Modify your Woo 6. . Sophia and EML 274B . Images pages 32, 33, 34 of int. and ext. and discussion of the SE . . .

[jamato8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cAsE sEnSiTiVe /img/forum/go_quote.gif Probably because Woo has to design to a pre-determined price point. If you want their all out assault, see the WA5. Jam has no such restrictions, such as worrying about who would buy such a boutique amp, he simply goes with whatever sounds best to his ears, damn the practicality. He's willing to make the effort to get small gains in the amps ability to reproduce music, and fortunately has the talent to do so. Owning a "stock", maxxed WA6, I can tell you it is no slouch as-is.

That is very true. It can really run the price up and then who are you competing with but more expensive amps and you are also out of range of what another group might buy. They do offer the upgrades as noted on their web site, though not exactly the ones I am doing. The pseudo dual power supply for the Woo 6 though is not expensive and provides a big jump in sound, in my opinion. You don't really have to use boutique parts to get great sound. Well implemented standard parts can get you a great bang for the buck. It is all about implementation and I think Woo Audio does a very good job of this.

 

[mmwwhats]

Anyone know if Woo will perform the mods on this thread and if so how much they charge?

 

[jamato8]

So far it doesn't appear so but it is their amp and their design so for them I would imagine that they know what they want to do and when.

 

[jamato8]

Well I changed the power supply around a little. I have the Black Gate nonpolar 150uf caps supplying the power section after a cap>inductor>resistor was changed out for each side. So right off the tap from the rectifier the supply now divides. The very, very slight hum what was audible on sensitive headphones is gone. The Black nonpolar are expensive in this size but very good. I also used Mills 12 watt and Kiwame 5 watt resistors, which are both noninductive and increased the gauge of the wire in the power supply.

Now it all needs to settle but the sound is good right from the start.

I notice I hear more detail and the high frequencies are more extended.

 

[cyd2025]

nice to see you modifying your unit still... looking forward to more
impressions and pics if you can...

i'm so satisfied with what i have now i'm not inclined to change
anything...for now.

it's the best $50+ upgrade/mod i've ever done...

 

[jamato8]

AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh, one of my metal base GZ34's is dying. I have never had one die but it has 1000's of hours of use.

Anyway, the new mod, well it is extremely transparent and highly detailed. More time is needed. I haven't even finished using all my Black Gates for the power supply.

 

[Huck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamato8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh, one of my metal base GZ34's is dying. I have never had one die but it has 1000's of hours of use. Anyway, the new mod, well it is extremely transparent and highly detailed. More time is needed. I haven't even finished using all my Black Gates for the power supply.

Hi: Just curious as i am using a metal base 5AR4 also in my woo 6. How can you tell that the tube is on it's way out....does it make noise,hum or cuts in and out?. I wanna know what to look (listen) for when it's time is up! Thanks, Huck

 

[jamato8]

Well you can start getting hum, makes noise as in tube rush, crackling sound or just dies. I am using it right now and it is ok but since all my tube testers are in storage, I miss them as much as I would miss a good amp, I can't test it. It was crackling (both channels). Anyway, metal base GZ34's last for years. This one was used when I got it, had 1000's of hours on it and I have used it for 1000's more. It still sounds better than any of my other 34's except for my NOS GZ34 metal base.

 

[Huck]

Thanks! Huck

 

[jamato8]

Well after a number of hours the new modification to the power supply is starting to open up after shutting down for a while and leaving me to wonder if I had gone the wrong way. Anyway it is really sounding, Great. A lot of energy and control with a more expansive soundfield than before. More time needed but with the Edition 9's it is some high quality musical listening.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamato8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well after a number of hours the new modification to the power supply is starting to open up after shutting down for a while and leaving me to wonder if I had gone the wrong way. Anyway it is really sounding, Great. A lot of energy and control with a more expansive soundfield than before. More time needed but with the Edition 9's it is some high quality musical listening.

Be sure to listen with a variety of headphones - it's easy to tune something for the Edition 9 and then it sounds wrong with other headphones. I'm sure you know this already.

 

[jamato8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif Be sure to listen with a variety of headphones - it's easy to tune something for the Edition 9 and then it sounds wrong with other headphones. I'm sure you know this already.

No, I had been just using the 9's so I will have to use the 650's etc. Thanks for reminding me.

 

[jamato8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif Be sure to listen with a variety of headphones - it's easy to tune something for the Edition 9 and then it sounds wrong with other headphones. I'm sure you know this already.

Thanks, I just tried my HD650's. They sound totally different. They are more open, clean sounding and engaging. Less laid back but still throwing a nice sound stage. Interesting. They sound faster with the modification of the amp.

 

[cyd2025]

hey john, when you have the time can you please write down the scheme
of caps and resistors that would accomodate the use of the 274B
type tubes?

i've been thinking of using a blackgate 3.3uF/250v as the first cap
followed by a 100ohm resistor upstream from the powersupply
and a 500 ohm resistor to each side of the input path... please
clarify what you would do... (no inductors in the circuit)

btw, the senn650 does sound very different for me too... the bass is
tighter and faster... the mids are luminous and the highs are
clearer and more alive than what i use to hear... and separation of
notes is impressive...these cans scale very well...

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamato8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks, I just tried my HD650's. They sound totally different. They are more open, clean sounding and engaging. Less laid back but still throwing a nice sound stage. Interesting. They sound faster with the modification of the amp.

So, it sounds like the amp's mods don't make one headphone sound better but another sound worse (vs before the mods), which is good news indeed.

Yours must be close to running balanced now? When I run my HD600 balanced they get a lot faster, like Grados but with a bigger soundstage