Woo Audio Amp Owner Unite

[effles]

   
That sucks and I feel bad for recommending the TKs. Mine have been flawless, and I still like their sound, but maybe I was just lucky.
 
You sort of have three choices with tubes:
 
1. Buy NOS tubes from a reputable dealer --> $$$$, but a good experience if you are willing to pay;
 
Example: https://tubedepot.com/t/tubes/preamp-tubes/6dj8-6922-ecc88-e88cc-cv2492
 
Or, go crazy: https://tubedepot.com/products/telefunken-diamond-bottom-cca-gold-pin
 
2. Take a chance on eBay --> hit or miss; so far, I feel like I've done well, but it's still not cheap and you need to do your homework;
 
See: http://www.audioasylum.com/scripts/d.pl?audio/faq/joes-tubes.html#6DJ8
 
 
3. Buy newly manufactured tubes from a dealer (i.e. your failed TKs) --> less money, easier to replace, and (from some) questionable SQ.
 
My advice: take it slow and do some reading on the tube threads (recognizing that opinions are just that and not everyone likes the same thing).
 
Start with something that has near universal appeal. enjoy them for a while, and avoid the search for "Holy Grail" tubes - that costs real money and is never-ending.
 
But, to answer your question, try these:
 
https://tubedepot.com/products/philips-miniwatt-sq-e88cc-6922-gold-pin-holland
 
*And, no, I don't work for tube depot.

Oh, it's not your fault at all! They're great sounding tubes, but I'm probably just unlucky.
 
Thank you so much for the suggestions, I'll definitely consider all the options, but those Philips look great. Thanks!

 

[DigitalFreak]

has anyone here tried pairing a Woo amp with a Chord DAC?

 

[Krutsch]

  Vertere Pulse HB USB cable has turned up, brand new so no in depth listening impressions until its has some time on it. Does sound smooth and rich, but mids and vocals are recessed out of the box. Good news is its not bright.
 
 

 
Cool stuff... jealous, as usual.
 
You know, when you said you had some insane upgrades coming, I was very curious to see how you would level-up from the SHUNYATA RESEARCH power equipment. Not bad, achievement unlocked, but I have higher expectations from you, Simon.
Can't wait to see what's next 

 
Here's my latest upgrade, FWIW (which has postponed my next Woo amp):
 

 

[isquirrel]

Lol, well Ken I see I should share my plans for upgrades, shooting for the ultimate here, so will not be talking about cost  

 
First report on the Vertere HB USB cable (also posted in the Abyss forum)
 
Out of the box the cable was a little recessed in the mids and highs, but rich in timbre, I then left it on burn in for 3 hours came back to it and I was shocked. I have been around for a while, so I was not expecting the dramatic change in sound. Left on burn in using the Purist Audio Design system enhancer CD and well, this cable is incredible, easily the best USB cable I have heard, it absolutely stomps over the Light Harmonic LightSpeed in every department. Tonally full of texture and a sonic window painted with superb tonal colours, utterly non fatiguing. Mids and highs are now blossoming nicely. I did not think digital could sound this textured and full. Bass extension and weight is renditioned with great accuracy as the soundstage width and height. I had to call Touraj and congratulate him and order the Ethernet cable.

He is visiting soon and said if I send him the specs of the Abyss headphones he will make up HB cables for those and bring them over to Sydney in June. A+ for effort.

Please bear in mind this is with only 15 hours on the USB, makes the LightSpeed sound sterile, thin and well I am glad to be rid of it. Turns out that upper mid leanness was the LightSpeed cable.
 
**Update now at 50+ hours and improved further, can't detect major changes happening to the sound now, remarkable cable. 

Slam dunk, this one is a winner, now for the CAD cable to turn up.
 
Power:
 
Shunyata have announced the Triton V2, also been eyeing off the Sigma PC's, already have 1 Sigma HC running from the wall outlet to the Triton - will be replacing the Alpha HC's with 2 x Sigma Digital for the DAC and Music Server & 2 x Sigma HC's for the Woo 234's
 
Music Server:
 
​Currently running the Antipodes DX however it is the source so debated the Baetis but went for the Computer Audio Design CAT, that makes USB as the only digital out, the DaVInci needs that for high res so yep I have heard all the arguments over AES/SPDIF etc not going to get drawn into that the DaVinci was designed with USB as its primary input, that the way it is. The CAT has its own external custom power supply feeding power via a property cable to the CAT so that keeps noise away from the Server.
 

 
Cables:
 
Peter from Double Helix is making some Spore 4 Fusion balanced cables for the Abyss and matching XLR interconnects. I will also be trying out the Vertere HB headphone cables and IC's in June to see what difference they make.
 
Isolation:
 
Recently had an issue with the current perch for the equipment so had to move it all temporarily to the Granite kitchen bench (you can just image how that went down 

) and even though using HRS MX3 bases, noticed a major difference for the better, so after sourcing a hybrid lightweight concrete coffee table top and fitting it to the existing table the sound is not as it was on the Granite. So that mean't I had to consider going the whole hog and get a proper HRS stand. That's being built now - 8 weeks away, it will be 3 high 2 wide in Silver, apparently there is a 40% performance increase over using the bases alone. The Shunyata gear and the Server will have damping plates on their tops.
 


DAC:
 
Can't say to much as I am under an NDA but the DaVinci is returning to LH soon for some love, will be able to update on this very soon.
 
Valves:
 
Not so good news here, 3rd set of Elrog's failed, this time one lost vacuum. Shame as they sound great. 

 

[isquirrel]

Photo of current setup
 

 

[Khragon]

What a view! .. oh and WA234 looks nice too.
 

 
Valves:
 
Not so good news here, 3rd set of Elrog's failed, this time one lost vacuum. Shame as they sound great. 
 

Not good! I hope they fix the problem, I don't want to have these tubes failing on me after the 6month warranty.

 

[isquirrel]

  What a view! .. oh and WA234 looks nice too.
 
Not good! I hope they fix the problem, I don't want to have these tubes failing on me after the 6month warranty.

No its not, I wouldn't be so P******F if they didn't sound so good in front of the Tak 274's. Matt loves the paring too. My gut feel all along is that there is nothing wrong with the Tubes themselves, its a weakness in the base issue, I only took these ones out once but when the opines are longer than normal so you have to give them a bit of pouch to seat them, I suspect the last time I did I heard a slight noise form the tube that failed, and sure enough 70 hours later it lost most of its gain and sounded horrible. Now I am not talking about pushing them down hard because I am extra careful with these and use probably less force to seat them than "normal" valves but nevertheless....... I haven't managed to get hold of the importer yet. 

 

[Khragon]

One of my elrog that failed reported short on my tube tester! lucky my WA5 is fine.  The other measured below minimum.  All this in less than a month of ownership, really sucks.  I'm seriously thinking of just selling the Elrog and get Tak instead when I get the replacement in.

 

[djd1122]

Cables:  
Peter from Double Helix is making some Spore 4 Fusion balanced cables for the Abyss and matching XLR interconnects. I will also be trying out the Vertere HB headphone cables and IC's in June to see what difference they make.

 
I would also give the Shunyata Zitron Anaconda XLR interconnect a try.  I preferred the Zitron Anaconda XLR to the Stealth Sakra XLR interconnect when using Shunyata Zitron, Alpha or Sigma power cords.  The Stealth Sakra had a warmer, fuller sound but didn't have the high frequency euphoria compared to the Zitron Anaconda XLR.

 

[isquirrel]

  One of my elrog that failed reported short on my tube tester! lucky my WA5 is fine.  The other measured below minimum.  All this in less than a month of ownership, really sucks.  I'm seriously thinking of just selling the Elrog and get Tak instead when I get the replacement in.

Just got off the phone with the Australian importer, very understanding and is sending up replacements. He is off to Germany and will be raising the issue of the bases with the manufacturer. Maybe they need to use normal black bases which bond better to the glass.

 

[DigitalFreak]

 

[isquirrel]

  One of my elrog that failed reported short on my tube tester! lucky my WA5 is fine.  The other measured below minimum.  All this in less than a month of ownership, really sucks.  I'm seriously thinking of just selling the Elrog and get Tak instead when I get the replacement in.

The Tak's are seriously tough, before my cup of coffee one morning I pulled one of the 300B's out and smacked it hard into the Tak 274B next to it, so hard in fact, it put a small scratch in the side of the 300B and 274B and then in shock dropped the 274B on the floor (carpet) not one of best audio moments, and they still worked fine 

 

[isquirrel]

   
I would also give the Shunyata Zitron Anaconda XLR interconnect a try.  I preferred the Zitron Anaconda XLR to the Stealth Sakra XLR interconnect when using Shunyata Zitron, Alpha or Sigma power cords.  The Stealth Sakra had a warmer, fuller sound but didn't have the high frequency euphoria compared to the Zitron Anaconda XLR.

Tried the Cobra Anaconda's and felt they were good but did not have the richness I was after. So far preferred IC is the Cardas Clear.

 

[bpcans]

The Tak's are seriously tough, before my cup of coffee one morning I pulled one of the 300B's out and smacked it hard into the Tak 274B next to it, so hard in fact, it put a small scratch in the side of the 300B and 274B and then in shock dropped the 274B on the floor (carpet) not one of best audio moments, and they still worked fine 

After reading this post I had a vision of impending disaster. With all the ultra high-end gear in your crib It would be terrible if some small animal or perhaps a clumsy human initiated a cascade effect of biblical dimension. You don't have earthquakes in Melbourne do you?

 

[isquirrel]

Clumsy Human is bigger problem!