Chord DAVE vs WA33 Output Comparison
The amplifier output of the DAVE is no slouch and is usually more clean, precise, and transparent than including a separate headphone amplifier. I’ve found that it powers hungry (Abyss Phi, Hifiman HE-1000 V2, etc) headphones to sufficient levels. I’ve also found it to present room acoustics more realistically. Most external amps will introduce a thin grey veil to the sound in comparison. An A/B comparison between the WA33 and DAVE was as easy as unplugging and plugging.
Sound pressure is one thing but the beauty of an external amplifier is its handling of the actual audio signal. Musical information is fairly complex when you’re layering instruments and voices from all parts of the spectrum. How those sounds are relayed is heavily amplifier dependent. It has to push enough power with enough speed and with minimum distortion.
This is where the Woo Audio WA33 shines. Although admittedly not as transparent, it provides more height and depth in the soundstage, more slam, and most importantly a more fuller and full-bodied sound. The DAVE output could be a bit “technical” or dry for some (and probably measures better) but transparency isn’t everything. Transparency is great but when the music pulls you in and invites you into its world…I find that more compelling.
With the power hungry Abyss Phi (some were using speaker amps to power the Abyss, for good reason), I preferred the WA33 with 100% of my listening. There’s an application of palpable textures and visceral impact to all genres of music and I’ve found it sounds great with poor/harsh recordings. Guitars have more crunch, drums have more smack, and violins are tactile. The WA33 provides a more dimensional and weighted sound which complements the DAVE’s DAC beautifully. Separation and smoothness are also better presented. Surprisingly enough, I felt some of the micro-details were brought forth in natural fashion while female vocals and cymbals had improved timbre. From direct DAVE, the detail was there but it quite a bit leaner and thinner. I also felt the image was larger and more forward with the WA33. There’s also more sonic extension and headroom with the WA33.
The WA33 provides all the textural bumps that make listening more cohesive and enjoyable.
The Sound
Wonder Woman Theme – Tina Guo
Dynamics are on full display here. The atmospherics from drums, guitar crunches, and violin strokes is nothing short of immersive. Although a very busy track, layering of the different players are made apparent with their own sense of individualism and space. There’s also more dimensionality and air in all directions. It sounded pretty dam flat from direct DAVE. I really enjoyed the weight and umph the WA33 provided for this track.
You’re a Weaver of Dreams – Cannonball Adderly and Coltran
The saxophone just floats gracefully as it plays. Cymbal brushes are tactile and well textured and remain engaging throughout. Background is amazingly quiet and there’s no blending of instruments. Bass plucks play undisturbed in the left rear. Once again, the layering capabilities of this amplifier are astounding. One interesting thing to note is the presence of a physical body or object. The WA33 provides this contouring and weight that makes it sound like what I would hear from a live performance. The piano solo sound so organic and naturally airy.
A Groovy Kind of Love – Jheena Lodwick
Drum hits deep with relentless intent. It has the proper amount of speed, detail, and decay. There’s this addictive golden hue to her voice and a dynamic articulation to the drums and strings. The music just breathes and draws you in. The presence region is sweet and seductive in the most natural way. I thoroughly enjoy the expansive and lush sound of this amplifier.
Empire State of Mind Pt.2 Broken Down – Alicia Keys (VH1 Storytellers)
Quite honestly, I didn’t know there was much detail in the drum hits on this track. The reverberations decay and travel realistically into the venue. Incredibly taut and weighty. Quite addictive. Finger snaps and claps have appreciable density and presence. Piano sounds like a frickin’ piano. Having seen her perform live in an intimate venue, the WA33 has brought me back to those memories of being in the first few rows. There’s a cohesion to the performance. The backup singers and instruments never interfere with Alicia’s voice. The whistle at the end of the track sounded startlingly real.
Welcome to the Machine – Pink Floyd
Makes me feel like I’m strapped into a chair in a psychedelic room at some art installment in Burning Man. As the strings and synths dance between the two channels, can’t help but to be mesmerized. The soundstage is mind-blowing in its depth of presentation. No complaints, perfect.
You Go to My Head – Judy Garland (Judy at Carnegie Hall)
Probably my favorite album for the WA33. Judy’s voice is graceful, intelligible, and unmistakable. She has free reign of the acoustic space with her mannerisms. Bass hits are clean and tight. Brass is voluminous yet controlled. The WA33 becomes a teleportation device and brings you back to 1961.
Dream Weaver – Charles Lloyd
Brace yourself for this one. Explosive dynamics and articulation abound. If you have a chance to listen to the WA33, try out this track. All instruments play with amazing cohesion and individuality. Tone and timbre are on point and there’s an insightfulness in the golden bloom of this amplifier. The overlays of brass and piano are presented so convincingly.
What a Wonderful World – Eva Cassidy (Live at Blues Alley)
There aren’t any well-defined edges (as expected) but the tubes make it sound like you’re actually in the venue. There is a more emotional presence and aural nuance in the music. Cymbals and guitar have this intimate sweetness and tactility. It got me thinking about how tragic it was to lose such an amazing voice.
Final Thoughts
The Woo Audio WA33 is exactly what a tube amplifier should sound like. It’s the right amount of everything. It’s not overly warm or sweet and doesn’t mask the finer details of the music. It improved the fidelity of not just the power-hungry headphones but those with lower sensitivities as well. The WA33 fills the music with textural colors, a naturalistic body, and improved dynamics across all genres. It doesn’t sound “tubey” in the traditional sense but perfects the balance required to provide just enough midrange bloom to be emotive and engaging. While this bloom sounds a bit artificial with some amps, there’s an accuracy and tastefulness in the coloration of the WA33. It presents a cozy and dreamy sound without losing accuracy and intent. This is especially the case with live music.
If you have a Chord DAVE and Abyss Phi or HiFiMan HE-1000 V2, the WA33 is a heavenly pairing. There’s more physicality, depth, tonal density, and insight into the recordings. Inner-details and macro-dynamics are brought forth in organic and natural fashion. This provides a coherence to the sound that doesn’t sacrifice acoustic independence and clarity for warmth. All parts of the music have their own acoustic space yet play in rhymic harmony.
Many will try to roll their own tubes but I felt the stock configuration was outstanding and good enough for my ears. This is the best tube headphone amplifier I’ve ever heard and will be the end-game headphone amplifier for many. The sound of the Woo Audio WA33’s is simply unforgettable.
what’s the common mode rejection ratio and phase deviation @ 20 khz of the audio transfomers in this amp?
Hi Jay,
Great review. Did you happen to have the opportunity to compare the WA33 to the Elite WA33? If so, I’d love to hear your impressions and/or any second hand impressions of others who’ve had the opportunity to compare both models.
Many thanks,
Blake
I was able to spend quite a bit of time comparing with the Elite. The Elite was a much better performer in every way. Without the A/B, I think the WA33 sounded great on its own but the Elite was able to layer out and provide more body and contouring to the music. It actually made the non-Elite sound a little flat and confused (in comparison).
Many Thanks Jay. I ended up going with the Elite based on your input. Would you mind sharing which interconnects you used/preferred between the Dave and the WA-33? Also, in your headfi set up, have you had the opportunity to compare the Hugo2 vs the Dave. I have a Hugo2 but wondering whether the Dave is a worthy upgrade. Also, if it helps, I’ll be using the Susvara’s in my Headfi setup.
The WA33 Elite is heavenly. I really like the Audience Au24 SX RCAs. I’ll be making the Hugo 2 vs DAVE vs Qutest comparison soon.
Hi Jay,
Just wanted to say that I really enjoy the premise of your review site. In the world of high end audio where equipment “shoot outs” rarely occur, it’s incredibly helpful having ears unbiased by advertisers and manufacturer concessions offering an unconflicted point of view on new equipment especially in a world where’s it virtually impossible to “hear it all” before making a purchase decision.
With regard to the WA-33 Stock/Elite, just wondering if you spent much time testing which power cord had the greatest synergy with the amplifier? My unit arrives tomorrow, and since I’m new to high end headfi (historically a two channel enthusiast), I’m curious as to whether you’ve found that the diminishing curve becomes steeper sooner on the price vs sonic improvement curve when it comes to reference headfi vs reference 2 channel re cables? If you identified a power cord that you thought sounded best, I’d appreciate your recommendation(s).
Finally, I’ve heard that upgrading to Psvane WR2A3s generates a substantial sonic improvement. To this end, is there a Chinese tube retailer that you’ve found is reliable and stands behind their products? Feel free to PM if you prefer.
Many thanks,
Blake
Much appreciated, Blake.
I didn’t get a chance to test too many power cords with the WA33 but a great bang for buck would be the HFC Reveal. My guess is that the Audience Au24 SX power cord will be a better pairing, but is much pricier. Another one that may complement the WA33 well is the Zenwave PL. The only piece of equipment so far that doesn’t seem to be significantly affected by the power cord was the Mutec REF10. Everything else takes over the character of the cord at varying degrees. Many of them offer guarantees, so you’ll just have to try what works best for your ears.
I’m sorry, I don’t know of any Chinese tube retailers. My preference is solid-state.
You mentioned you prefer solid state. Any recommendations to pair with the Phi?
Thank you!
Hi Jay, thanks for this review! I’m wondering if you’ve had a chance to hear and perhaps compare it to the Auris Audio Headonia? https://www.headfonia.com/review-auris-audio-headonia/. The Headonia appears to be in a class with the WA33. One other thing, I’m guessing that your listening with the Chord Dave directly was without the Hugo M Scaler (which didn’t exist when you did this review) or maybe not even with the Blu Mk2. I’m wondering if that might have (based on your review of the Blu Mk2) might elevate Dave direct with M Scaler to the level of the WA33? Also, I use Focal Utopias and they are a very easy load to drive – wondering more about your experience the the Woo vs Dave on the Utopias.
I’ve only heard the Auris Audio Headonia at shows. So I can’t really say if they’re in the same class. I will say that I still think about the sound of the WA33. It’s a bit more of a drug than it is about precision and articulation. I guess this is the reason why guys who love tubes, stick to tubes. If you want a more “true” presentation, the DAVE is better for that. Both would sound great with the Utopia – the WA33 being warmer. As a digital source, DAVE + HMS is in another league – even in passthrough mode. But we’re talking DAC performance. From memory, the amplification stage of the WA33 will probably still layer the sound better but at that point, it’s a matter of tastes of tubes vs SS.
Hi Jay,
Thanks for the great review. I have the Headtrip Reference with mSclaler + DAVE and Abyss TC and Susvara. How would the WA33 compare wrt the Headtrip reference?
Thnx
From memory, the Headtrip is more about “extraction” while the WA33 was more about seduction. The Headtrip will have more exertion, delineation, and resolution while the WA33 will be warmer, fuller, and more romantic overall.
Thanks.
I guess I need both in my life!!
Hi, Jay!
First, thanks for doing not only this (and all other) reviews. They are sincerely appreciated.
Would you be able to recommend a great-to-amazing set of XLR interconnects, power, and USB cables for the WA33? I realize this is likely a very personal taste question, but I’m having trouble finding solid info on cable synergies with the the WA33, and what few opinions I have found are all over the map.
For reference, I’m going to pair a WA33 Elite Edition w/ JPS wiring with the Abyss Phi TCs, a Holo May KTE DAC, and Isotek Sigmas.
Thanks in advance!
-lj
I always go back to the Danacable TruStream but give the Final Audio Callisto USB a listen as well. The Snake River Audio Cottonmouth Sig for power cable. And UPOCC XLR from Iconoclast.