Hey any more detailed comments on the WA6-SE? Did you compare it to the RME Adi-2 dac output or the A90? I'm very curious as I'm interested in getting a tube amp to compliment my VC+ADI-2 dac. Been thinking about the Feliks, pendant or Woo audio WA6-SE. However there isn't any demo in Hong Kong (where I live). And like most here I lean towards the scientific side of this hobby. So would really like your input in your experience.
many opinions:
They’re all really similar at face value. With my cans, while actually listening as opposed to just testing how loud things could go, but while actually listening I never ran out of steam on the RME. Maybe if you liked to listen really really loud there’d be a benefit to having the a90. At normal listening levels I never had an issue with the RME. At normal listening levels switching back and forth if I had to choose I liked the RME better. That said, I would assign zero value to that difference. They’re more or less the same and I sent the A90 back.
The WA6-SE is a little different and while at first blush it also has a very similar sound after spending time with it I started to appreciate the differences. I really don’t like that the proper word to use to describe this is distortion because I believe they scientifically that word means something different than it does audibly, but I digress. Once I started digging in and rolling tubes things changed a bit. Nothing mind blowing mind you, but subtle differences. I think it’s a little bit user experience too. Let’s start with the sound. There’s a very small amount reverb effect added that I really appreciate. This when combined with distortion or as a result of distortion is really pleasing and does make things feel a little bit more full as it effects the way that notes decay. As a test I tried to mimic the sound using UAD plugins and was able to get most of the way there using a tape effect and a reverb plugin which brings me to the user experience part. I’m not the guy who is back and forth from my desk all day listening music. I turn on the amp, I sit in my listening chair and enjoy music while surfing the web or playing a game. The music is the primary reason for sitting. That’s how hard I need to be listening to appreciate the differences. If it was just throwing cans on in-between business calls I doubt I’d bother with tubes. At least not this particular amp.
I feel like I used a lot of words to not say very much. Bottom line is that I wouldn’t argue with someone that said it all sounds the same. It does. I also wouldn’t argue with someone that told me they could hear the difference, because if you listen for it it’s there. Whether or not it’s worth the money is up to you, but I very much enjoy my Woo Audio amp and the experience it provides from the great sound, the glowing tubes, and the satisfying volume pot.
