No hard rules when it comes to Woo who are good enough to do rolling improvements.... Here is my 2015 build Generation 1 warming up this morning. It came with the flush SE jack years before the Gen 2 release. Don't know if they returned to the earlier lock nut. The suggestion to contact Woo with a serial number to verify, if desired, is the way to go.
No hard rules when it comes to Woo who are good enough to do rolling improvements.... Here is my 2015 build Generation 1 warming up this morning. It came with the flush SE jack years before the Gen 2 release. Don't know if they returned to the earlier lock nut. The suggestion to contact Woo with a serial number to verify, if desired, is the way to go.
The main thing with gen2 was upgraded transformers and mandatory preamp output. As the site says: "New for 2018 is improved sonic performance and preamplifier feature for use with a Hi-Fi system."
You could probably request preamp output be removed during ordering a gen2 if you really wanted.
As previously suggested, the best thing to do is check the manufacturer date from the serial number, should be on or after March 2018.
This is a stock Gen 1 WA22, September 2015 build. The PCBs have 2014 revision dates, but seems to have an upgraded motorized volume pot.
This is gen1 with upgraded caps but the stock stepped volume pot, but an earlier rev with older phase splitters (new ones are a big black box):
This is a Gen2 with new smooth volume pot and preamp outputs:
No hard rules when it comes to Woo who are good enough to do rolling improvements.... Here is my 2015 build Generation 1 warming up this morning. It came with the flush SE jack years before the Gen 2 release. Don't know if they returned to the earlier lock nut. The suggestion to contact Woo with a serial number to verify, if desired, is the way to go.
Eddie Current is not building amps currently (!); wait time for Donald North Audio ranges from 10 months to 24 months, depending upon the model. EC and DNA amps rarely appear in the classified adverts.
The main thing with gen2 was upgraded transformers and mandatory preamp output. As the site says: "New for 2018 is improved sonic performance and preamplifier feature for use with a Hi-Fi system."
You could probably request preamp output be removed during ordering a gen2 if you really wanted.
As previously suggested, the best thing to do is check the manufacturer date from the serial number, should be on or after March 2018.
This is a stock Gen 1 WA22, September 2015 build. The PCBs have 2014 revision dates, but seems to have an upgraded motorized volume pot.
No upgrades in the above WA22. That is a photo of the one I own and purchased new still sealed as Woo packed it. Bone stock for its day... No rules for Woo
0915. The photo used above was from a posting I made here about Woo WA22 variants in September 2022. I haven't gone back to the post but pulled up the original photo. If I recall correctly phase splitters or some such were the topic...
An 0115 WA6 in use today with a pair of 1943 National Union 6SN7GT and a sweet 1958 Volvo GZ34 in play. Being able to roll many of the same tubes on both the WA22 and WA6 really adds enjoyment value to an investment in Woo kit.
Here’s mine from 2015. Gen 1 with preamp outputs ($400 option back in 2015), flush SE jack and smooth pot. I also changed to Jupiter caps and Caddok resistors.
Hi everyone, I'd like to ask a few questions. I am planning to buy a used Woo Audio WA22. The seller mentioned that the amp is 2nd gen but without the preamp "option". I checked Woo Audio's site but it looks they don't offer the preamp as an option. My questions:
Do you know/remember if Woo Audio did offer this as an option back in the days for 2nd gen? Obviously my intention is to verify that this is indeed 2nd gen.
I also tried to figure out what visual differences the 1st and 2nd gen has so that I can easily identify if this is indeed 2nd gen w/o checking the amp's guts
If you could, would you suggest a few things to look for when buying used WA22s? Known problems, etc.
Based on the seller's activity on the local forum I am trying to buy from he seems to be a trusted member but still I'd like to be prepared a bit.
Thanks everyone for helping with answers and suggestions. Based on the serial it turned out it was gen 1 not gen 2. I still see the seller trustworthy so I think he honestly believed this was 2nd gen (he bought it from a local forum seller). I would buy 1st gen too but for this particular unit only the last 3 years of its history is known and 4 years unknown so decided not to risk it. Back to impoving my mobile audio line up, my wallet will cry no matter what .
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