The Woo Audio WA7 headphone amplifier
(Credit: Woo Audio)
The Woo Audio WA7 Fireflies is one of the most beautiful audio products I've ever used. For my money it approaches a level of design grace comparable to that of Apple products. The 5-inch cube headphone amplifier has two vacuum tubes protected by a thick glass cover. The WA7 also has a built-in 32-bit/192kHz USB digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and lots of custom-made parts, including dedicated nickel alloy output transformers. There's a 6.3mm jack for home-style headphones, and a 3.5mm jack for portable ones. That's noteworthy, as few headphone amps have both jack sizes. The silky feeling volume control, the solid aluminum chassis, and the thick glass top cover all impart a quality feel. The WA7 runs a bit warm to the touch.
An impedance switch on the rear panel allows the user to optimize the WA7's sound for low (under 70 ohm) or high impedance (over 70 ohm) headphones. Stereo RCA analog inputs are also provided so you can listen to external sources, such as a radio or a higher-quality DAC like my Schiit Bifrost. The WA7's separate, 2.8 pound AC power supply is larger than the amp! The WA7 is available in silver or black finishes for $799 through Monday, January 28; after that date the price goes up to $999.
I first auditioned the WA7 with its built-in USB DAC a... [Read more]
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