Categories: AmplifiersHeadphone

Headphone Amp Battle: Pathos Aurium vs Woo Audio WA7

 

I’ve own these amps for a few months and wanted to a quick comparison. One thing to keep in mind is the price difference. The Woo Audio WA7 is priced at $999 and comes with a DAC (comparable to a DACmagic XS/Dragonfly). The Pathos Aurium comes in at $1,500 and doesn’t include a DAC. I’ll be using the Chord Hugo as the source for this comparison.

Equipment used:

  • Sennheiser HD 800 (modified) + Stock cables
  • Tidal
  • Woo Audio WA7 Fireflies
  • Pathos Aurium with stock tubes
  • Chord Hugo
  • Chord Silverplus USB Cable
  • Kimber Silverstreak RCA Ultraplates
  • Sennheiser HD 800
  • Lenovo T420
  • PS Audio P10 Power Plant

Aurium Pathos

  • Better authority
  • Thicker in a good way
  • Smoother, not as edgy
  • More natural presentation
  • Pairs better with the HD 800 IMO, more human-like
  • MUCH more musical
  • More dynamic
  • Sweeter sound, organic, sounds beautiful
  • Drums just have this realism to it I didn’t get from the Fireflies
  • More cohesive
  • Not as detailed as the Fireflies
  • More euphonic
  • I like the textures more on the Pathos
  • Has a grey overtone, lush. Probably the tubes.
  • More natural presentation, especially for vocals and low-end presence, synergies well with HD 800 to me.
  • I think most would prefer the Pathos in a blind test, no doubt. Works well across all genres.
  • Better layering

Woo Audio WA7 Fireflies

  • Definitely on the brighter, leaner side with tubes
  • Not very engaging in direct comparison with the Pathos
  • Lacks a bit of weight and body compared to Pathos
  • The Pathos is better at texturing and imaging IMO
  • Soundstage possibly wider than the Pathos at the cost of coming off a bit thin
  • The sound has a sheen to it
  • i think the Fireflies have better clarity and soundstage
  • Much blacker background
  • Matter of taste. If you like brighter, Fireflies.
  • More tonal balanced. Pathos is more colored but in a good way
  • Better for classical
  • Has a more delicate sound to it, light on its feet. Pathos has more weight and musicality
  • Better separation
  • Bright room, black black background

Summary

As far as sex appeal…it’s quite obvious the Woo Audio WA7s takes the spotlight. You have to see this on your desk in person to do it any justice. It’s probably the more attractive headphone amp I’ve ever seen.

When it comes down to sound quality, my personal preference was the Pathos Aurium with the HD 800 by a wide margin. It just sounded more like cozy, smooth, and musical. It doesn’t have the whole tube sound but does give it that touch of that addictive organic bloom. The WA7 had a much blacker background, great for classical and strings, and a wider soundstage. However, it just wasn’t as engaging for my tastes. If you’re a detail fanatic and listen primarily to orchestral music, you may prefer the WA7s. If you want some soul and body in your music, look no further than the Pathos Aurium. It doesn’t fail to please.

 

Jay Luong

Mr. Audio Bacon himself. An open-minded electrical engineer and software developer by trade. I have an obsession with the enjoyment of all things media - specifically in the realm of music and film. So much heart and soul (and money) go into the creation of this artistry. My aim is to find out which products get me closer to what the musicians and directors intended.

View Comments

  • I assume the review is of the original WA7 (32/192 DAC) given you had owned them a couple of months at the time of the review? (I think the newer 24/384 DAC version was first available in March?)

    If so, curious to hear if you've had a chance to listen to the newer model and how it compares! Better to get the newer model or get an older one and add a DAC like a Mojo (assuming Hugo is not an option).

    Thanks,

    • I'll try to get a review unit of the new WA7 but I no longer have the original. I do have both the Hugo and the Mojo and I could say without a doubt, it's better than the original WA7's DAC.

Recent Posts

Bowers & Wilkins Unveils New Finishes for PX7 S2e & PX8 Headphones

Two new premium finishes for the multi-award-winning Px7 S2e and Px8 over-ear wireless headphones The… Read More

2 months ago

XACT unveils revolutionary XACT S1 EVO Music Server and PHANTOM Cables

XACT is proud to announce the launch of two groundbreaking products that set new benchmarks… Read More

3 months ago

Zeitgeist Germany Launches with Extraordinary IEMs

THE ART OF NOISE: INTRODUCING ZEITGEIST GERMANY AND ITS MISSION TO HANDCRAFT UNIQUE EARPHONES FROM… Read More

4 months ago

JCAT Unveils USB Card XE EVO: The Next Generation of USB Audio  Performance

JCAT, a leader in high-performance streaming-specific products, is proud to  announce the release of the… Read More

5 months ago

Bowers & Wilkins and David Beckham: Bringing Together Two British Symbols of Style and Performance

Worthing, UK, 30th May 2024: British audio brand Bowers & Wilkins and global icon David… Read More

6 months ago

Treehaus Audiolab Brings “The A/Machines” New 300B Amplifier

Treehaus often avoids calling a product “The Best.” The world of audio is far too… Read More

8 months ago

This website uses cookies.