[Bonddam]

This looks really good i think what is worth noting in this setup is that all tubes are new production. I have had some EML tubes and shuagung cv181 and they are really at NOS level.

How would You compare wa5le to zmf pendant and bottlehead crack (i see You own them). I know these are very different amps but still would be interesting to know (at least briefly) how they compare in terms of details/soundstage/warmth.

All amps even 33 are major difference. The 5 is the warmest the rest are more neutral. The BottleHead can get closer in any direction. The 33 with same type tubes always keeps more solid effect. Pendant stays more ss with tube magic. ZMF I like most on BottleHead and WA5. WA33 is the powerhouse but eats your wallet for buying power tubes. The Pendant I have a bunch of tubes but not really any change other than gain. The WA33 did have change but always kept warmth under control satisfying both camps but find it more of a critical amp due to balanced design. The 5 you can swing ss with KR tubes to warm with eml if neutral is choice add Takasuki instead. Only reason moved away from 33 was I didn’t enjoy majority of headphones. Found many headphones needed bloom to enjoy them. All amps are tube holographic. My favorite tube on the 33 was 300b 2.5 solid plate. The WA5 favorite tube Takasuki 300b. The Pendant PSvane EL84 Psvane. The Pendant RCA 6as7g Victor hard to get I was lucky on eBay.

It’s tough to have one I don’t believe one is enough.

 

[bpiotrow13]

All amps even 33 are major difference. The 5 is the warmest the rest are more neutral. The BottleHead can get closer in any direction. The 33 with same type tubes always keeps more solid effect. Pendant stays more ss with tube magic. ZMF I like most on BottleHead and WA5. WA33 is the powerhouse but eats your wallet for buying power tubes. The Pendant I have a bunch of tubes but not really any change other than gain. The WA33 did have change but always kept warmth under control satisfying both camps but find it more of a critical amp due to balanced design. The 5 you can swing ss with KR tubes to warm with eml if neutral is choice add Takasuki instead. Only reason moved away from 33 was I didn’t enjoy majority of headphones. Found many headphones needed bloom to enjoy them. All amps are tube holographic. My favorite tube on the 33 was 300b 2.5 solid plate. The WA5 favorite tube Takasuki 300b. The Pendant PSvane EL84 Psvane. The Pendant RCA 6as7g Victor hard to get I was lucky on eBay.

It’s tough to have one I don’t believe one is enough.

Thanks, very interesting. I used to have wa22 and now i have wa2 and 3. I think all of them are not warm enough for me seems pendant is not the way to go for me with my ZMF VO.

 

[Bonddam]

Thanks, very interesting. I used to have wa22 and now i have wa2 and 3. I think all of them are not warm enough for me seems pendant is not the way to go for me with my ZMF VO.

Which power tubes are you using. Found ts5998 the warm tube for wa2. The ts7236 was polar opposite. 6080’s more neutral of the bunch. Amperex 6922 with gold pins driver tubes make a warm tone. My favorite are Bel or Philips c88ee kinda balance with warmth without going to far. The gen 1 of the wa3 has real warm sound.

 

[Chianti]

My 3ES Elite arrived. Here it is next to my WA33 EE JPS. I have the Sr-X9000 and CRBN on order, but it’s still a waiting game. Depending on how those two sound, I may get the Shangri-La Sr headphones sometime next year.

Nobody told me that they could be purchased individually

 

[bpiotrow13]

Which power tubes are you using. Found ts5998 the warm tube for wa2. The ts7236 was polar opposite. 6080’s more neutral of the bunch. Amperex 6922 with gold pins driver tubes make a warm tone. My favorite are Bel or Philips c88ee kinda balance with warmth without going to far. The gen 1 of the wa3 has real warm sound.

Thanks, have You heard wa2? Indeed wa3 is warmer. In wa2 i used TS5998, RCA 6as7 and Sylvania 7236 for power tubes and Amperex and mullards 6922 for driver. Just to be clear, it sounded really good with all setups, it is just i like warmer sound.

Is wa5 warmer than wa2?

 

[jonathan c]

Which power tubes are you using. Found ts5998 the warm tube for wa2. The ts7236 was polar opposite. 6080’s more neutral of the bunch. Amperex 6922 with gold pins driver tubes make a warm tone. My favorite are Bel or Philips c88ee kinda balance with warmth without going to far. The gen 1 of the wa3 has real warm sound.

BEL E88CC ?…(one of my favourite 6922 type tubes)

 

[Bonddam]

BEL E88CC ?…(one of my favourite 6922 type tubes)

Have Bel and Philips I use in my Wells Dragon lvl3 from time to time.

 

[Bonddam]

Thanks, have You heard wa2? Indeed wa3 is warmer. In wa2 i used TS5998, RCA 6as7 and Sylvania 7236 for power tubes and Amperex and mullards 6922 for driver. Just to be clear, it sonded really good with all setups, it is just i like warmer sound.

Is wa5 warmer than wa2?

I’d say no too being warmer. my current WA5 LE is gen 1 where my gen 2 seemed more linear, maybe old stuff was. The wa22 is considered warm and lush with reviews I read against a more aggressive Cayin(don’t remember model number).

 

[bpiotrow13]

I’d say no too being warmer. my current WA5 LE is gen 1 where my gen 2 seemed more linear, maybe old stuff was. The wa22 is considered warm and lush with reviews I read against a more aggressive Cayin(don’t remember model number).

You meant wa2 (not wa22) i guess. Wa2 is very lush and moderately warm to me. It is all subjective, everybody has different perception of warm and it feels different with different music. But objectively wa2 is warmer than wa22 and wa3 warmer than wa2. At least to me

 

[Ciggavelli]

Nobody told me that they could be purchased individually

Nice! What tubes are you using with the 3ES for the 6SN7s? I have the NOS RCA 5692. It looks like you're using a much bigger tube

 

[blackdragon87]

excited to join the club. just got a wa3 on ebay last week. probably will receive it in a few weeks. ordered it for use with my zmfs

 

[Bonddam]

excited to join the club. just got a wa3 on ebay last week. probably will receive it in a few weeks. ordered it for use with my zmfs

should have contacting me I could have smuggled it through my reservation for a smugglers fee much cheaper then those custom charges.

 

[Chianti]

Nice! What tubes are you using with the 3ES for the 6SN7s? I have the NOS RCA 5692. It looks like you're using a much bigger tube

Good catch, those are not the tubes you should be using Amp still sitting in the corner waiting for SR-X 9000, I only tested it briefly as preamp (stock tubes) with great first impression; upgrade tubes should arrive later this week -- unfortunately still no Stax in sight (was supposed to be here late October ...). Looks like I am in a similar situation as Ciggavelli - another reason to be grateful to have the WA33 as a backup

 

[bpiotrow13]

should have contacting me I could have smuggled it through my reservation for a smugglers fee much cheaper then those custom charges.

I also have wa3 for sale

 

[Bonddam]

I also have wa3 for sale

poland is too far away for my cousins. lol They had some ways to smuggle using the boarder patrol to get by or just take a 5-10 minute boat ride from US reserve to the Canadian side reserve. I just found out I have French Canadian blood from great great great grandpa. Be cool to see who my French Canadian relatives are.