Woo Audio & Sennheiser hd600/650.......

[Toobs]

I plan on buying the Sennheiser hd600 or 650 and was wondering if the Woo audio WA3 is a good match, or is there a better option..
I plan on using my Marantz sa8004 for the source.

BTW. I'd like to keep the price for the phones $ amp right around $1k.


Thanx

Please excuse the typo in the thread heading

[Puma Cat]

The Woo Audio WA3 is a good match, but the Schiit Valhalla 2 is also a great match. In fact the Val 2 was purpose-designed by Schiit for the Senn HD600/650s and the Beyerdynamics high Z headphones. The Valhalla 2 is a triode-based output transformer-less design that is said to be optimal for those Senns. It's the amp I use, and you can roll your favorite flavor of tubes into it (it works especially well with Amperex 6922s).

All this for only $349.

I can post pics if you want to see them.

[Jean-Marc jmajma]

And for Senn HD800, Puma, what would you say, please?

[Toobs]

Stephen
Please post pics. The Schiit is a better deal and way cheaper than the Woo.

[djwhog]

I run a Woo and had the 650s, they are power hungry and at was still fine, but now have 700 and 800s. This is my amp.

Woo Audio WA-6SE with Sophia Princess & matched pair of 6GL7/6EM tubes

Of course all mods+ tube upgrades.

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by djwhog

I run a Woo and had the 650s, they are power hungry and at was still fine, but now have 700 and 800s. This is my amp. Woo Audio WA-6SE with Sophia Princess & matched pair of 6GL7/6EM tubes Of course all mods+ tube upgrades.

I also use a WA6 with Sophia Princess for my Senn 800s - not the SE, the single chassis but with upgraded caps.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Jean-Marc jmajma

And for Senn HD800, Puma, what would you say, please?

Jean-Marc,
I would recommend two options:

1) Schiit Vali tube amp; only $119, and apparently, an remarkably good matchup for HD800s acc. to the guys at that pyrate headphone site. Consistently gets rave reviews from guys there that own this pairing.

2) Sennheiser HDVA 600: about $1500-$1600. This amp is made for this headphone, and as Dan has written, is a superb match-up. I heard this pairing first-hand, and it is as good as Dan has described in his reviews.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Toobs

Stephen
Please post pics. The Schiit is a better deal and way cheaper than the Woo.

Bob,
Here's some pics of mine, sorry these aren't set up in my table top product photography setup; just quick snapshots to give you an idea....







The amp is quite substantially built, and much heavier than it looks; it has very hefty, beefy power supply. Schiit puts their money in building their products where it matters, not in fancy cosmetics. I was particularly impressed with the quality of the ceramic tube sockets, they are really gorgeous. It also comes with a 5 year warranty...when is the last time you bought an electronic component that had a 5 year warranty??? Like never???

I just went to their web site and noticed they are presently backordered (probably waiting on transformers), but they say they should be shipping by mid to end of March. Not to worry as this amp is worth the wait! (I waited for a coupla weeks for transformers when I placed my order at the end of December).

I absolutely love this amp. I use it with my Modi2 Uber DAC and Wyrd USB Decrapifier in my office/digital darkroom, but I also frequently bring it out and connect it to my Schiit Gungnir DAC/Wyrd in the main system for a reference-quality experience with my Senn HD600s. I had an audio buddy over yesterday for a visit, and he listened to Gungnir/Wyrd/Valhalla2 with my Senn HD600s and he was absolutely blown away at the sound quality, saying, "This is reference quality music reproduction."

You can roll tubes into the input stage to your heart's content, as well. Oh, just forgot, there is a switch on the back to cut the gain, so you can also use Val 2 with low impedance cans like Grados, IEMs, etc. But, it really comes into it's own with high-impedance Senns or Beyers.

Owning a no. of Schiit products I can atttest to the build quality, durability, and excellent customer service from this company; they are a first-class operation. If you decide you don't like it, you can return it in the first 15 days, but I think you'll love it.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Oh, BTW, you going to LOVE those Senn HD600s; IMO, they are one of the most remarkable music reproduction transducers I have ever heard. Listening to them is like having a pair of Quad ESL-63s on your head. I have to admit I've only listened to my loudspeakers twice since getting the Val 2 in early to mid January; I've been listening to the amp and the HD600s.
Cheers,
Stephen.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by djwhog

I run a Woo and had the 650s, they are power hungry and at was still fine, but now have 700 and 800s. This is my amp.

Woo Audio WA-6SE with Sophia Princess & matched pair of 6GL7/6EM tubes

Of course all mods+ tube upgrades.

Bet it sounds great! I'd love to hear a Woo some time...

[djwhog]

Thanks, yep that out board power is a beast, sound floor is nill and the range and separation are top notch. You get a very nice 3d spatial effect and can hear the slightest of anything that is in the music.