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Rob, that's great that the WA22 can change so much with a tube change...now I just see 2 issues...
1.) Finding a pair of matched tubes.
2.) Spending the big $$$ for a pair of matched tubes.
Jack doesn't call the WA22 his "most euphonic tube amp" for nothing. I believe he uses the term
surreal.
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Music is such an emotionally driven exprience that often times the pricetag simply doesn't factor in, but even having said that the logical part of my brain just screams the notion that diminishing returns must be kicking in pretty strongly when it comes to the B65 tubes. I can't imagine they are enough of an improvement over the best sylvanias and tung sols to justify a pricetag as big as that of the amp they would go in.
There are a lot of tubes that Rob will never hear with his WA22, unless he changes his stance on avoiding new issue tubes. The TS BG RP's are nice enough, but those Shuggie Treasures have their good points as well. A lot of this is personal preference, as well as how they play with the other tubes in the combo you're using. Your selected headphones are also important, as well as synergy with your source, playback software, and yes even cable selection.
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Originally Posted by LUMAZ /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Well guys, I am just having a nervous breakdown! It is very nice to read this forum and to partecipate to some discussions, but sometimes it drives me really mad (sorry if it is not the right English word). Here I am: in this last period I have spent a large amount of money (no, I am not a rich Russian guy, I am only an average Italian guy that has inherited from his dear late mummy some thousands of Euros) to reach music Nirvana: Naim 555 as source (and at the end of August it will arrive his second power supply!), excellent interconnect and power cables, the mighty WA22, Senn HD 800 (all fully balanced) and as tubes WE421A, TS BG RP (for a matched pair I have spent almost 500,00 euros on Ebay) and Sophia Princess mesh plate. Well I think that my audio system is really excellent and that my WA22 and my Senn are shining thanks to the superb Naim source but then...I read that our "tubemeister" Skylab says that a couple of "cheap" Osram B 65 are the best driver tubes he has ever heard on WA22 (but did you listen yet to TS BG RP or no, Skylab?) and that for some EML 5U4G is better than Sophia and for some others is better Sophia than EML and so I don't understand anything at all. What can I do now? To spend all that sum to get (if they are always available that is) the Osram B 65, to buy the EML 5U4G and make personal comparison with Sophia Princess? Or what else? Our hobby is wonderful but it can really drives crazy a poor guy! Your "wise" advice is highly needed! Thanks.
With the WA22 tube selection makes a huge (the hugest?) difference, and this can definitely be a double-edge sword as you are discovering! The down side is of course that one man's prime steak is another's ground chuck so you really have to discover your own preferences.
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LUMAZ look closer to home for some nice tubes, no need to spend a fortune.
X2, although for myself so far I haven't found a better combo for the WA22 than the upgraded package that Jack has selected for us right on the Woo website. Will be rolling in/comparing to the "other" EML mesh-plate rectifier soon.
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^ That's why I stopped tube rolling. I would spend the $1400 on a new amp (ss or tube) and/or new headphones.
Bye the way. I took some inventory on the Dutch people who are wearing headphones on the street this afternoon. I stopped after 2 minutes. Too many to count--but these were noteworthy. This is just a quick tally 'cause I didn't recognize the model types:
5 Fostex (don't know the model #)
1 Grado (black)
1 Philips (white and cool looking--and the biggest)
2 Beats
20 unclassified.
That's all folks.
^ This. I've spent more than that on various tubes for the WA22, and am happy that I've finally found a combination that works for me across the board. I have the tubes that I want now, and my backups are almost all in place. Simplification has been accomplished, the need to roll has been completely abated, and the search for further refinement is almost complete.
As far as observed headphones on the streets of Holland go, I'm happily surprised there weren't more Beats, perhaps they aren't marketed as heavily across the pond. The prevalence of the Fostex's are probably due to the club/DJ scene. I'm surprised there was only one Phillips that you recognized, as they are pretty much the Dutch national brand. What, no iBuds?!