Woo Audio WA6 + WA6SE: Tubes, Comments, Pictures, and Advice

[Deyan]

Ok, and that’s a specific adapter for the SE model? The manual is clear that the 6SN7 can only be used with an adapter in the normal WA6 and not the SE. Do you maybe know why that’s the case?

The adapter works in both amps. The design isn't mine 2359glenn sent me the schematics for it and I never gave it much thought, I just follow what he gave me and the thing works.

 

[Tubegear]

Since the OP asked specifically about the "SE" model, I should point out that Mike from Woo wrote me:

"6SN7 tubes are not compatible with WA6-SE, ever. Using this tube or its alternative may damage the amplifier and will void the factory warranty."

Fyi

 

[Proffessa]

Fyi

Yes but the adapters Deyan constructs aren't merely pin position changers like your average adapters. Deyan's contain components that change/correct values, making the tube suit the amplifiers requirements. Mike will be saying that to protect warranties xx

 

[bfreedma]

I’ve also been told by Woo that using tubes on the compatibility list NOT bought directly from Woo may void your warranty.

For that reason, my 6se will be both my first and last Woo product. Not paying 100% over market value to buy from Woo’s limited tube choices.

Would love to see someone from Woo correct their position or explain it, but crickets for years.

 

[Proffessa]

I’ve also been told by Woo that using tubes on the compatibility list NOT bought directly from Woo may void your warranty.

For that reason, my 6se will be both my first and last Woo product. Not paying 100% over market value to buy from Woo’s limited tube choices.

Would love to see someone from Woo correct their position or explain it, but crickets for years.

I was pretty much mugged off by Mike when I asked about tube rolling. He also ignored me when i asked about the date of manufacture. Both perfectly reasonable requests. I was friendly and polite as usual. Treated me like an idiot. I was raging.

 

[AnyDave]

I was pretty much mugged off by Mike when I asked about tube rolling. He also ignored me when i asked about the date of manufacture. Both perfectly reasonable requests. I was friendly and polite as usual. Treated me like an idiot. I was raging.

From Mike at Woo? That's really odd, he's always been super helpful whenever I've had questions.

 

[Proffessa]

From Mike at Woo? That's really odd, he's always been super helpful whenever I've had questions.

Yeah man. I expected nice friendly interaction from a small company but what I got was dry and dismissive. Then I was ignored for a week when I asked about the date of manufacture regarding my serial number. (You see knowing the date of manufacture would have answered all my rolling questions) when I finally asked what I'd done to annoy him (as I was blatantly being ignored), he replied back instantly, pretty much repeating his first answer, saying Woo only recommend the stock tubes. No acknowledgement of my previous emails. I took time writing to them, took pictures of my tubes and listed what I had etc. I was all happy and excited to play with my new amp but I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. See now I think he couldn't be arsed with me as I didn't spend money with them. I was given my wa6se as a present and i stated that in my initial email. Still I would have thought Woo would care about where there equipment was and how it was being treated. Seems not. Just my experience xx

 

[AnyDave]

Yeah man. I expected nice friendly interaction from a small company but what I got was dry and dismissive. Then I was ignored for a week when I asked about the date of manufacture regarding my serial number. (You see knowing the date of manufacture would have answered all my rolling questions) when I finally asked what I'd done to annoy him (as I was blatantly being ignored), he replied back instantly, pretty much repeating his first answer, saying Woo only recommend the stock tubes. No acknowledgement of my previous emails. I took time writing to them, took pictures of my tubes and listed what I had etc. I was all happy and excited to play with my new amp but I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. See now I think he couldn't be arsed with me as I didn't spend money with them. I was given my wa6se as a present and i stated that in my initial email. Still I would have thought Woo would care about where there equipment was and how it was being treated. Seems not. Just my experience xx

Yeah, that's odd. Woo has a list of approved tubes for use in the WA6, so perhaps he was saying they don't recommend anything beyond that list? That would certainly make more sense.

Sorry you had a bad experience. I've had great experiences with those guys.

 

[bfreedma]

Yeah, that's odd. Woo has a list of approved tubes for use in the WA6, so perhaps he was saying they don't recommend anything beyond that list? That would certainly make more sense.

Sorry you had a bad experience. I've had great experiences with those guys.

I was directly told by Woo that tubes on their approved list that were not bought directly from Woo may violate the warranty. Have tried to get clarification several times, but no response.

Woo employees post here regularly. They can either clarify or I’ll assume any tube not purchased from Woo may violate the warranty, which is ridiculous and just an attempt to force customers to pay their over market prices for tubes.

 

[jonathan c]

Yeah, that's odd. Woo has a list of approved tubes for use in the WA6, so perhaps he was saying **they don't recommend anything beyond that list?** That would certainly make more sense.

Sorry you had a bad experience. I've had great experiences with those guys.

**.... psst! I agree .... and all of the tubes that I use in WA2, WA3, WA6 (Gen1) were purchased from sellers other than Woo.

 

[AnyDave]

I was directly told by Woo that tubes on their approved list that were not bought directly from Woo may violate the warranty. Have tried to get clarification several times, but no response.

Woo employees post here regularly. They can either clarify or I’ll assume any tube not purchased from Woo may violate the warranty, which is ridiculous and just an attempt to force customers to pay their over market prices for tubes.

I do use tubes in my WA6 that I haven't gotten from Woo. If an aftermarket tube caused damage to the amp, I wouldn't really expect them to cover that damage under warranty. If there was a failure unrelated to the tubes being used, I would hope that the warranty would still be intact. Perhaps that's the clarification that could help here.

Now, my amp is 1st generation and long out of warranty, so it's a moot point in my case. I just enjoy the amp and don't worry about it. For my WA8, I haven't used tubes other than the ones I got from Woo, so that's a non issue.

 

[johncarm]

Yeah man. I expected nice friendly interaction from a small company but what I got was dry and dismissive. Then I was ignored for a week when I asked about the date of manufacture regarding my serial number. (You see knowing the date of manufacture would have answered all my rolling questions) when I finally asked what I'd done to annoy him (as I was blatantly being ignored), he replied back instantly, pretty much repeating his first answer, saying Woo only recommend the stock tubes. No acknowledgement of my previous emails. I took time writing to them, took pictures of my tubes and listed what I had etc. I was all happy and excited to play with my new amp but I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. See now I think he couldn't be arsed with me as I didn't spend money with them. I was given my wa6se as a present and i stated that in my initial email. Still I would have thought Woo would care about where there equipment was and how it was being treated. Seems not. Just my experience xx

I also had an unpleasant, dismissive interaction with Mike in which he refused to help me with my request.

 

[Proffessa]

I also had an unpleasant, dismissive interaction with Mike in which he refused to help me with my request.

Right well that settles it then lads! Next can jam.. we all join forces like megazord from power rangers and kick Mike's ass. He'll probably combine with the woo team into the woozord and we'll have an all out battle on our hands. Better prepare well lads. This will be a big one xx

 

[bfreedma]

I do use tubes in my WA6 that I haven't gotten from Woo. If an aftermarket tube caused damage to the amp, I wouldn't really expect them to cover that damage under warranty. If there was a failure unrelated to the tubes being used, I would hope that the warranty would still be intact. Perhaps that's the clarification that could help here.

Now, my amp is 1st generation and long out of warranty, so it's a moot point in my case. I just enjoy the amp and don't worry about it. For my WA8, I haven't used tubes other than the ones I got from Woo, so that's a non issue.

Agreed. I’ve tried to get clarification but wasn’t successful. My 6se is also a gen 1 and out of warranty but unless Woo clarifies their policy, I’ll be buying my amps elsewhere.

 

[jonathan c]

This is where WA6 (Gen1) gets into deep fun territory :

Mullard GZ34 'seven notch, copper lines' rectifier, pair RCA 'black plate, narrow gap' 6SN7 on @Deyan-built 6SN7-->6DE7 adapters.

Amazing sound: great tonal balance, detail, impact, liquidity, panoramic staging ... EDIT: percussion, strings, vocals are ....