[ColSaulTigh]

My WA6-SE Gen 2 arrived today!

Stock rectified (Sofia backorders, USAF 596 coming from eBay (adapter coming from Woo, because, um, Woo?).

Power tubes upgraded to 13EM7's from Woo (Westinghouse). I'll start reading the tube rolling threads for others to play with.

First impressions: Very well packed, no complaints. Arrived 2 days ahead of the estimated delivery date from FedEx. I am a bit disappointed they were delayed so long for the silver unit, but basic black is fine.

Very well crafted, these units feel very substantial. The umbilical cord is much shorter than I imagined, but that makes cable management easier.

Listening through my Focal Clear MG's (55Ω) with cheap silver/copper Lutz cable (high impedance jack). Using my Douk P1 as a DAC from my PC USB (because my SMSL VMV D1SE is somewhere in China, apparently). EQ is off.

Boston - "More Than A Feeling" is clean, precise, and very "70's Rock" thick. Nice. Cymbals are a touch suppressed. "Hitch a Ride" is strong, close, but slightly hollow. Turning the EQ on and off illustrates what I don't like about these headphones (they're very clinical).

Usher - "Yeah!" has plenty of bass, but again, it's a bit thick and not quite defined. Highs don't "sparkle". This is a very "tubey" amp/tube combo, that's for sure.

John Williams and the London Philharmonic Orchestra - "Star Wars - Main Theme" sounds big and wide as it should, a better recording would serve this better, I think. The harp and triangle are a bit buried. "The Throne Room" is impactful. The brass really sings here. "The Imperial March" sounds better - the orchestra is placed correctly.

General take - very, very warm and thick, this is a lot more of what I was looking for. I'll try the Sennheiser HD8XX's tomorrow night for comparison. In the meantime, any suggestions?

Also, there's a very slight buzz, which I attribute to my cheap power cord, cheap DAC, and lack of burn-in. I assume that'll go away?

 

[gefski]

My WA6-SE Gen 2 arrived today!

Stock rectified (Sofia backorders, USAF 596 coming from eBay (adapter coming from Woo, because, um, Woo?).

Power tubes upgraded to 13EM7's from Woo (Westinghouse). I'll start reading the tube rolling threads for others to play with.

First impressions: Very well packed, no complaints. Arrived 2 days ahead of the estimated delivery date from FedEx. I am a bit disappointed they were delayed so long for the silver unit, but basic black is fine.

Very well crafted, these units feel very substantial. The umbilical cord is much shorter than I imagined, but that makes cable management easier.

Listening through my Focal Clear MG's (55Ω) with cheap silver/copper Lutz cable (high impedance jack). Using my Douk P1 as a DAC from my PC USB (because my SMSL VMV D1SE is somewhere in China, apparently). EQ is off.

Boston - "More Than A Feeling" is clean, precise, and very "70's Rock" thick. Nice. Cymbals are a touch suppressed. "Hitch a Ride" is strong, close, but slightly hollow. Turning the EQ on and off illustrates what I don't like about these headphones (they're very clinical).

Usher - "Yeah!" has plenty of bass, but again, it's a bit thick and not quite defined. Highs don't "sparkle". This is a very "tubey" amp/tube combo, that's for sure.

John Williams and the London Philharmonic Orchestra - "Star Wars - Main Theme" sounds big and wide as it should, a better recording would serve this better, I think. The harp and triangle are a bit buried. "The Throne Room" is impactful. The brass really sings here. "The Imperial March" sounds better - the orchestra is placed correctly.

General take - very, very warm and thick, this is a lot more of what I was looking for. I'll try the Sennheiser HD8XX's tomorrow night for comparison. In the meantime, any suggestions?

Also, there's a very slight buzz, which I attribute to my cheap power cord, cheap DAC, and lack of burn-in. I assume that'll go away?

Don’t know of any buzz, even slight, with Woo amps. (Other than the first few seconds after turn-on) Nothing that burn-in will fix. Likely something in your particular combination. Just try swapping stuff in & out and move cables around.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

So Woo is apparently backordered on the Sophia 274B with clear glass. They're offering me the blue glass version for a $20 discount.

Does anyone know if there's any difference aside from the glass color?

Thanks!

 

[Ralf Hutter]

So Woo is apparently backordered on the Sophia 274B with clear glass. They're offering me the blue glass version for a $20 discount.

Does anyone know if there's any difference aside from the glass color?

Thanks!

I have a few of the original clear ones for sale, I PMed you.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

It's time for everyone's favorite game show - "What's in the Box?"

Extra bonus edition!

 

[ColSaulTigh]

That's right! It's my USAF 596 and Woo Audio 596-to-5U4G adapter!!!

 

[jonathan c]

Tag-team for the WWF…Woo Woo Federation…

 

[ColSaulTigh]

Tag-team for the WWF…Woo Woo Federation…

Ugh, I wanted my WA6-SE Gen2 in silver so bad, but Woo talked me into black (2 weeks vs. 2 months.) Maybe next time!

But I must say, you have nice taste in rectifiers and adapters!

 

[jonathan c]

Ugh, I wanted my WA6-SE Gen2 in silver so bad, but Woo talked me into black (2 weeks vs. 2 months.) Maybe next time!

But I must say, you have nice taste in rectifiers and adapters!

This is at ‘mountain house’ / in my study is the black WA6SE…matches the gear there.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

This is at ‘mountain house’ / in my study is the black WA6SE…matches the gear there.

Yeah, there's a certain elegance to basic black. But since I'm basically starting from the ground up in the hobby again, I was thinking of going all silver. Woo + Denafrips Pontus II + whatever. But most of the time I'm sitting in the dark chilling anyway, so....

Just to confirm, your 596 sits slightly anti-clockwise, right? Like aligned to the 11:00 position? Just want to make sure it's not just me.

 

[jonathan c]

Yeah, there's a certain elegance to basic black. But since I'm basically starting from the ground up in the hobby again, I was thinking of going all silver. Woo + Denafrips Pontus II + whatever. But most of the time I'm sitting in the dark chilling anyway, so....

Just to confirm, your 596 sits slightly anti-clockwise, right? Like aligned to the 11:00 position? Just want to make sure it's not just me.

Mine does - I go by fitting the tube into the ‘key slot’ of the adapter.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

Mine does - I go by fitting the tube into the ‘key slot’ of the adapter.

I think (but am not 100% positive) that two pins are slightly smaller than the other two, making it only fit one way. I didn't notice anything to key the tube off of in the adapter. The adapter does have a key slot though into the amp, that much I'm sure of.

 

[VanHai]

I am curious with those adapters and special tubes. How they compare to the best of regular tubes?.

 

[jonathan c]

I think (but am not 100% positive) that two pins are slightly smaller than the other two, making it only fit one way. I didn't notice anything to key the tube off of in the adapter. The adapter does have a key slot though into the amp, that much I'm sure of.

There are pins that are 2+2. You are correct, there is only one fit. These sorts of tubes must be hand-made so orientation variance exists.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

I am curious with those adapters and special tubes. How they compare to the best of regular tubes?.

For this amp, and having only the stock + the USAF to compare, I can tell you the USAF is a DRAMATIC improvement over stock. Much richer, fuller sound. Delivers an incredible amount of detail. Plenty of nice clean juice for hard-hitting drum kicks. I have other tubes coming (see my sig).

As for the adapter, well, if my choice is the Woo adapter that looks stunning and matches my other adapters OR a generic one that looks like it came from the 1970's in basic brown, I'll spend the extra money on the Woo adapter. YOLO, right?