TOTL tubed headpone amp

That’s a great deal to get the HA-300 for $2900, and the extra $1000 will be good for the Psvane ACME 300b tube. By the way, that tube, will DEFINITELY need over 100 hours of proper burn in. You’ll have the amazing treble extension and very fast transients, but thinner mids and bass. But once you reach that 100 hours, all of that really fills in, and whoa! It just becomes so incredibly amazing!

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Yeah, really seems like the best price I’d be likely to see. Don’t really have spare cash right now, but still thinking about it.

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Wow, it;s down to 2850.

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Have you considered the WOO WA8 Eclipse?

It’s their transportable option. I’ve had the WA22 and eventually settled on the WA8. Likely also because I wanted something to take with me on travels, pick it up from my desk and listen in bed… many use cases.

The Battery operation also does miracles as a power source. Despite having some higher end gear, for me the Eclipse is unbeaten as the absolutely best purchase made over the last few years. By far. Not because of the SQ but it’s overall qualities any my personal use case.

I have yet to try a headphone or IEM that I would prefer plugging into another amp/dac.

PS: yes, the WA22 was sonically more spectacular and haven’t had a chance to listen to the WA33 yet.

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Looks like fun gear. I’m really looking for a tube amp of some substance, if I’m going to spend any money at all on more headphone gear. I have a Dragonfly Cobalt that I plug into my laptop when I travel, having found that the dragontail adapter refuses to stay firmly connected to the output on my Android (Pixel 2). But I don’t really want to add more pocket gear to keep track of, I’m really bad at not losing things on extended trips!

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I’m sending my deposit for the Stratus tomorrow.

I can’t justify the juggling necessary to buy the Cayin on sale now (down to $2800) and order a Stratus, too … even if I plan to sell the Cayin later. Just too much cash tied up, and too much gear in an already unruly office space … So, looking forward to this in a few months!

Meanwhile, if anyone wants what looks like a sweet deal on the HA 300, this is the link …
Audiogon

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Nice! Looking forward to your impressions.

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Happy to share in a few months. It’s a bit of a gamble buying something sight unheard, but I’m confident it’s the kind of sound I will like. My main listening system runs on a Class D “super”-integrated that is very high quality and ideal for hi-rez streaming as well as multi-source use (TV, phono, CD, files via USB). But I also crave a old-school set-up. Or a set-up based around something old-school (obviously, streaming files through a DAC is hard to get away from these days).

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I completely understand. When I have the space I’d like to build a nice two-channel setup with something like a McIntosh paired with Tannoy, or something comparable.

I hope you enjoy the new amp when you receive it. Though something tells me you most certainly will.

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:heart_eyes::heart_eyes::heart_eyes::heart_eyes: me too! That would be epic.

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Invoice is on the way … T-minus 6 months and counting until … STRATUS :tokyo_tower: :loud_sound: :studio_microphone: :alien: :musical_note: :atom_symbol: :two: :a: :three:

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Hopefully it will arrive earlier, my DNA showed up about a month sooner than I thought. Please post pics when it does.

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I second this. Need pics of Stratus in the wild.

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I’ll keep everyone posted!!

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Whew, just when I thought I can’t get a better sound, I replaced my Psvane CV-181T mkII tubes (6sn7 driver tubes) with a NOS pair of the legendary Sylvania 6SN7W metal base tubes, and holy cow! Well worth the $500 for the pair, especially as NOS!

The 6SN7Ws sound absolutely amazing. The sheer clarity and expressiveness with vocals just elevated the amp. It’s the same feeling I got when I upgraded to the Hugo TT2, I didn’t think it’d be that big of a difference, but there is.



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And THEN! My friend dropped by so I can hear his M-Scaler with the $1700 Wave Storm Reference BNC cables and took it to another stratosphere!

We listened to his LCD-4 that just brought so much more resolution, punch, pureness, and dynamics compared to my LCD-3

Finally, we added his Innuos streamer, and A/B between my computer and the Streamer with both Tidal and Amazon HD. Seriously yesterday was just magical. Another friend who’s been an audiophile for 35 years came by and said he never heard his favorite song, Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, as good as yesterday!

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That’s awesome! Looking forward to hearing some of that magic. :+1:t4:

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Awesome! Now both the M Scaler and the LCD4 can’t be unheard and I kinda feel sorry (but not really, lol) for your wallet.

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Sylvania 6SN7W metal base is one of my very favorite 6SN7 tubes, but of the several pairs I have, none has as pristine lettering as this one!
Congrats.

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I know, I was gonna say “are you sure thats not new production?”. Absolute gem. I got some NOS Sylvania of another tube type and they aint near that pretty.

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