The Woo Audio 2
Mar 16, 2014 at 4:18 PM Post #947 of 1,741
Everybody hears different things obviously.  All the tubes are important to the sound signature but personally, as to your "dull and muffled" description, I'd start with changing to the Tung Sol 5998's.  Biggest difference-maker in that regard to my ears.  Much more defined and more pop all the way around.  Much more impact to me vs RCA 6AS7G's thru my T1's.  Good luck.
 
Mar 16, 2014 at 4:41 PM Post #948 of 1,741
  Everybody hears different things obviously.  All the tubes are important to the sound signature but personally, as to your "dull and muffled" description, I'd start with changing to the Tung Sol 5998's.  Biggest difference-maker in that regard to my ears.  Much more defined and more pop all the way around.  Much more impact to me vs RCA 6AS7G's thru my T1's.  Good luck.

Seems nobody saw the other question, regarding the burn in ... everybody jumped on the 5998, 5998, 5998 ...
There aren't any in Europe and I saw some in the US that cost half the amp, with customs and transport and I can't pay a ****load of money just now.
 
That's why I asked about the burn in. I read the thousands of pages of tube rolling, and there isn't one that doesn't mention the Tung Sol 5998.
 
Mar 16, 2014 at 4:55 PM Post #950 of 1,741
  Did anybody even bothered to burn in the stock tubes? Or did you all "threw them in the garbage" as a previous headfier put it?

Burn in is subtle, the difference between stock tubes and 5998s is not. I listened to stock tubes for a month or so with my WA3, I knew better when I got a WA2.
 
If 5998s are too pricey, Tung Sol 7236s are probably the next best option.
 
Mar 16, 2014 at 4:59 PM Post #951 of 1,741
we all saw the burn in question but tube quality is the major thing here. Don't view tube quality as numbers such as 5998s, think quality 6AS7G / 6080 first long before you want to try a 7236 / 5998. Personally my best performer is still a 6AS7G. Numbers don't relate to tube quality. Sort out qulaity basic variants first. Mullard ECC88s and a decent 5U4G / 5R4G will cost minimal amouts and offer loads.
 
Mar 16, 2014 at 6:43 PM Post #952 of 1,741
Personally, I didn't hear much change with burn in--not on the WA2. Unfortunately, you won't have any notion of what this amp can do until you swap out the stock tubes. It's a seriously great amp--not so good with the current line of stock tubes, but glorious and magical with upgraded ones.
 
Mar 16, 2014 at 7:43 PM Post #954 of 1,741
well unfortunately woo audio has monopolized the tung sol 7236, however, its not as good as tung sol 5998 so its better to spend more for 5998. 
 
7236 usually are 120-150 a pair everywhere else and 5998 generally 180-200 a pair or more. 
 
Mar 16, 2014 at 8:38 PM Post #955 of 1,741
  Hi,
I just purchased a WA2 with stock tubes, to replace a Burson HA160. I'm using it with Meridian G08 and Senns HD800. 
It only has 2-3 hours of playing, but, compared to the Burson (which is half the price), it sounds muffled and dull. 
Is that due to change with burnin, or should I already be considering tube rolling?
 
Perhaps I expected too much ...

The WA2 is leagues above the pretty meh HA160. I'd let it burn in first (give it about 100 hours or so). If you're still not happy, these are my "go to" tubes with the WA2:

Tung Sol 5998
Siemens E88CC (but if they're too pricey), the NOS 6922 Sylvanias are a great option at much less $.
 
The rectifier tubes didn't affect the sound that much, I did however quite like the NOS Mullards here.
 
Mar 16, 2014 at 8:50 PM Post #956 of 1,741
 
7236 usually are 120-150 a pair everywhere else and 5998 generally 180-200 a pair or more. 

Geez, glad I bought a life time supply last year. $300 for a 5998 quad and $200 for Tung-Sol 7236 quad.
 
In my personal opinion. GEC 6AS7G > 5998 > Tung-Sol 7236     Bendix 6080s are interesting; but a bit obscure. I'm not sure I'll be buying any more GECs, I have 3 pairs; but the cost has become nuts.
 
I don't care for Sylvania 7236s or RCA 6AS7Gs; but some people like them. The RCAs are cheap.
 
 
I really need to stop my tube buying addiction, after I grab a few more rectifiers.
 
Mar 17, 2014 at 1:41 AM Post #957 of 1,741
  Geez, glad I bought a life time supply last year. $300 for a 5998 quad and $200 for Tung-Sol 7236 quad.
 
In my personal opinion. GEC 6AS7G > 5998 > Tung-Sol 7236     Bendix 6080s are interesting; but a bit obscure. I'm not sure I'll be buying any more GECs, I have 3 pairs; but the cost has become nuts.
 
I don't care for Sylvania 7236s or RCA 6AS7Gs; but some people like them. The RCAs are cheap.
 
 
I really need to stop my tube buying addiction, after I grab a few more rectifiers.

Get the Brimar EZ80 D-Getter Black Plates if you can find them.  You can thank me later...
The Philips Miniwatt Sittard EZ80's are excellent as well but those Brimars are in a class by themselves to my ears.
 
Mar 17, 2014 at 3:15 PM Post #958 of 1,741
Geez, glad I bought a life time supply last year. $300 for a 5998 quad and $200 for Tung-Sol 7236 quad.

In my personal opinion. GEC 6AS7G > 5998 > Tung-Sol 7236     Bendix 6080s are interesting; but a bit obscure. I'm not sure I'll be buying any more GECs, I have 3 pairs; but the cost has become nuts.

I don't care for Sylvania 7236s or RCA 6AS7Gs; but some people like them. The RCAs are cheap.


I really need to stop my tube buying addiction, after I grab a few more rectifiers.


I prefer sylvania 7236 over tung sol 7236, i found tung sol too warmish and almost veiled in a way. To me its gec 6as7g >> 5998 >> gec 6080 >> 7236 >> everything else.

I hate rca 6as7g. Though i hear many comments about how much warmer they are than 5998 and whatnot, but they are just too plain sounding for me, 2d and non resolving.

I miss all my tubes though, i had 4 pairs of gec 6as7g and 7 pairs of 5998 as well as a pair of 421a
 
Mar 17, 2014 at 5:03 PM Post #959 of 1,741
Well, I got a pair of NOS Sylvania 7236 matched for 60$, so that is 1/3 of the price I would have paid for TS 5998. And some Siemens E88CC with gold pins for 120 $. Hope that will do the trick. Are the rectifiers a must or is stock decent?
 
I can get some Ei EZ80 for 35 $ a pair.
 
Mar 17, 2014 at 6:51 PM Post #960 of 1,741
rectifiers are must imo, most stock rectifiers included suck, i can't say which though since it varies depending on woo audio's stock.
 
leave no weak links in your system!
 

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