[joseph69]

Question sound and gain difference between WA5 LE 1St and 2nd gen?

Had 2nd gen with Mundorf caps sold it then jumped on Woo’s refurb deal on a 1st gen. All I now by pictures there’s no gain or power knobs on 1st gen. Wondering if it will power the 1266 TC with enough volume? The 1st gen I bought has two 1/4 inch jacks one for low and other for high impedance. Any help, I didn’t buy this solely for 1266. I needed a mid range with some bass bloom amp.

Thanks

Bill

Any particular reason for selling the 2nd Gen or did you just want to try the 1st Gen?

 

[Bonddam]

Any particular reason for selling the 2nd Gen or did you just want to try the 1st Gen?

sold it because my Dragon is more resolving but miss that 300b tube sound so impulse buy for $2k was hard to pass up. I’m kinda hoping this one is set to full power unlike the gen 2 model that has a power and gain switch. It might be refurbished but new transformers and other internal parts is good enough for me.

 

[joseph69]

sold it because my Dragon is more resolving but miss that 300b tube sound so impulse buy for $2k was hard to pass up. I’m kinda hoping this one is set to full power unlike the gen 2 model that has a power and gain switch. It might be refurbished but new transformers and other internal parts is good enough for me.

Damn, for $2K it sounds tempting too me!

 

[Bonddam]

It doesn't do the 8 watts out of the headphone jacks from info I can find which is very scarce. So looks like 1.5 watts total but my headphones are pretty easy to drive except four of them.

 

[musicman59]

It doesn't do the 8 watts out of the headphone jacks from info I can find which is very scarce. So looks like 1.5 watts total but my headphones are pretty easy to drive except four of them.

Yes, the difference between the WA5 1st gen and WA5-LE 1st gen is that the LE does not have XLR headphones output, speaker tabs and it has a choke to just put 1.5 watts output put instead of the full 8 of the WA5.

I used to own one custom made by Woo with several upgrades. It was built back in 2005 I think. It was a great amp and drove everything great with the exception of the original HE-6. If you use 300b XLS tubes you will get a little more output.

 

[Bonddam]

Yes, the difference between the WA5 1st gen and WA5-LE 1st gen is that the LE does not have XLR headphones output, speaker tabs and it has a choke to just put 1.5 watts output put instead of the full 8 of the WA5.

I used to own one custom made by Woo with several upgrades. It was built back in 2005 I think. It was a great amp and drove everything great with the exception of the original HE-6. If you use 300b XLS tubes you will get a little more output.

Thanks for info and good I can use EML xls. I'm curious if the transformers will give enough oomph for 1266. I just wanted a warm amp for my brighter headphones. I'm waiting for next year when new amp comes out cuff cuff.

 

[musicman59]

I don’t have experience with the 1266 but at 47 ohms and only 88 db (5 db more than Susvara) it might be borderline.

 

[musicman59]

Thanks for info and good I can use EML xls. I'm curious if the transformers will give enough oomph for 1266. I just wanted a warm amp for my brighter headphones. I'm waiting for next year when new amp comes out cuff cuff.

Send a PM to JLoud he might know.

 

[Bonddam]

Send a PM to JLoud he might know.

Thanks

 

[jonathan c]

What is the (or a) stated nominal output impedance for the Woo Audio WA2? I am curious because the WA2 works really well with Grado PS2000e and Focal Clear (nominal input impedances: 38 ohms and 55 ohms) besides being fantastic on the ZMFs (nominal impedances: 300 ohms).

 

[Bonddam]

What is the (or a) stated nominal output impedance for the Woo Audio WA2? I am curious because the WA2 works really well with Grado PS2000e and Focal Clear (nominal input impedances: 38 ohms and 55 ohms) besides being fantastic on the ZMFs (nominal impedances: 300 ohms).

They don't post those. They told me music is dynamic and I was like huh. Maybe the Woo amps have good current which then wattage isn't important which would be like my Wells Audio Dragon 5 watts 1 amp of current.

 

[Ciggavelli]

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.

 

[Bonddam]

Here is my tube setup in my gen 1 LE. I was going to get the gen 2 but I don’t feel it necessary. I had the Elite all decked out but was more of a WA5 after having the gen 2 only thing the gen 2 I had was sometimes noisy with easy to drive headphones. Reason I didn’t stay with the Elite was the balanced sound over single ended designs. With other headphones that are not 1266 didnt have same amazing sound that WA5 gives with tube magic. I had three WA33 and finally gave up. Mike recommended the 5 LE and he was right. So being Wells fan sold my gen 2 WA5 but when $,2000 gen 1 came up I pounced on it in seconds. I’m happy I did. It is more tubie then gen 2 in warmth think I would need upgraded caps if it’s possible anyways using eml 300b 274b and shuagung cv181 z. Have 3 DAC’s hooked up to it Wells Cipher, Denafrips Pontus 2 and Chord Qutest. No particular favorite DAC on this amp as the amp in bass to midrange amp with dark distant treble energy. The Cipher is the smoothest and more natural but this amp can use as much aggression it can get.

 

[bpiotrow13]

Here is my tube setup in my gen 1 LE. I was going to get the gen 2 but I don’t feel it necessary. I had the Elite all decked out but was more of a WA5 after having the gen 2 only thing the gen 2 I had was sometimes noisy with easy to drive headphones. Reason I didn’t stay with the Elite was the balanced sound over single ended designs. With other headphones that are not 1266 didnt have same amazing sound that WA5 gives with tube magic. I had three WA33 and finally gave up. Mike recommended the 5 LE and he was right. So being Wells fan sold my gen 2 WA5 but when $,2000 gen 1 came up I pounced on it in seconds. I’m happy I did. It is more tubie then gen 2 in warmth think I would need upgraded caps if it’s possible anyways using eml 300b 274b and shuagung cv181 z. Have 3 DAC’s hooked up to it Wells Cipher, Denafrips Pontus 2 and Chord Qutest. No particular favorite DAC on this amp as the amp in bass to midrange amp with dark distant treble energy. The Cipher is the smoothest and more natural but this amp can use as much aggression it can get.

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.

 

[ThanatosVI]

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.

That's one beautiful amp setup.
Loving it!

Both in black as well, just as it should be.