Woo Audio WA33 Elite Edition Headphone Amplifier and Preamp - Black

A Statement in Tubes

Every company has one product where the engineers are told not to compromise. For Woo Audio, that's the WA33. The Elite Edition is its ultimate expression: a fully balanced, all-tube, Class-A headphone amp and preamp, hand-built in Brooklyn, with every part in the signal path upgraded to the best Woo Audio can source.

A matched quad of 2A3 power tubes, four 6C45 driver tubes, and a 5U4G rectifier deliver up to 10 watts per channel. That's enough to drive any headphone made, from sensitive dynamics to demanding planars, across an 8-600 ohm range. A two-chassis design keeps the power supply away from the audio circuit. Frequency response runs 10Hz to 70kHz (-2dB), with distortion below 0.05% and a signal-to-noise ratio above 95dB.

It's also a true balanced preamp: XLR outputs deliver up to 10V balanced at a low 50-ohm impedance, so the WA33 can anchor a speaker system as well as a headphone rig.

What "Elite" Actually Buys You

The Elite Edition keeps the standard WA33's circuit and replaces nearly every part in it with statement-grade upgrades. Custom output transformers are wound with single-crystal copper on a nickel alloy core. Single-crystal copper wiring runs throughout. Volume is handled by the ALPS RK50, a balanced four-channel control many regard as the finest volume potentiometer made, housed in its own brass enclosure.

Coupling duties go to Mundorf MCap Supreme Silver/Gold capacitors, with Mundorf MTube capacitors for voltage filtering. Connectors are Cardas Audio XLRs and WBT Nextgen RCAs, and a 24k gold-plated plaque identifies each unit. Like every Woo amplifier, the whole thing is wired point to point by hand.

The black anodized aluminum chassis measures 17.5" wide and 12" deep, standing about 13" tall with tubes installed, at 53 pounds.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Professional reviews cover the standard WA33, the amplifier this Elite Edition builds on. Tom Lyle of Enjoy the Music, in an April 2019 review, called it "a headamp that will transport you to another world," praising "the expansive soundstage, holographic imaging, and rich tones that are pristine, natural, and vivid," and noting it "separated the instruments on this dense multi-track recording more than I've ever heard." He also called it "the nicest looking headphone amplifier I've ever reviewed."

Who Is This Amplifier Best For?

• You want the best headphone amplifier Woo Audio makes — this is the company's flagship, with every signal-path part upgraded.
• You own reference headphones — 10 watts per channel does justice to flagship planars and dynamics alike.
• You need a system centerpiece — the balanced preamp output lets it control a full speaker system too.
• You value hand-built, heirloom construction — point-to-point wiring, matched tube quads, and statement parts throughout.
• If this is your first tube amp, start elsewhere — the WA6 or WA22 deliver the Woo experience at a fraction of the price, and you can work your way up.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect balanced sources to the two XLR inputs, or a single-ended source to the RCA input. Headphones plug into a 4-pin XLR, dual 3-pin XLRs, or a 1/4" jack. To use it as a preamplifier, run the XLR outputs, with a selectable high/low impedance setting, to your power amplifier or powered speakers.

Give the tubes several minutes to warm up, and allow generous ventilation space: this is a 150-watt Class-A design, and it runs warm by design.

Pairs Well With

Building your system? Here are some great companions for the WA33 Elite Edition:

• Headphones: An amp of this caliber deserves a reference flagship — see our Headphones.
• DAC: A balanced, reference-level source completes the chain — see our Digital-to-Analog Converters.
• Cables: Quality balanced interconnects matter at this level — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Audio Rack: Give this 53-pound flagship a stable, ventilated home — see our Audio Racks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the standard WA33 and the Elite Edition?

The circuit is the same, but the Elite upgrades nearly every part: the output transformers, volume control, capacitors, connectors, and wiring.

What tubes does it use?

A matched quad of 2A3 power tubes, four 6C45 drivers, and one 5U4G rectifier. The design is self-biasing, so tube swaps need no adjustments.

How powerful is it?

Up to 10 watts per channel, with support for headphones from 8 to 600 ohms.

Can it work as a preamp?

Yes. Balanced XLR outputs deliver up to 10V at a 50-ohm output impedance, with a selectable high/low setting.

How much space does it need?

Plan for a 17.5" x 12" footprint, about 13" of height with tubes, and good ventilation for its 150-watt Class-A draw.

What's the warranty?

Woo Audio covers the WA33 Elite Edition with a 3-year limited warranty.

See It in Action

ConvinceMeAudio takes a deep look at the WA33 Elite with the optional JPS wiring upgrade:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about headphone amplifiers, tube audio, or building a reference headphone system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.