[VanHai]

Wait…now I’m confused

I am talking 2 different amps. MZ3 has SE (RCA) input and WA22 has both RCA and XLR inputs. If you use XLR input on the WA22 to a balanced input DAC, it sounds much better than using the RCA.

 

[nephilim32]

You can not use WA22 as a pre amp to MZ3 or the other way. Pre amp on WA22 is balanced and pre amp on MZ3 is SE, unless you use adapters but adapters will degrade the sound.

I didn’t know the LTA didn’t have balanced inputs. Yeah. You actually right about that. I experimented with adapters and the degradation is present. I agree with you. I tried running my WA22 preamp’ed into my burson soloist SL (single ended) and it was “okay” at best. Now that I have the Pathos Aurium I run the WA22 fully balanced as intended and it is better…much better actually.

 

[skhan007]

So I've been casually hunting for a WA22. I emailed Woo Audio to see if they've gotten any trade-ins, but they have not. They did offer me a discount on a new one, which would be $2430 delivered. I see that used ones (Gen 2, of course) are all selling between $1600- $2K in 2023. What do you guys think? Hold out for a used one and save $500+ or get a shiny new one, fully warrantied, etc.?

 

[fabiocrest]

So I've been casually hunting for a WA22. I emailed Woo Audio to see if they've gotten any trade-ins, but they have not. They did offer me a discount on a new one, which would be $2430 delivered. I see that used ones (Gen 2, of course) are all selling between $1600- $2K in 2023. What do you guys think? Hold out for a used one and save $500+ or get a shiny new one, fully warrantied, etc.?

So I've been casually hunting for a WA22. I emailed Woo Audio to see if they've gotten any trade-ins, but they have not. They did offer me a discount on a new one, which would be $2430 delivered. I see that used ones (Gen 2, of course) are all selling between $1600- $2K in 2023. What do you guys think? Hold out for a used one and save $500+ or get a shiny new one, fully warrantied, etc.?

So I've been casually hunting for a WA22. I emailed Woo Audio to see if they've gotten any trade-ins, but they have not. They did offer me a discount on a new one, which would be $2430 delivered. I see that used ones (Gen 2, of course) are all selling between $1600- $2K in 2023. What do you guys think? Hold out for a used one and save $500+ or get a shiny new one, fully warrantied, etc.?

I think that if you find used at a good price is the same, I suggest you to find a v1 because it has a better construction but better output transformer. Remember that you have to spend some money for the right tubes

 

[ColSaulTigh]

I think that if you find used at a good price is the same, I suggest you to find a v1 because it has a better construction but better output transformer. Remember that you have to spend some money for the right tubes

Buy the new one from Woo.

Support the company, get the warranty, and have it in a week or two. Your time and enjoyment is worth more than 2-3 days worth of wages.

 

[Contrails]

I think that if you find used at a good price is the same, I suggest you to find a v1 because it has a better construction but better output transformer. Remember that you have to spend some money for the right tubes

Better output trafos on Gen 1? Do you know the specs of the two amps? How did you reach this conclusion? What was your test setup/methods?

 

[nephilim32]

Buy the new one from Woo.

Support the company, get the warranty, and have it in a week or two. Your time and enjoyment is worth more than 2-3 days worth of wages.

Well said. Good advice for that man. I agree with you, Sir.

 

[fabiocrest]

Better output trafos on Gen 1? Do you know the specs of the two amps? How did you reach this conclusion? What was your test setup/methods?

I don’t know the specs, but if you listen the two amps side by side v1 sound a little better, headphones used in the test was hd800s and Audeze lcd-2 rosewood 2022

 

[skhan007]

Question for the WA22 owners about using the balanced inputs/outputs:

I'm reading a lot and realizing that unless you have a good amount of interference (radio waves, studio environment with need for long cables), the difference with balanced vs. single ended is almost negligible.

My proposed set up, if I bought the WA22, would be RME ADI2 DAC -> WA22 -> 300 Ohm cans (ZMF & Sennheiser).

I realize balanced may be more power (+6db; don't think I need it) and perhaps less common-mode noise (don't think it's an issue in my environment).

That being said, I could have a great sounding amp and put my stash of NOS 6080, 5998, and 6as7g tubes to work. I could save money with the WA2 and not require the use of the balanced connections and still use my NOS tubes. I also know that WA2 is OTL and WA22 is transformer-coupled.

What do you guys think?

 

[nephilim32]

Question for the WA22 owners about using the balanced inputs/outputs:

I'm reading a lot and realizing that unless you have a good amount of interference (radio waves, studio environment with need for long cables), the difference with balanced vs. single ended is almost negligible.

My proposed set up, if I bought the WA22, would be RME ADI2 DAC -> WA22 -> 300 Ohm cans (ZMF & Sennheiser).

I realize balanced may be more power (+6db; don't think I need it) and perhaps less common-mode noise (don't think it's an issue in my environment).

That being said, I could have a great sounding amp and put my stash of NOS 6080, 5998, and 6as7g tubes to work. I could save money with the WA2 and not require the use of the balanced connections and still use my NOS tubes. I also know that WA2 is OTL and WA22 is transformer-coupled.

What do you guys think?

I know this is a long and quite drawn out question “balanced v.s single ended.” ?

Listen my friend. It depends on your source gear. For example if you have a DAC, streamer or CD player/transport that utilizes balanced outputs absolutely use that into the WA22. It is a no brain’er. Now on the other side of things say if you have a DAC that is single ended use the single ended input on the WA22.
I have a chord Qutest. It is a single ended DAC. Do you think it sounds better if I use RCA adapters to hook it up to the WA22 balanced inputs or straight out of the single ended RCA inputs?
100% you use the single ended inputs. Going balanced degrades the single path. The DAC is not designed for that application.
Another fun example. I have a pathos Aurium amplifier and it has a balanced “Tape out” connection. What if I use the balanced input of the WA22 connected to the balanced Tape out of the Aurium to connect to the Single ended Qutest? Is that better even though tape out has a neutral impedance output as opposed again going straight single ended out of the WA22 with the Qutest?
No! .
Again. You are lengthening the signal path going the tape out route just to utilize a balanced connection It is not better! Again. Straight single ended out of the WA22 is the best because that is what said(Qutest) is designed for.

I hope that makes sense. Use the WA22 connections for the intended purposes of your source gear. Don’t get caught up in the whole dilemma of balanced v.s single ended.

 

[BillinSF]

My proposed set up, if I bought the WA22, would be RME ADI2 DAC -> WA22 -> 300 Ohm cans (ZMF & Sennheiser).

Most excellent. WA22 and 800S work together magically. I just ordered ZMF Atrium, so you and I will be completely in sync.

 

[skhan007]

Most excellent. WA22 and 800S work together magically. I just ordered ZMF Atrium, so you and I will be completely in sync.

Thanks, this is very encouraging. For a few days, I've been struggling with the idea of making the purchase. You know, shelling out more cash for more gear, when the gear I've already got is great. I'm kind of justifying by saying I don't own a transformer-coupled amp nor a balanced amp. I think it will be different enough from what I currently use, so I'm likely going to pull the trigger.

I've also been reading on the differences in sound signature between the WA22 and WA2. I am realizing that the WA22 has more precision, accuracy, and detail, which is right up my alley.

 

[BillinSF]

For a few days, I've been struggling with the idea of making the purchase. You know, shelling out more cash for more gear, when the gear I've already got is great.

Huh? What do you think everyone on HeadFi is doing?

 

[bpcans]

@BillinSF, telling others that they should try this or that $20K streamer or fancy CNC machine milled powered box thing that will simply blow your mind.

 

[skhan007]

Well guys, 2024 is off to a great start. This just came to my house this morning...

More detailed review to follow.