 a modest $400 over the WA6, but they also offer another $900 of upgrades that is already supposed to be a special edition of an already good amp, the WA6, soooooooo they have a WA6 ($620) or (950) the WA6SE (1050) or ($1975), so they have a WA6 for less than $700, but if you want what they consider the best version of the same amp starting with WA6, it's almost $1300 more. I just don't see it, don't get it, find it somewhat dishonest, or at least misleading, and I find it somewhat irritating. I would much prefer to buy from someone else who makes no illusions as to what they are selling, Woo just seems way to complicated a choice for me, because I would just have to have the best version. Than again the WA5 LE is only $500 more than the jazzed up WA6 SE with all the upgrades


 
Jan 27, 2010 at 3:11 PM Post #34 of 44
Quote:

Originally Posted by musicmind /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Sorry, but I dont see how a manufacturer's offering different options (6, 6 PDPS, 6 SE) and component upgrades to the customer is a form of dishonesty or creating illusions. In fact, I see it as a plus and a value-added service.
Each has been reviewed and compared at meets, and there are notable differences between them if you read the listening impressions. Check ichinichi's and takezo's comments upon doing the cap upgrades on their WA6 and Orcin's review on the stock WA6 versus WA6 SE.
It may be subtle, but then most difference in component changes are, unless you were using really poor components to begin with, which Woo does not seem to be doing.
If you want a great stock amp at the 1000 USD mark from Woo, then you have two options in the WA6SE (TC) and WA2 (OTL), plain and simple I think. As to whether the upgraded components make a worthwhile difference to you cost-wise, only you can decide of course. But the effects of the upgraded parts do seem to be audible to the discerning listener.

Good luck with your choice, I'm sure all the amps recommended here will be quite excellent sounding.
smily_headphones1.gif



I agree with this.

The upgrades are there for those who wants to improve further upon the base model. It's a value added service, not trying to rip someone off.

I actually wish there is such upgrade options for WA22 as well. If it did, I probably went ahead and got that instead.
 
Jan 27, 2010 at 7:46 PM Post #35 of 44
Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Upstateguy, are you suggesting that Donald has shills? I don't know of any. Other than being on good personal terms, I have no interest. For the record, I like Craig Uthus and Ray Samuels, too.

Do you have a specific criticism of his amp or business practices? I'd like to know.



This is very off topic, but your post deserves an answer. I got into it with Donald and Mike before and par for the course, most of it was deleted.

I don't bother doing that any more, except to occasionally ask who knows who.

Caveat Emptor.

USG
 
Jan 27, 2010 at 7:50 PM Post #36 of 44
I have both the WA6 and the Decware CSP2, which have been offered for consideration in this thread.
Both are very clean and clear sounding amps under $1k.
I recently moved the WA6 from Sacramento to San Diego and needed to get a replacement for the Sacramento location.
Where did I put my money?
I bought another Decware CSP2.
Compared to the CSP2, the WA6 seemed a bit dry. The CSP2 had the magic.
 
Jan 27, 2010 at 8:13 PM Post #37 of 44
Quote:

Originally Posted by St3ve /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Have you taken the plunge for one yet KunalRaiker? I did the other day (with Sophia rectifier) and cannot wait.


I'am still waiting to find one
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, don't want to get anew one right now.
 
Jan 28, 2010 at 1:09 AM Post #38 of 44
Quote:

Originally Posted by jdmoorman /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I have both the WA6 and the Decware CSP2, which have been offered for consideration in this thread.
Both are very clean and clear sounding amps under $1k.
I recently moved the WA6 from Sacramento to San Diego and needed to get a replacement for the Sacramento location.
Where did I put my money?
I bought another Decware CSP2.
Compared to the CSP2, the WA6 seemed a bit dry. The CSP2 had the magic.



I have two, too!
 
Jan 28, 2010 at 2:22 AM Post #39 of 44
Quote:

Originally Posted by upstateguy /img/forum/go_quote.gif
This is very off topic, but your post deserves an answer. I got into it with Donald and Mike before and par for the course, most of it was deleted.

I don't bother doing that any more, except to occasionally ask who knows who.

Caveat Emptor.

USG



I'm friends with Mike and Donald. I, too, like the Sonett very much. What does that make of me?
wink.gif
 
Jan 28, 2010 at 3:14 AM Post #40 of 44
Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylab /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I've stopped talking about Darkvoice, in spite of loving my 337, because the status of that company is unclear to me.


Darkvoice sells strong in China, as they gain a lot of domistic market.
 
Jan 28, 2010 at 4:41 AM Post #41 of 44
Sonnett has a glowing reviews and backed by many great reviewers and respectful members in HF. I don't think there is any doubt about its performance by any relationship with Donald.
 
Jan 28, 2010 at 5:37 AM Post #42 of 44
Quote:

Originally Posted by moonboy403 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I'm friends with Mike and Donald. I, too, like the Sonnett very much. What does that make of me?
wink.gif



Quote:

Originally Posted by tosehee /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Sonnett has a glowing reviews and backed by many great reviewers and respectful members in HF. I don't think there is any doubt about its performance by any relationship with Donald.


I thought I'd point out that the spelling of the amp's name is Sonett. Not to be the spelling police, but you know, it'd probably help to spell it correctly for people who might look for this amp via the Head-Fi Search function....
 
Jan 28, 2010 at 3:16 PM Post #43 of 44
Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I thought I'd point out that the spelling of the amp's name is Sonett. Not to be the spelling police, but you know, it'd probably help to spell it correctly for people who might look for this amp via the Head-Fi Search function....


You are absolutely right. thanks for the correction~.
 
Jan 28, 2010 at 7:10 PM Post #44 of 44
Well, I can highly recommend the Raptor. You're looking at $1175 new, and you can definitely get one under a grand used. No upgrades needed or found for this great amp.

I had a stock WA6 w/Sophia Princess and really enjoyed it, but I preferred the extra punch and dynamics that the Raptor delivered. Good luck in your search.
 

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