Woo Audio WA8 Eclipse

Woo Audio's WA8 Eclipse is possibly the first portable, pure tube amp of its kind. While quite heavy, it is potentially an all-in-one solution for anyone who wants to take a high-end rig on the go.
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[@Nephilim-81]

I think it's absolutely worth the price tag. I've tried it out. The WA 8 can drive a pair of HD 800's no problem on the 3 tube gain stage. :)

[@brianpacheco1927]

I got a pair of 700's. Do you think they would pair nicely with them since the treble can get kind of sibilant on these cans at times?

[@Nephilim-81]

@@brianpacheco1927 absolutely. Why not? Tubes always add decent warmth. :) Also. Music sources matter. On a revealing and clinical headphone be sure to try and listen to music that is well mixed and mastered. ;)

[@Nephilim-81]

I still want this amp badly! It won’t go away. 😕

[@irun2sanaxox]

I’ve seen this thing in videos a while back & now I’m getting curious about it, I luuuv tube sound & to be able to take it in my living room or jus anywhere seems like magic 👀

[@Nephilim-81]

@@irun2sanaxox pair with a decent DAP and you’re done. Bliss everywhere.

[@irun2sanaxox]

@@Nephilim-81 right now I use my phone as a DAP but been also curious about getting an actual player but idk I’ll see, I’m happy with playing my qobuz files off my phone into what is a desktop setup being the smsl su-8 & the Cayin ha-1a mkii as my tube amp & the thx amp which I don’t enjoy that much.. it’s usually between the tubes or my dragonfly cobalt from audio-quest which works really good with my focal elex & I also have hd6xx but the cobalt compared to the thx is smooth & more natural sounding which I love

[@irun2sanaxox]

@@Nephilim-81 have you seen the ZOTL mz3 headphone amp from linear tube audio? it’s expensive but looks nice 💭💭💭

[@Nephilim-81]

@@irun2sanaxox it would an excellent edition to any desktop set up and being a pre amp adds great diversity for other amps you might own that drive external speakers. ;)

[@LorenzoNW]

Ok, I'm sold. I'm also going to buy a couple Bybee QSEs to go with it. I've heard what they do in high-end home stereos - greater dimensionality, more refinement, more musicality, and greater emotional connection to the music. So it should do the same on the Eclipse.

[@Currawong]

Let us know how it goes.

[@2007vitaly]

Hi I am back again :) 1 year later, hey could you please help me out. I want to experience a real hiFi audio experience but being on a portable size I drive a truck so my main listening is done wile driving. I use Lg V30 and shure se846. After a year now I feel like I dont get the full delight of the sound I want real high end. What would you recommend me please, also that has a good sound isolation to, its a truck after all a bit on the noisy side. Thank you so much I really enjoy your reviews, you and Tyll ( innerfidelity ) are my 2 most favorite reviewers on youtube :)

[@Currawong]

What makes you feel like you're lacking something? Are the Shure's too dark-sounding? Most of the time, people just need gear with a different tuning.

[@2007vitaly]

I would like to hear more details and dynamics from mids and highs. While the bass is stunning good on se846 but its overwhelming to the listening over long period of time fatiguing the ears a bit. I listen 6 hours some times continuously. I want to experience richer sound and more vibrant maybe in the mids and highs. I saw you favor a lot the andromeda's would that be a what I am looking for?, also there is the noble kaiser encore the new version that just came out. Would a different dac amp open that feeling I am looking for? The other day I tried chord mojo vs my Lg v30 and not so different in sq, seems very equal. Its hard to try different equipment's to cause they are expensive and no store hold them only on special orders. I am From Montreal qc canada by the way.

[@dante19890]

846 is kinda outdated for a balanced armature iem especially against the newer models they do lack layering, clarity, detail retrival and soundstage. I would get a chord mojo and connect it to your phone and get a k10 encore or a Zeus XR and you got yourself the best portable setups thats available today.

[@jaklins5000]

I own a pair of SE846 and I was quite surprised to read your comment. I normally reach for the Shures when I want to relax, and I especially like to use them for female vocals. I also own the LG V30, but I don't use the two together, primarily because to me the SE846 are an IEM more to sit down and relax with, than to take on the go. I decided to do a quick comparison with my Astell&Kern AK120ii, and I have to agree with you in that they are a bit lacking on the V30. I listened to a few tracks which would definitely sound fatiguing or lacking on the wrong equipment - Don't Know Why and Turn Me On by Norah Jones, Ghosts by Laura Marling, Samson and Us by Regina Spektor, and Auld Lang Syne/Bring It On by Rebecca Pidgeon. I felt like I couldn't ever get the volume just right on the V30, trying to turn it up to bring out the background instruments made the highs just slightly piercing and I'd imagine that would be fatiguing over long periods. The vocals sounded a bit flatter, less passionate. Overall, I wasn't able to close my eyes and lose myself in the music like when I use the SE846 with the AK120ii. The AK is clearer, with better instrument separation, smoother mids and highs and a bit more substantial, full-bodied sound. I found the 1More Quad to be a much better match for the V30. As an every-day earphone it's more vibrant and fun sounding (V-shaped sound signature they say) - something I'd much rather use on the go or when running. Although, you might have to force your V30 into high gain mode to drive them, as sometimes they sound a bit quiet.

[@dentboxhero1717]

How short is short of a battery life are we talking about in real world scenario?

[@MultipleInterface]

This or the Chord Hugo 2?? So conflicted right now. Headphones I have are Audeze LCD-3's, Audeze LCD-XC, Focal Utopia, Ether Flow C's, HD600's, AKG K7XX's, Hifiman HE-400i's, and Monoprice M1060's that I'd like to be using.

[@Currawong]

The WA8 has an intentional lushness which makes for easier listening, but the Hugo 2 will be more detailed and accurate.

[@kevinbachus5887]

No reviews discuss replacement costs for the tubes, lifespan of the tubes, mechanism for changing the tubes. Is this information available? Thanks

[@Currawong]

Excellent points. The glass cover over the tubes is held in place by a single screw. Underneath, there are two boards, one holding the two 6S31B and the other board with the single 6021. The boards slot into a special socket. I guess the tubes will be available from Woo Audio when required, but you'd want to check with them about that.

[@phantran3646]

kevin b lifespan on the tubes are rated at 5000 hours

[@hazecha6363]

Would you call this end game level? Of course DAC and Amp combos can reach ludicrous prices, but if the budget for a DAC and Amp was $3,000, would this be just as good for its price, or would you say considerable performance gains can be had by spending the full $3k on other units?

[@JohnEthan777]

If my opinion matters, yes at 1800 dollars these are end game level, even the WA7s at 1000 dollars are end game level, if you want to spend high on a DAC and amp above 300 dollars in my opinion, you have to ensure that you audition them to know that you can hear the difference enough to justify the price bump, as otherwise it doesn't matter. Also, another thing to keep in mind in that your headphones should be on priority as well, I assume you have some great audezes, senns or beyers, etc. but this amp if I am not wrong is worthy of being paired with a Focal Utopia, which is the non-stax end-game headphone, as stated by the reviewer in an above comment. I have seen separate reviews, albeit not from audiophile sources where a pairing between this amp and the utopias was an amazing combination. To me, this pairing is a dream setup, as the utopias were the first high end headphones I knew of, and how I discovered the audiophile world.

[@KS_1990]

Could you please tell me a bit whether the unit WA8 sounds better than the WA7? Thank you so much for your answer

[@Currawong]

I didn't have them both here at the same time -- actually years apart, so I'm sorry I can't.

[@brianpacheco1927]

From what I remember - the WA7 is actually not 'tubey' sounding at all as it's a hybrid amp with a transformer. It actually sounds quite clean, the Sabre DAC with it was good but not great - not to mention it was way underpowered in its pricing bracket. It's honestly not worth the money despite looking gorgeous. The WA8 is an actual portable OTL Tube amp and the tubes they chose are very warm, gooey, syrupy sounding and because the Sabre DAC is very sharp and treble happy I think it provides an excellent pairing. Keep in mind, I haven't heard it myself but based on the reviews I've read it's pretty good.

[@KS_1990]

Brian Pacheco big thanks

[@robbas_krk1510]

Thanks for your review. I'm wondering if the Eclipse keeps up with today's times, or if it lacks modern technology. Would you recommend it today? What is your opinion after years?

[@kato2395]

You can join his patreon to get him to answer your question I think. $2 per month is the cheapest supporter program he has.

[@mohsenyaghmaei8093]

do you prefer WA8 over WA7 ?

[@Currawong]

I didn't have both here at the same time, so it would probably depend on the headphones I wanted to use with the amp. I did really enjoy the super lush sound of the WA8. A friend of mine is using one with a pair of Utopias.

[@rubenevensen2948]

Is the Yggdrasil also more relaxed when compared to the WA8 dac or is it the same but just more detailed?

[@Currawong]

I'd say simply more detailed.

[@nathanh9320]

Hi! Thanks for the review. I'm now trying to choose between this and Hugo 2. Mainly for CIEMs and Focal Elear. I would love to hear your thoughts, thanks a lot.

[@Currawong]

Hugo 2: Crystal clear, super high resolution. WA8: Warm, musical, less resolving. I don't think you'd be able to take advantage of the resolution with the Elear. With CIEMs that depends on the model.

[@nathanh9320]

Thank you so much for your reply! I have a pair of ES60, 64Audio A12t and Andromeda. Will they be good? And what's your recommendation of headphones pair with Hugo 2? Thanks again.

[@MFHRaptor]

+Nathan H I would like to ask; since you have both U12t and Andromeda, did you ever try tia Fourte? I'm curious to know how it compares to both of these as I've read in a Head-Fi review that Fourte is basically a higher-end Andromeda!

[@nathanh9320]

Yes, I did listening to the Tia Fourte for like forty minutes in my local shop with the Astell & Kern SP1000 Copper. But it was a while ago, I'll try my best to describe what's I can remember. It's one of the most clear, transparent IEMs I ever heard, especially from mid to high. Bass is punchy and tight enough, pretty well-controlled for a mixed unit but boy the mid and treble are just delicious. Sound stage wise is not very wide, but it's so tall thanks to those Tia High I suppose. The treble extents very high and it feel so spacious up there. I was properly shocked on the first song I played as it was detailed, musical and very enjoyable, but I somehow got tired after a while and wanting to lower the volume or take a break from it. Maybe it's a bit too bright and revealing to me, I don't know exactly why, need more time with it. One thing I notice tho, it's that you really need a worthy pairing for the Fourte. I tried it with my iPhone X + Mojo, it's still nice but no where near as good as that $3500 AK.(well, duh..) Overall performance? One of the best Universal IEM if not The best, but I still don't think that crazy price tag is justified tho, especially when you need to throw another thousand or two in the DAP if you wanna take them out. Is it an ultimate Andromeda? Umm, come to think of it, they do share some similarities. Maybe I'll go back to the store and try them both with the Hugo 2 I just got lol. It's just my opinion from what I remember, it could be completely wrong haha.

[@MFHRaptor]

Thank you very much for your reply. I think Fourte's MSRP is too exorbitant, so I've reached a decision to see if someone is selling his for around $2500. That seems about right. What got me intrigued wasn't only it comparison to the Andromeda, but someone at his review said it's also similar to a Utopia in an IEM fashion. If there's any truth to that then they are truly increadible. I'm looking for my one-and-only IEM as I'm coming from a headphone background and would like to match that in a portable fashion, but in the highest quality possible. As for portable DAC/AMPs, I think I'll settle for the Chord Mojo.

[@Bluebair]

You planning on reviewing the ifi micro black label ever?

[@Currawong]

I don't have a plan to at the moment. I'd thought of doing so when iFi sent me the xDSD.

[@Bluebair]

Currawong id like to hear your oponion on it someday! I use mine with my hd800 sdr modded, and I know its not a common pairing but I enjoy it very much, especially with that bass boost being there.

[@stevenandrew6829]

How does it compare to a Chord Mojo and is it worth the extra $1500?

[@InternetUser-d7s]

This is better.review over.

[@Malangsufi]

Did to pair it with dita truth?

[@Currawong]

I didn't, but I don't see any problem. I was more interested in full-size headphone pairings due to its size.

[@2007vitaly]

how does it compare to cv5, would it be a good match with shure se846 and played from s7 edge?

[@Currawong]

The WA8 is more lush. I haven't a pair of SE846 here, but other multiple-BA IEMs have a bit of hiss with the CV5, and the WA8 doesn't. If you can get OTG mode working with the WA8 DAC from the S7 that would be better anyhow.

[@2007vitaly]

Oh and one thing I been reading on head fi about the cv5 its a rfi cell phone signal magnet, get lot of interference. Can you tell me please if the wa8 be good for my usage. Thanks for the quick reply :) I do like the wa8 but its kinda very pricy would it sound better then the cv5?

[@AliArghavan]

Does it pair well with Hifiman's Edition X?

[@Currawong]

Should do fine.

[@xxxBush-Did-911xxx]

Quite dank