[MikeLa]

No, I decided to give SS a try and ordered a Luxman P-1u.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the Supra. The Luxman still hasn't shipped, but the Weiss DAC 2 arrived the other day... wow, my PC has never sounded this good. Can't wait to hook it up to the Luxman and Qualia's.

 

[Shinsengumi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by El_Doug /img/forum/go_quote.gif the wa22 is a good choice if you want a balanced, transformer-coupled amp. the wa5 is a good choice is you want a 300b/6sn7 design

I would be very glad if someone could explain for my what El Doug meant with this. How will the different design effect the sound of a pair of Sennheiser HD-800?

I don't have any opportunity to listen to both amplifier so I try to gather as much information as I can to make a good decision.

 

[sillysally]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shinsengumi /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would be very glad if someone could explain for my what El Doug meant with this. How will the different design effect the sound of a pair of Sennheiser HD-800? I don't have any opportunity to listen to both amplifier so I try to gather as much information as I can to make a good decision.

I can't tell you how a WA22 sounds but what I would do if I your you is start reading all the post about the WA22 and the WA5LE, as I did not to long ago.

I now have a WA5LE max customized, with only about 140 hours on it and the tubes. What I can tell you about this amp in one word is Lush (2) - definition (A "lush" sound has a sense of warmth and fullness. Notes are more authoritative and have a sense of life about them. It is a sound free of any sibilance or brightness. It does not mean colored, however. It is an open and inviting sound enveloping the listener into its soundstage.)

In my case I don't think that a Fully balanced amp like the WA22 is a plus for me. And given the fact that my rig is non-balanced, going with something like a WA22 would have meant I would have to redo my complete chain.

I did however have the chance to use the RSA B-52 (Rays personal amp at his home). The biggest difference I found between the balanced HD-800 and the non balanced HD-800 was the black background that the balanced HD-800 had. That said my WA5LE using non balanced HD800s is as black of a background as Rays B-52 balanced HD800s.

As far as the difference in the Transformer is that the WA22 is a one piece Amp as where the WA5LE has a separate (two piece amp) transformer using two rectifiers.

ss

 

[Pepsi]

I own the WA5, and used to own the WA22. I wouldn't say that one is better than the other but rather it's more of a preference. They both have their own distinctive sounds, i just prefered the WA5 w/ the 300b sound. If you are going to mainly use the amp for headphone use, i'd go with the LE, from what i understand it offers the same sound without the speaker drive functionality which i need for my future plans. It would be great if someone could confirm that for me since i have no experience with the WA5LE.

 

[Lan647]

Which one of these should one choose if looking for a full-bodied and engaging sound? (Less thin and more powerful) 

 

[Lan647]

And which one would you pic for single-ended use only?

 

[Lan647]

No one?

 

[musicman59]

Without a doubt the WA5-LE. My systems are fully balanced and most of my headphones as well as my SS headphone amplifier so I was thinking on getting the WA22 to continue balanced.
I listened to both of them using my T1 balanced recalled headphones ( and the XLR to TRS adapter). It was very clear to me that the WA5 is a better and more powerful amplifier. That was confirmed with a long conversation with Jack. I ordered the WA5-LE with all the upgrades (electronics and tubes) and I am very happy with it to the point that my balanced SS amp is hardly used. If you are not going to use it to drive speakers then go with the LE version because it gives you specific outputs for high and low impedance headphones which is very important.