[Khragon]

From what I gather, the new WA5 model will no longer have the K1K out (110ohm), instead it will be 25 ohm to be more compatible with today's slew of new planar headphones. The WA5 that mrspeakers uses to demo Ether is an early prototype. That is why Ether can use the xlr out without a lot of noise. Those small switches I think are used to control the xlr output. Again, I am speculating here.

I didn't know about the price hike, perhaps I should turn off the ad and keep my WA5.

 

[musicman59]

From what I gather, the new WA5 model will no longer have the K1K out (110ohm), instead it will be 25 ohm to be more compatible with today's slew of new planar headphones. The WA5 that mrspeakers uses to demo Ether is an early prototype. That is why Ether can use the xlr out without a lot of noise. Those small switches I think are used to control the xlr output. Again, I am speculating here.

I didn't know about the price hike, perhaps I should turn off the ad and keep my WA5.

I am speculating too but it could be that those switches are to control impedance (High and Low) and gain (High and Low) of the XLR output since there is already control of the impedance for the single ended output.
 
I can tell you one thing, I tried the Ether with the WA5 at Dan's booth in AXPONA and the difference in sound from the single ended output to the XLR output was very significant. Out of the XLR output the sound was excellent.

 

[TonyNewman]

  I did not know you can use 6SK7 in the WA5/LE. They are not in the compatibility chart form Woo. How do they compared to 6F8G in sound? I personally prefer the 6F8G then the 6SN7.

 
Buddies of mine have got the word direct from Jack Wu - 6SL7 is OK to use as a substitute for 6SN7 in Woo amps. Been using them for ages with no problems.

 

[Badas]

Buddies of mine have got the word direct from Jack Wu - 6SL7 is OK to use as a substitute for 6SN7 in Woo amps. Been using them for ages with no problems.

Yip. I have been using 6C8g in my amp for 4 months now. No issues at all. However it is really really terrible that the tubes are a fraction of the price of 6F8g's. I don't know how I can live with it.

 

[musicman2006]

Im in the middle of auditioning the WA3 and will get the WA2 soon to compare. I personally like layering and soundstage depth and width, so Im hoping the WA2 will give more of that for its price. 

 

[Badas]

Im in the middle of auditioning the WA3 and will get the WA2 soon to compare. I personally like layering and soundstage depth and width, so Im hoping the WA2 will give more of that for its price. 

I have heard the WA2 before. Only with stock tubes tho. It is very impressive sonically. Only thing against it is power. Not the most powerful amp. So depending on the headphones it might not be suitable.

 

[musicman2006]

I'll be using the HD600 headphones. On the WA3, I never really went past the 12 oclock position. Specs say the WA3 puts 330mW in to 300 ohms and the WA2 puts 640mW in 300 ohms. Plus I'll be using it heavily as a preamp for a pair of Magnepan 1.7 and heavily modified Wharfedale diamond 10.1
I can already tell the WA3 improves the holographic effect for the speakersso far.

 

[3083joe]

Wow this tube rolling addiction is bad.

 

[TonyNewman]

Wow this tube rolling addiction is bad.

 
Wait until you start playing with high end 300Bs. Selling a kidney isn't close to cutting it. As for vintage WE300Bs - just remove all of your internal organs for sale on Ebay so that you are an empty husk.

 

[Badas]

  I'll be using the HD600 headphones. On the WA3, I never really went past the 12 oclock position. Specs say the WA3 puts 330mW in to 300 ohms and the WA2 puts 640mW in 300 ohms. Plus I'll be using it heavily as a preamp for a pair of Magnepan 1.7 and heavily modified Wharfedale diamond 10.1
I can already tell the WA3 improves the holographic effect for the speakersso far.

 
HD600 will be a great pairing with the WA2. I was just hoping you weren't expecting the WA2 to power a HE-6 for example.

 

Wow this tube rolling addiction is bad.

 
Yes it is. It can be fun but hard on your wallet. I do like when you find gems at reasonable prices tho.

 

[3083joe]

Yes it is. It can be fun but hard on your wallet. I do like when you find gems at reasonable prices tho.
[/quote]
Yes like 6C8G nu for $30 a pair.

 

[TonyNewman]

...
Yes like 6C8G nu for $30 a pair.

 
A tube near and dear to my heart

 
Not sure how many of those I have. More than a dozen, I think. Very, very nice tube.

 

[Khragon]

6C8G are those good for WA5? how do they sound compare to 6F8G? and also 6SL7?

 

[TonyNewman]

  6C8G are those good for WA5? how do they sound compare to 6F8G? and also 6SL7?

 
NU 6C8G work fine in the WA5.
 
The NU 6F8G does not work in the WA5 as driving the 300Bs is too much for them and they go noisey as a MF.
 
The NU 6C8Gs have a slightly higher rating and can do the heavy lifting the 300Bs require.
 
Never seen an NU 6SL7, so can't comment on that.
 
I am using a TS RP 6SL7 in my WA5 right now - loving it.

 

[Badas]

  6C8G are those good for WA5? how do they sound compare to 6F8G? and also 6SL7?

6C8G works better than 6F8G in the WA5. 6F8G produces noise. 6C8G does not due to handling 300B power better.
 
Tony tested 6C8G compared to 6SL7 and he said it was very similar if not the same.