[davehg]

I was tube rolling this weekend and trying to get rid of some high frequency glassiness I kept hearing. Swapped out the Westinghouse 6SN7s for some RCA black plates and lost a bit of bass slam but the glassiness is now gone.

Funny how the tubes are like tone controls on this amp.

 

[Matro5]

Well I pulled the trigger and purchased a 2nd gen WA22 and NOS tubes from an awesome member here. Glad to be part of the WA22 club!

I still have my Wells Audio Milo so I’m really looking forward to comparing the two amps using my Chord Qutest and HEKse.

I’m also gonna have the WA22 serve as a tube pre-amp to my solid state stereo speaker amp.

He’s shipping it out to me tomorrow. Impressions coming soon!

Please do! I’m interested in both it’s synergy with the Chord DAC and it’s ability as a preamp. Thanks!

 

[Roasty]

I wasn't impressed with the stock tubes, but you might get more bang for your buck going for the Verite (depending upon what you current headphones are). Get the Verite first, save some more cash and go through these pages and others on Headfi for some good tube rolling options.

I'm using the focal utopia, and have an empyrean coming. But have read many a good thing about the zmf verite.

 

[leftside]

I'm using the focal utopia, and have an empyrean coming. But have read many a good thing about the zmf verite.

With such highend headphones you might well indeed want to look at upgrading the tubes next.

 

[Roasty]

I've never rolled tubes before. Can someone tell me what's the difference between the upgrade tubes on the wooaudio website which are priced quite high vs the cheaper listing on eBay?

Am considering pulling the trigger on the Chatham 5998 on the wooaudio website..

 

[attmci]

I've never rolled tubes before. Can someone tell me what's the difference between the upgrade tubes on the wooaudio website which are priced quite high vs the cheaper listing on eBay?

Am considering pulling the trigger on the Chatham 5998 on the wooaudio website..

Same thing if both tubes are NOS.

 

[Roasty]

When I was using the stock utopia single ended cable, I really enjoyed the Wa22 utopia combo.

upon changing to grand line lavricables, the utopia sounds a little brighter, and the soundstage seems a wee bit smaller. I think this could be due to the mids and highs being brought to a more forward presentation. Everything sounds a lot clearer now, especially voices. There is a little loss of bass slam. The background noise and "blackness" is improved over the stock cable.

I actually quite like the lavricable and am hoping they will sound better after some burn in. Would some tube changes bring back the soundstage and bass slam?

I've read through all 50 pages of this thread. I have a general idea of the usual tubes ppl have recommended.

Brimar 5Z4GY
Mullard 6080
Tungsol/Chatham 5998
Ecc35
Rca 6sn7

Of the above the rca seem the easiest to acquire and also the cheapest. Question here would be given their relatively low price, would they do the other more expensive tubes justice?

I can't easily acquire tubes from where I'm at, so my only options are ebay, wooaudio, some online retailers. Unfortunately I also don't have much of the luxury of time, so I would like to get the "best sound in the shortest possible time".

I'm tempted to just take the easy way out, and to just pay the premium, and get the recommended tube options on the Wa22 webpage..

I'm curious why Western Electric tubes are so expensive?

 

[Roasty]

so I went ahead and ordered a few tubes.

Brimar 5Z4G
RCA 6SN7GT matched
Tung Sol 5998 matched

Am curious about the Sophia 274B princess. they have the aqua and non-aqua versions. are these any good as rectifiers? I've read some online reviews saying they're pretty good for their price.

pic of my amp for attention

 

[leftside]

RCA 6SN7 and 5998 should sound great with the Utopia. A bunch of on here also really like the ECC35, but I'm not sure if the 5998 + ECC35 will be too much gain for the sensitive Utopia. As long as the tubes are in really nice shape you should be fine - it's a good combo for my Stellia, but I slightly prefer a lower gain driver such as a regular 6SN7 or 6N7 (with 6N7/ECC31 to 6SN7 adapter) with those. Try it with your RCA 6SN7 and 5998 combo first.

 

[Roasty]

RCA 6SN7 and 5998 should sound great with the Utopia. A bunch of on here also really like the ECC35, but I'm not sure if the 5998 + ECC35 will be too much gain for the sensitive Utopia. As long as the tubes are in really nice shape you should be fine - it's a good combo for my Stellia, but I slightly prefer a lower gain driver such as a regular 6SN7 or 6N7 (with 6N7/ECC31 to 6SN7 adapter) with those. Try it with your RCA 6SN7 and 5998 combo first.

Thanks man! Looking forward to the tubes.

If I get the Sophia 274b as well, am I supposed to go for the normal tube or the aqua version?

My amp came with RCA 6080 tubes. I have an opportunity to get some Mullard 6080 tubes as well; are they any much better than the RCA ones? Or should I not bother and just use the Tung Sol 5998 tubes?

 

[leftside]

Not sure about the recfifiers I'm afraid. I prefer the Mullard 6080 to the RCA, but would stick with the 5998 for a while. The metal base power tubes do look nice though when paired up with a metal base rectifier and metal base driver.

 

[flea22]

Hey guys. I've read a few times that the wa22 is fussy with tubes when paired with the lcd 3's. If anyone here knows some good tubes to try for the lcd 3's please let me know.

 

[leftside]

Hey guys. I've read a few times that the wa22 is fussy with tubes when paired with the lcd 3's. If anyone here knows some good tubes to try for the lcd 3's please let me know.

I always liked the higher gain tubes such as 5998 and ECC35/6SL7 when I had the harder to drive LCD3.

 

[Gibson59]

My WA22 and a bunch of NOS tubes comes tomorrow... I can't wait!!!

I have a bunch if rectifiers already, but i'm short on NOS driver and power tubes. If anyone has some driver or power tubes they want to sell me at a fair price PM me.

 

[flea22]

I always liked the higher gain tubes such as 5998 and ECC35/6SL7 when I had the harder to drive LCD3.

Thanks will go some 5998/ 421a's. Just took possession of a wa22 and loving it. Using a single ended dac (chord qutest) and it sounds great. Amp is built like a tank!