[LAmitchell]

Okay, it just got here and has been running for about 6 hours now...
 
 
i am getting STATIC/POPPING NOISES on the RIGHT CHANNEL 
even when the song is playing or the volume is turned all the way down,
the static is THERE every few minutes or so....
 
 
 
also, the LEFT CHANNEL seems to be STRONGER than the right channel,
like there's MORE BASS on the left side of my headphones....
i switched around the RCA's in the back of the WA2 (red to white, white to red) to see if maybe it was
coming from my SOURCE (macair, apogee one) and the RIGHT CHANNEL
was still weak.
 
 
i'm not really blown away by the sound.... how long is the break-in period, blossoming period?
 
thanks in advance for your help,
Tom
 
 

 

[kboe]

Have you tried swapping the tubes from left to right?  

 

[Region2]

Quote:

Have you tried swapping the tubes from left to right?  

Does this matter?  I thought Woo Audio amps self adjusted the bias and that matched tubes were recommended.

 

[Henerenry]

It could help him isolate that the tubes may be the issue by swapping them around.
 
Also did you get the normal volume pot? if its not your tubes it could be an imbalance at the volume pot itself.
 
As for not being blown away with the sound, it really depends on what you were expecting, what you are comparing it to and what headphones you are using with them.
 
Try a "unamped" dt880 or hd650 and you will definitely here an improvement.

 

[mikemalter]

Quote:

Okay, it just got here and has been running for about 6 hours now...
 
 
i am getting STATIC/POPPING NOISES on the RIGHT CHANNEL 
even when the song is playing or the volume is turned all the way down,
the static is THERE every few minutes or so....
 
 
 
also, the LEFT CHANNEL seems to be STRONGER than the right channel,
like there's MORE BASS on the left side of my headphones....
i switched around the RCA's in the back of the WA2 (red to white, white to red) to see if maybe it was
coming from my SOURCE (macair, apogee one) and the RIGHT CHANNEL
was still weak.
 
 
i'm not really blown away by the sound.... how long is the break-in period, blossoming period?
 
thanks in advance for your help,
Tom
 
 

 
Send an email to Jack immediately and he'll advise.  When I have tube rolled in the past and put in a bad pair of tubes, I have heard crackling sounds.  But since your amp is new, there are too many variables.  Swapping tubes can help because if the crackling switches to the other ear, it points more to the tubes.  All the more information for Jack.

 

 

[Region2]

Yeah I realized that after I posted.  I think it's because I was thinking of a bad cap since that's what tends to be the problem when I get a static/popping sound.

 

[LAmitchell]

Henenery and Mikemaleter,
 
you guys were right. i traded places with all 3 tubes on the RIGHT side to all 3 tubes on the LEFT side
and now the POPPING/STATIC is in the LEFT ear instead of the right ear.
 
so i'll send jack an email. 
 
thanks for the help
 

 

[avsBuddy]

Keep up posted man. I'll be getting my WA2 next week and post my impressions. Also I don't think you need to swap all pairs of tubes from left to right, I'm sure it will be just one type of tubes that causing your troubles. Hopefully, it's all we be resolved.

 

[akart]

I've been following this thread closely as well, since I am planning to sink cash into a WA2. Please keep us posted. And hopefully its only an issue with a tube or something ...
 
thanks,
AJ

 

[kboe]

It sounds just like an issue with a bad tube on either channel.  

 

[flaming_june]

Sounds more like the op did not spend time warming them up yet.  The problem should go away after 15 minutes after turning them on.  If op has already have them properly warmed up then there is a problem with the tube(s).  You can also clean the connects of the tubes to see if that helps.
 
I suggest the above because that was how my problem was fixed.

 

[LAmitchell]

Avs, Akart:
 
I have been running music through the WA2 for 8 hours at a time
followed by 20 minutes of shutting it off. I have done this since getting it
yesterday afternoon...
 
 
so far, the popping/static sound is WAY LESS SEVERE and coming
LESS FREQUENTLY. i did leave an email for Jack today describing the
situation. i'm sure he'll respond when he checks email monday and i'll
let you know what he says.
 
 
 
this is my FIRST amp. EVER. i was listening (if you can call it that)
to my HD650's plugged into my APOGEE ONE << MACAIR.
 
because it is my first, i guess i'm not "qualified" to really give an
audiophile impression at this point.
 
from an aesthetic view point, i agree with what i've read:
it's gorgeous, it has PRESENCE, the weight is hefty conveying high value,
the build is SOLID and gives off the feeling that it is very well put together,
tubes give off such a nice ambience with lights off.
 
 

 
i know its not a good pic, but it'll have to do for now
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[tdoggystyle]

There is only one headphone amp, the McIntosh C220. Try to return the WA2 and get your money back (good luck) and buy the C220. You will choose listening to the C220 over food or sex. It is heroin for the ears. 

 

[akart]

Thanks LAMitchell
 
I hope the popping sound goes away completely before Monday ...

 

[akart]

Quote:

There is only one headphone amp, the McIntosh C220. Try to return the WA2 and get your money back (good luck) and buy the C220. You will choose listening to the C220 over food or sex. It is heroin for the ears. 

Do you own the WA2? Have you auditioned it? Do you have the same setup as LAmitchell? If not, how can you make such a comment? Please don't make comments that will mislead others.
 
Thanks,
AJ