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airdough
26
Jun 24, 2018
This or the Woo WA22?
R56S
22
Jun 24, 2018
airdoughDefinitely the WA22, but for over 3x the price. Unless you can find a good used 1st gen model for a little over a grand. I sold my MKVI+ for a WA22 (1st gen) when they were 2K. Much better amp in so many ways, but I think the MKVI+ can power high impedance (300+ Ohms) headphones better.
airdough
26
Jun 24, 2018
R56SYa, I’ve seen quite a few go used for between $1100-1400. I have the Sennheiser HD800s, LCD-2 Fazor and have been eyeing the Focal Utopia to add to the mix. Had never really considered the Schiit Mjolnir 2 as you recommended below, but have heard great things about the WA22. Since you have heard both, which do you recommend, WA22 or Schiit? Thanks!
Also forgot to mention, current setup is an iFi iDSD Black for portable, and the Topping D10 with DarkVoice 336SE (both Massdrop acquired). Will going balanced give me a significant improvement?
bloodhawk
74
Jun 24, 2018
airdoughI had both, and decided to keep this. But i did upgrade a LOT of my components in my MK VI+.
Out of the box WA22 is better unit.
R56S
22
Jun 24, 2018
airdoughThe WA22 and the Mjolnir 2 are what I listen to almost every evening. Both are fed from an Oppo HA-1 into a custom XLR switchbox. For the price, sound, warranty and its ability to drive anything then definitely the Mjolnir 2. Tube rolling is of course limited on the Schiit whereas on the WA22 the sickness has room to run free with almost endless power/driver/rectifier tube combinations. I too have the LCD-2 Fazor and the Schiit runs circles around the WA22 with them. Both amps can drive my Focal Elear's just fine, but I prefer how the WA22 sounds with them. Same for my Grado GS1000e. The only Sennheiser cans I have are HD650's, but at 300Ohm the WA22 struggles. And my Beyerdynamic DT900 (600Ohm) cans are completely useless on the WA22. I don't know if the Gen2 WA22 has more power than the first gen, or if the additional $500 was spent elsewhere.
This probably sounds idiotic but when I switched over to balanced everything sounded stronger and wider. And that was with most of the same headphones I have now.
Jackula
1743
Jun 25, 2018
airdoughThe Woo WA22 is a much better amp, just know that it isn't a fully balanced amp. The output transformers are still single ended despite the rest of the amp being balanced. As for Mjolnir vs WA22, it's really solid state output vs tube output and what you prefer. For planars, solid state is usually better since tubes can't keep up with the current demand. For high impedance dynamics, tube is usually better due to its naturally high output voltage.
rdodev
632
Sep 1, 2018
R56SNot just better, I think this amp would choke power-hungry cans. That is to say, it's specifically designed for high-impedance headphones.
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