WOO Boy! WA7 Fireflies V3!!
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- čas přidán 12. 02. 2024
- I've spent some time with this AIO Tube DAC/AMP from WOO Audio, and now I would like to share my thoughts with all of you! Big thanks to WOO for allowing me time to spend with the Fireflies.
If you are interested, consider checking it out through their website (non-affiliate) link below:
wooaudio.com/amplifiers/wa7-3...
Gear that I use for testing:
Desktop DAC
Bifrost 2/64
Desktop AMP's
Cayin HA-3A
Cayin iHA-6
Schiit Magni
Portable Gear
Cayin RU7
iFi Uno
Follow me on Social Media
Twitter (X): / skeeb23
Instagram: / skeeb23_tech
Facebook: / skeeb23
Interested in having me review your product?
Email at:
skeeb23_tech@gmail.com - Zábava
Awesome review of an iconic (and modern) series by Woo Audio!
Subscribed recently from your previous DCA E3 review, and glad I have added you alongside other audiophile channels and outlets for reviews and news; you have excellent takes and very clear explanations!
I still have my Gen 1 WA7 with the tube power supply, though admittedly it gets much less use than it used to these days. 😄
What do you use more instead now?
the orange color USB connector is a premium “high retention” USB port which is a much tighter fit than standard. good quality!
Yes, sorry I did not mention that but it is a very tight fit! Excellent quality for noise control. I'd always recommend good quality cables if not using the one provided too.
@@Skeeb23 glad you appreciate the little details. Us premiumphiles care about the small things. lol....
I have smashed that like button!
Hey great review. I have a a pair of Empyrean 2’s and HD800s's and am interested in this to replace my JDS Labs Element III mk2 (boosted). Will pretty much exclusively be using this as a DAC/AMP from my computer. Saw you mention the Empy 2's and that it didn't necessarily have the attack you were looking for, other than that, any other issues you found when paired with Empy? Also, any other recs for a tube DAC that would pair better with the Empy?
It's still a great Tube Dac/Amp considering it is an all in one. I wish I could recommend you a different amp, I just haven't heard that many all in one tube amps. I'd easily recommend the HA-3A but that is just the amp. Attack is very subjective too remember. Some may think it's plenty and I compare a lot of it to my ZMF's. I love the attack nature of those.
Sounds way better when you replace the stock tubes. Gold Lion sounds powerful and great. Ray Audio also a great choice. Brimar CV4003 even better with added transparency.
Yea tubes.. The qualities is on the airy sonic sound yet pumpin low end sumtime better then deltaSigma.. Mine just 4 pentodes classA.. Peace!
Love my unit and agreed with your opinions.
It works INSANELY good for iems, even if there is a lil bg noise it goes away completely when music plays.
Apos 12au7 tubes are also pretty good with this unit, it enhances the details and improves clarity imo.
Wonder how utopia 2022 would sound on this wonderful device.
Btw, crazy AF how you mentioned that it made you want to add some KEFs to your desktop as it was, and still is my EXACT same thought, was considering the Q150, just never got to actually pull the trigger as I am more of an HP & iems person, but loved how you mentioned it.
Obviously I subbed :)
Cheers.
If you do get some Kefs, let's me know how it works with it, and thank you for the kind words!
I had this tiny little (yet very hefty) cube which I used to pre my solid state amp at the time. I later exchanged it for the WA22 which I now use to pre my Holo Bliss. I thoroughly enjoyed the WA7 during the time I had it and you can't go wrong with it! The stock tubes, while being good, are a bit too smooth and takes away from micro-dynamics for my taste however, they do give you a very wide sound-stage which is very nice. I personally used Mullard Re-issued 12AU7/ECC82 from Ebay which made this amp come to life! Amazing tubes for this little cube!
Nice, I always like Tube recommends. Agreed on the smoothness and why I wished it provided more attack. It's a great aio unit at such a small footprint.
Woooooooo!!!
Got mine a month ago and enjoy winding down the day to that tube glow. I’ve noticed with certain IOS devices that you need to set the Apple device to to full volume to get the WA7 to work. - The me more observation - u need to update your instagram handle in the video description.
Thank you for letting me know on the IG. I'll fix that link. As for Apple devices, yeah unfortunately I only have my Samsung phone so no apple testing was done. I'd reach out to WOO on that for any advice/suggestions.
What does it do to bass and the intangibles like soundstage + imaging? I also have an arya organic, does it emphasises the bass, or shrink the soundstage?
Its actually really interesting that it works with Arya Organic, I’ve always heard tubes dont work well with planars - is this a change of the times?
Would really like to know, this could be my next amp 😮
OTL tube's don't typically work well with planers. This is a hybrid Tube amo, which do typically well. Also transformer based Tube amps can also work well. My ha-3a, for example, works well with planers. I'd advise doing more research into it and you'll find some great information on this.
As for stage/imaging, it provides both very well for the Organic. I dint feel like the stage was boosted extra wide, but definitely not recessed from the amp. If anything, perhaps a touch more expansive.
@@Skeeb23 cheers skeeb
Im in the UK so if I go for a Woo amp for my HE1000SE I'd be taking a big chance as I can't hear them first. I'm tempted by the Tube Mini though so how would you compare the two? Is the WA7 worth more than double the price do you think?
The thing with the Tube Mini is that it won't do as many things for you as the WA7. Also, I didn't like the Tube Mini on IEMs and easier to drive planers. It almost has that OTL effect. Now the HE1kSE is harder to drive then the Organic, but it's a risk as I didn't hear that on the Tube Mini. Safest bet is to go with the WA7. Also you can Tube roll down the line as well. Don't get me wrong though, I loved the Tube Mini. If you had ZMF or something higher impedance, I'd recommend the Mini.
czcams.com/video/AUC0sy_VH04/video.html if you haven't seen it
Thanks for the reply. Yes I did see your review which is what made me ask. Much appreciated@@Skeeb23
What is a good tube amp for my HE1000se?
This one. Seriously. I'd definitely recommend a hybrid tube such as the Fireflies. Or a Schiit hybrid as well.
Great review! I have one question if you don't mind. You mention that the DCA E3 is hit or miss, I am looking at WA7 for my office and I primarily listen to rock and metal. Is it a hit for those genres? Thanks
Hey thanks for checking out the video. I think for Rock/Metal it is more of a miss on the WA7 if just using the E3. It doesn't have as much attack to notes, so drums and those things for that genre aren't as exciting imo. However, if that is not a huge deal to you, then the rest of it is done very well. It lends to great staging and crisp guitar and clear voices.
@@Skeeb23 Thanks for the response! I'll continue my search
Since I have seen that you have the WA7 in, I was waiting for this review and I hoped for a little comparison with the Tube Mini you reviewed as well.
The WA7 seems to follow the same approach only a number bigger. How does these two compare to each other?
By the way I have some issues with the approach Woo is following here with the Gen3. The predecessor had a dedicated tube power supply and even for the same price as the new version here. Somehow it looks like a step back conceptional plus less for the same amount of money ...hence don't really know what I have to think about this all new one 🤔
I can't comment on the power supply from previous gens if it even made a difference, but I can give you input on the Tube Mini.
So I actually liked the Tube Mini more from a pure sound stance because it fit my preferred gear more: which is headphones. The Tube Mini did not do well with IEMs as it's more powerful of a device. Sounded excellent with some higher impedance such as my ZMF too.
The WA7 is an excellent all-rounder though and especially higher efficient IEMs and headphones pair well here.
You also have to consider the Tube Mini cannot be Tube rolled and has a shelf life based on that. WA7 not so much.
@@Skeeb23 Thank you so much for your comprehensive reply. That helps me a lot with my thoughts if I should purchase a Tube Mini for my headphones 🤗
How does it compare to your Cajin?
I'm sure you meant my Cayin, as in the HA-3A. I prefer my HA-3A simply because it works for pretty much every headphone I've thrown at it. It has impedance settings and more power. It's also an AMP only, so that is one thing to consider with the WA7 being that it is a DAC/AMP combo. Also the HA-3A has more of that attack that I talked about lacking in the WA7.
@@Skeeb23 yes! Thanks I am considering both, as they are close in price, already own a Dac AND a wiim streamer that I preffer over my noisy desktop computer, so your awnser Is very helpful, hopefully a Review on the Cayin HA-3A Is on the way