[Peti]

Yup, I got the last Sylvania tube he had from 1956. No complaints here so far.

 

[PortableAudioLover]

I just acquired a WA8 today and it is really phenomenal. I really wished I could have bought this earlier...

 

[DanielListening]

I just acquired a WA8 today and it is really phenomenal. I really wished I could have bought this earlier...

Mine should be arriving tomorrow. I am looking forward to it.

Any impressions to share?

 

[DanielListening]

My WA8 has arrived. I will wait to give any real impressions but what I can say is I know that I have no regrets. It is exactly what I wanted.

Sounds amazing. The build quality is phenomenal, truly brilliant. Definitely a tube amplifier, the cymbals sounds so good.

 

[miuywu]

Sounds a bit sharp with my diana v2. Also warm on the mid - low end. Overall pleasant to use and just powerful enough. Not super detailed but very decent. Comparable to a mid range stack around $1100. The standout to me is the amp power, aesthetic, novelty and convenient transportability.

 

[justanut]

Too pretty

 

[amham]

I've had mine since it was released. In my 60+ years of "audiophile nervosa", I never been more pleased with an audio device and I've had some very expensive, highly regarded stuff (mostly sold). Yes, it is a bit soft and bloomy but that rich HOLOGRAPHIC sound is absolutely mesmerizing. No dry, overly detailed, flat/bland (yes, "balanced") sound for me...just that deep 3 DIMENTIONAL tube magic, in spades! And the DAC is more than adequate and perfectly matched. I can't listen to my other desktop Woo's with the Benchmark, Sony, Chord, Marantz, etc. without returning to the WA8 and wondering why not get rid of the others! Of course, YMMV...

 

[rizena]

Have you changed the vacuum tube? I'm going to change to the Mullard vacuum tube. I wonder how the sound changes.

 

[Daniel Johnston]

Have you changed the vacuum tube? I'm going to change to the Mullard vacuum tube. I wonder how the sound changes.

I changed to the Mullard.

Is it a dramatic improvement? No. To be honest, I've always gravitated toward British made tubes. My feeling is that they present a more realistic, holographic sound. That's just my feeling.

The driver tubes are doing most of the work. Turn off the gain tube by going in to 2 tube mode. If you can hear a substantial difference with and without the gain tube, then you may hear a difference with a new gain tube. I notice heavier, deeper bass with 3 tube mode vs 2 tube mode.

It's too much of a hassle to swap gain tubes and have any reasonable, accurate memory of the previous tube sound.

 

[rizena]

I changed to the Mullard.

Is it a dramatic improvement? No. To be honest, I've always gravitated toward British made tubes. My feeling is that they present a more realistic, holographic sound. That's just my feeling.

The driver tubes are doing most of the work. Turn off the gain tube by going in to 2 tube mode. If you can hear a substantial difference with and without the gain tube, then you may hear a difference with a new gain tube. I notice heavier, deeper bass with 3 tube mode vs 2 tube mode.

It's too much of a hassle to swap gain tubes and have any reasonable, accurate memory of the previous tube sound.

I see. Thank you for your reply.

 

[CyberAthlete]

Couldn't resist. Pulled the trigger on a WA8. I'm primarily going to be using it with the Sennheiser HD800S. My concern is the pop sound. I can leave the headphones plugged in but as long as the volume is on 0 before turning it on or off, it should be fine? Do you still hear the pop at 0 volume?

 

[justanut]

Couldn't resist. Pulled the trigger on a WA8. I'm primarily going to be using it with the Sennheiser HD800S. My concern is the pop sound. I can leave the headphones plugged in but as long as the volume is on 0 before turning it on or off, it should be fine? Do you still hear the pop at 0 volume?

No you don't. And it's really not that loud.

 

[justanut]

I changed to the Mullard.

Is it a dramatic improvement? No. To be honest, I've always gravitated toward British made tubes. My feeling is that they present a more realistic, holographic sound. That's just my feeling.

The driver tubes are doing most of the work. Turn off the gain tube by going in to 2 tube mode. If you can hear a substantial difference with and without the gain tube, then you may hear a difference with a new gain tube. I notice heavier, deeper bass with 3 tube mode vs 2 tube mode.

It's too much of a hassle to swap gain tubes and have any reasonable, accurate memory of the previous tube sound.

I just ordered the Mullard as well... was struggling btw that and the Syl, but well, more expensive is better right? Lol~

And ordered the leather case as well. Taking advantage of the free shipping offered right now.

 

[reductionist]

Jut got one with the Millard + Audeze lcd-xc 2021 and with a bit of eq they sound quite musical. Not overly analytical but in my opinion the right amount of detail and warmth. Really enjoying it.

 

[Tubewin]

Anyone compare this to the Wa7 3rd gen? Would really like to know if anyone has had both or listened to both, what their impressions were.