Woo Audio 2

[Alta_tom]

Woo Audio WA2, day 4. Dropped in two very well matched Bendix 6080WB tubes with graphite plates, along with the EH 6922. Soundstage depth present with the Bugle Boys did not return, but the sound seems more dense. This tube has promise. Soundstage seems slightly wider than with the 6AS7GA tubes. I think the Bendix are completely NOS, so I will run them in for many hours before a final evaluation. Will put the Seimens 7308 back in to try that combination, then the Bugle Boys as the best 6DJ8 style in my possession. Need to swap out the power cable to see what will change. Hope this is useful info, and not just drivel.

 

[Alta_tom]

Long time, no post. Sorry for the delay. My verdict is in on the Woo Audio WA2, and the soundstage is HUGE. Great separation of instruments and vocals across the soundstage. Same comments apply to use as a preamp. A secondary reason for the purchase was tube rolling 6922 tubes for use in my cd player. I tried Siemens 6922, Amperex 1962 large bugle boy 6DJ8, Matsu****a 6DJ8, Siemens US 7803, all for me influenced the soundstage more than changing the power tubes. Oops, back to work. Will add on later

 

[Alta_tom]

Back for more impressions of the WA2. All of my listening was done with an average CD source, either a Denon CD-460 changer, or a an inexpensive Philips DVD player with 4x oversampling. Some time was spent with a Scott Nixon Chibi DAC. I'm sure that an upgrade source would have revealed more inner detail, although it is already great with the WA2. Have wondered if the bass would improve.

For me the sound changed more by swapping the driver tubes, rather than the power tubes. I settled on the Tung-Sol 7236 as my favorite power tube and the Matsu****a 6DJ8 as my favorite driver, with the Bugle Boys having more 3D impact, but less midrange bloom.

The WA2 gives me the impression of attending a concert on the 15th row, rather than right on top of the orchestra. There is the sense of hearing all the instruments with separation, rather than a nearfield experience with the instruments in the rear being masked. The WA2 revealed all spread across the stage, and I like that sound.

I have learned a lot about tubes from this exercise, but have decided to post the amp on Audiogon. Even with a great headphone amp, I still spend more of my time listening through speakers. I have my EC/SS when I want a headphone fix. Hope this has been useful info for the forum, and will respond to posts with specific questions.

 

[jamato8]

I have around 150 nos 6DJ8's and variants. I got a couple of Amperex branded 6DJ8's a few years ago to realize that (the price was fine) they were rebranded Russian tubes. They are the correct 6DJ8 design and measurement but what I was not prepared for was the sound. They are some of the best 6DJ8's I have ever heard. They are also not very common. I bought the rest of what they had and am glad I did because the company went out of business as the owner retired. If you can find Amperex that are Russian, (they are a little fatter and obvious once you see them and know the "normal" bottle look of the 6DJ8 tube) try some out.