[CJG888]

Just ordered one of these:

Looking forward to it!

 

[OctavianH]

Keep us informed about the processs. I look for almost a year on a Virtus-01 and I am really curious about what WBA are doing, not only about the amplifier itself, but also the way they treat customers, fulfil orders and so on.

Later edit:
I could not find this one on the website. I read the model as "Tzar Beta"?

 

[CJG888]

Yes, it’s a new model. It is a dual mono design using the Soviet NOS 6S41S (I read somewhere that these were used in the avionics of the MiG 25, can’t substantiate this though...).

It is an OTL design, but it puts out about 2W into 32 Ohms and the tubes have a low output impedance (they are effectively half a 6S33S), so it should have no trouble with anything from Grados to HE-500s. The input tube is an ECC88 (I shall be using a NOS Mullard gold pin E88CC).

Think of it as Europe‘s answer to the Zana Deux...

 

[OctavianH]

Very interesting. Where are you finding these infos about new products and ordering? I use their website:
https://www.wbamp.com/headphones-tube-amplifiers/

 

[CJG888]

I contacted Piotr Bocianek directly (email address is on the website). I was originally after a custom version of the HPA Master, and he told me about the Tzar...

 

[kvik]

@OctavianH : It seems there is also a new WBA flagship just around the corner, the Electron. Not sure when, and if both Electron Dual Mono and Electron Ort will be available. Source: https://forum.mp3store.pl/topic/130265-fanklub-white-bird-amplification-wba/page/4/

 

[OctavianH]

@OctavianH : It seems there is also a new WBA flagship just around the corner, the Electron.

It seems this amp is not so new, some pictures are from 2019. Anyway, it uses 2A3 and it will be, most probably, above my budget.
What I want is a headphone amplifier compatible with KT66 and that one is Virtus-01. Too bad there is not enough info about it, maybe I'll order it and bring light into this area.

 

[CJG888]

A few tubes waiting for their big moment:

 

[CJG888]

Was looking through a box of random tubes, found this:

 

[OctavianH]

It seems you are well prepared. I hardly wait to see what you will tell us when it will arrive.

 

[kvik]

Any chance it has arrived? I am very curious about both build and sound impressions. All WBA amps seem very fair priced.

 

[CJG888]

There seems to be quite a backlog of orders at WBA, and Piotr Bocianek builds each amplifier by himself.
I does mean that each one is hand built, though (which I appreciate).

 

[CJG888]

Well, work on my Tzar has started:

As you can see, almost everything at WBA (except for casework) is done in-house! The use of a well laid-out PCB with nice thick traces (rather than point-to-point wiring) should also banish the random hum experienced with many other low-volume tube amps (I know this is a controversial statement)...

If you are wondering about the delay: Piotr has been recovering from a nasty bout of COVID-19, whilst also moving into new business premises. I’m sure I speak for all of us here in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.

 

[CJG888]

Next photos will be of the populated board...

 

[Zachik]

Why does he make the PCBs by himself, too?!
I can see the advantages of keeping some things done in-house, but PCB "manufacturing" is not one of them...