WA6 Tube Rolling

[cyd2025]

the aura-teflon is, as the name suggests, a teflon film capacitor
made by the same people that developed the auricap film caps...

the uk audio note is tempting but at those prices...yikes...

 

[jamato8]

I just read a blind comparison that gave the Audio Note UK copper and oil a higher rating but that was one person.

 

[Gradofan2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by takezo /img/forum/go_quote.gif i was planning on selling the maxed wa-6 if the mpx3 slam se was substantially better, but gotta say, the difference is minimal...at best. i'm very surprised to say the least...i've been using a 5r4gy with fat bottle 6ew7 for the wa-6 and a 396a with 6bx7gta on the mpx3 slam se. i'm gonna keep the wa-6 maxed in order to roll the decoupling caps, which is really easy to do in this amp...really want to try the new aura-teflon caps that came out late last year...

As I was saying... for most of us, there just isn't that much difference in the sound between more "value priced" amps, and the "high-priced" spread (of similar design) - except for "them there audiophiles with OCD" out there. So... unless "you are one," there's really no justification in spending your "hard-earned" cash for the "high-end" stuff.

 

[Kahuna]

I own a "maxed out" WA6 and will admit to being stricken with the symptoms of up-grade fever, but I have to agree with Gradofan2 regarding the (price) point of diminishing returns... At this point in time I'm perfectly happy with some rectifier tube rolling and experiencing how they sound with my HD650's...

 

[jamato8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kahuna /img/forum/go_quote.gif I own a "maxed out" WA6 and will admit to being stricken with the symptoms of up-grade fever, but I have to agree with Gradofan2 regarding the (price) point of diminishing returns... At this point in time I'm perfectly happy with some rectifier tube rolling and experiencing how they sound with my HD650's...

Upgrade fever

So what would you like to have an improvement on or do you just want to see what else is "out there"?

I know I always like to know, is there something that will bring me closer to the nirvana of a listening experience and put me "there". At times though I wonder, at what cost and how much value do I place in my own enjoyment and that which I can impart to others.

 

[Kahuna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamato8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif what else is "out there"?

It would certainly be fun to set-up some A/B tests with my WA6 and compare it to various other mid and high-end amps...

I would also like to spend some extended listening time with a Maxed WA4 (headphone only version) amp as I am VERY pleased with my current Woo6...

 

[No Deal]

As my Maxed WA6 comes into its own I have begun to wonder how much better the WA4 can be. I had planned to try the WA4 after tax time but now I am thinking that I will have to wait until I hear from someone who has validated the wisdom of the upgrade. What does the added cost buy me?

My amp sounds better with every takezo recommended rectifier tube roll.

 

[jantze]

Just bought 2 Mullard GZ34 fat black base (F31 B9D & F31 B9E) tubes and I'm now considering to buy some power tubes.

Are RCA 6DE7's still recommended? Any other power tubes I should consider?

WA6 & Mullard GZ32 + D2000 sounds quite good. Looking forward to listen this amp with new power tubes & HD650.

edit:
btw, MaMMa, I got your WA6

 

[No Deal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jantze /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just bought 2 Mullard GZ34 fat black base (F31 B9D & F31 B9E) tubes and I'm now considering to buy some power tubes. Are RCA 6DE7's still recommended? Any other power tubes I should consider? WA6 & Mullard GZ32 + D2000 sounds quite good. Looking forward to listen this amp with new power tubes & HD650.

I think that the next step requires that you purchase adapters from Jack and buy a couple of 6EW7 tubes. The more experienced guys will chime in if I am wrong.

 

[jamato8]

I find the 6EW7's a little soft for my taste but it may be totally different in a maxed out 6. I am using a 5AUGB RCA 1960 right now and some Canada Westinghouse circa 1960 and the bass is well controlled with a nice since of depth and space. Will do a comparo again with the 5AUGB and one of my metal base GZ34's.

I have heard tighter bass so this may be an area I need to work on. My Marconi, which I am not using right now, 6DE7's and the metal base have the best presentation of all my tubes for the 6.

Edit: ok the bass is better now, with a change of tubes and it really is pretty tight and natural.

 

[jamato8]

I just popped in the GZ34 Philips Miniwatt metal base nos. Oh there is a difference from the 5AUG and more than I thought. It is hard to beat the metal base, well in my opinion so far you can't but sadly they are at such a price now that it takes some of the fun out of the playing. I mean, who wants to pay almost as much for the rectifier as the amp itself? I remember just a couple of years ago when 110 dollars was a lot for them and once I bought one with a broken guide pin but new for 20 dollars on ebay. At that price even when I bought it 6 years ago I was very happy and amazed that no one bid it higher but what I am getting at is the price now. Well that is the way it goes. There are other tubes that will get you close and 20 dollars or less but they won't get you a metal base GZ34.

 

[jantze]

Any idea where I can buy RCA 6DE7's?

 

[jantze]

jamato8, after looking at your woo_6 > 6ew7_vs_6de7 pics I'd like to know a bit more about those 6EW7 tubes for WA6. How did they sound compared to RCA 6DE7's? And any idea where I can buy those adapters or should I email Jack?

I only have two Mullard GZ34 fat metal bases (1959), one Mullard GZ32 (yellow print) and two pairs of RCA 6DE7's + the stock tubes. Any other drive/power tubes you could recommend?

It seems that takezo and jamato8 are my new WA6/tube gods

My WA6 set:
PC: Auzen X-FI Prelude (OPA627's) > WA6 maxxed > HD 650 + APureSound V3

Btw, great pics jamato8 !

 

[cyd2025]

hey jantze,

how's the burn-in going? hope you're enjoying the sound the amp is giving you.

the fat 6ew7 is very slightly less dynamic than the 6de7, but has a larger
soundstage and more midrange detail retrieval...the 6ew7 is similar to the
5r4gy rectifier in sonice characteristics and the 6de7 is similar to a gz34...
you can get the adapters from jack at a modest cost...ebay is probably the
best place to get the 6ew7 fat bottles at the best price but i believe jack has
those too and he's reliable, which is a plus...

i like to use a gz30 rectifier with a fat bottle 6ew7 for the best transparency,
detail and soundstage combo that i've found so far with the maxed wa6...
it's perfect, imo, for small ensemble jazz, classical and vocal music...for rock
and harder driven music the gz33 or gz34 with the 6de7 is hard to beat...
fast, dynamic and punchy...

 

[jamato8]

I would think the metal bass and the 6EW7 would be a nice combo. I find that letting them run in for a while lets you know where the sound will be and you can't always tell right off. The fat bass Mullard is also a very good tube.