[bpiotrow13]

Although the changes that caps bring will be much smaller than tubes, caps do have their own sound characteristics. I don't know the brand behind Woo's Black Gate caps, Mundorf/Audio Note/Jensen/etc are normally considered "premium" caps, and are outrageously expensive - very low performance/price ratios.

For more sound characteristics of caps, I recommend you read the following thread, and see if you can find some caps that suit your need.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/orgy-of-capacitors-the-cap-thread.284863/

Thanks, will go through. May well be not worth the price as i understand.

 

[MisterMoJo]

Is it necessary to have the tubes you buy "balanced" as well as matched for Power tubes on the WA2? I am thinking about picking some up and the options are: "matched" and also "balanced" Do I need to do both? I guess I don't know what "balanced" means.

 

[bpiotrow13]

Is it necessary to have the tubes you buy "balanced" as well as matched for Power tubes on the WA2? I am thinking about picking some up and the options are: "matched" and also "balanced" Do I need to do both? I guess I don't know what "balanced" means.

Me neither i guess balanced means they have close emission levels. I know many people ignoring matching and living perfectly happy with that.

 

[exchez]

Is it necessary to have the tubes you buy "balanced" as well as matched for Power tubes on the WA2? I am thinking about picking some up and the options are: "matched" and also "balanced" Do I need to do both? I guess I don't know what "balanced" means.

Each tube has two triode sections. When they're balanced each section will produce about the same amount of gain. Some amps use only one tube to amplify the right and left channels thru each triode section. In that case, it's important to have them balanced. The WA2 uses separate tubes for the right and left channels so the tubes only need to be matched against each other, but don't need to be internally balanced.

 

[MisterMoJo]

Each tube has two triode sections. When they're balanced each section will produce about the same amount of gain. Some amps use only one tube to amplify the right and left channels thru each triode section. In that case, it's important to have them balanced. The WA2 uses separate tubes for the right and left channels so the tubes only need to be matched against each other, but don't need to be internally balanced.

awesome! thank you!

 

[Onik]

I'm almost done with my upgrade, I'm really new to tube circuit design, so I have a question whats the reason for that 100uf Cap to Ground?

This is how my upgrade looks so far, I had issues with ground loop/hum for that 100uf cap but after soldering to its original ground the hum is gone.

 

[bpiotrow13]

I'm almost done with my upgrade, I'm really new to tube circuit design, so I have a question whats the reason for that 100uf Cap to Ground?

This is how my upgrade looks so far, I had issues with ground loop/hum for that 100uf cap but after soldering to its original ground the hum is gone.

Impressive! Let us know how the sound changed

 

[hodgjy]

I'm almost done with my upgrade, I'm really new to tube circuit design, so I have a question whats the reason for that 100uf Cap to Ground?

This is how my upgrade looks so far, I had issues with ground loop/hum for that 100uf cap but after soldering to its original ground the hum is gone.

It looks like you answered your own question!

The cap here helps filter out noise, usually high frequency, but it looks like in this design it also helps with mains hum.

 

[billyleungkt]

Hello WA2 guys. I just place my order on wa2. I have read TS5998 is the best currently available. But i also see some variations. 1. Top getter 2. Bottom getter. which is the better one as 2. Is more exp.

For driver tubes, do you suggest these 2 to get different sound signature? What else i can look for?
1. Amperex 6dj8 bugle boy
2. JAN-Sylvania 7308

Cheers

 

[Onik]

complete mod coming soon...

 

[jclyle]

I have a Valhalla 2 along with 12Axx to 6922 adapters, and a stash of 12Axx tubes.
Does the WA2 behave when using these adapters with 12AT7 or 12AU7 tubes? I don't see them listed in the compatibility chart on wooaudio.com

 

[billerb1]

I have a Valhalla 2 along with 12Axx to 6922 adapters, and a stash of 12Axx tubes.
Does the WA2 behave when using these adapters with 12AT7 or 12AU7 tubes? I don't see them listed in the compatibility chart on wooaudio.com

They are all that I use...after going thru so many 6922 types. My favorites:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274128808004
https://www.langrex.co.uk/products/...mium-rft-german-gold-pin-nos-valve-tube-lc39/
https://www.ebay.com/itm/325012251227?hash=item4bac3d625b:g:l5AAAOSw-Opg6ygQ

Bigger, more open sound. More nuance, much more natural timbre. More like being in the studio. Good luck.

 

[jclyle]

Its been about 7 years since I've had a WA2, now I'm debating picking another one up. All I recall from the older one I had was that it was slow, and verrrry tubey sounding. I probably wasn't using the best cans with it at the time, and had a basic DAC...

Now I've got a much better source, and 300ohm cans that would work well with it. There haven't been many recent reviews for WA2, so I'm curious how the new models perform with rock & roll. I prefer a fast and detailed sound, and have no problems swapping tubes, its part of the fun to me

I have 12Axx to 6922 adapters along with Brmiar Footscray's, RFT foil 12AT7s, and other 6922 upgrades ready to pop in if I end up ordering a WA2!

 

[jonathan c]

• The older WA2 had preamp out capability, the newer WA2 do not: concentration on h/p/a circuitry, I assume.
• I do get fast and detailed sound and immense soundstage. My current () tube lineup in the WA2 is: RFT EZ81 foil getter (rectifier); GEC CV5008 (power); RFT ECC81 foil getter (driver). No molasses or treacle sound here! No solid-state sound here either! This lineup has been in place for eight+ months. I have rolled other 6080s and 12AT7s but the RFT EZ81s stay.

 

[billerb1]

• The older WA2 had preamp out capability, the newer WA2 do not: concentration on h/p/a circuitry, I assume.
• I do get fast and detailed sound and immense soundstage. My current () tube lineup in the WA2 is: RFT EZ81 foil getter (rectifier); GEC CV5008 (power); RFT ECC81 foil getter (driver). No molasses or treacle sound here! No solid-state sound here either! This lineup has been in place for eight+ months. I have rolled other 6080s and 12AT7s but the RFT EZ81s stay.

Jonathan, I think it's time to step up to the GEC 6AS7G's. It is. Me, I'm going to check into those foil getter RFT EZ81's of yours !