Hi-Fi+/TAS Can-Jam 2012 Report - Part 3

Posted by: Chris Martens at 7:07 pm, October 25th, 2012

The VAMP iPhone-specific headphone amp/DAC may just be the coolest snap-on device ever to enhance an iPhone in that it combines the functions of an iPhone-specific DAC, headphone amp, and iPhone charger all in a format that is perfectly style and shape-matched to fit the iPhone 4/4S.

Woo Audio

We’re all in favor of audio products that offer breathtakingly beautiful industrials provided they also deliver the sonic goods at a very high level; happily, Woo Audio’s exquisite new WA7 desktop tube-powered headphone amp/high-res DAC does both.

The WA7, which will be offered in silver or black, combines a 32/192-capable DAC with a tube-type headphone amp driven by dual 6C45 tubes. The demo unit on display at Can-Jam sounded very promising indeed, though we’ll hold further comments until the full product release model is available. But frankly, we just couldn’t take our eyes off the thing; it’s truly one of the most beautiful audio components we’ve seen in a very long time and my friend and colleague Steve Guttenberg from CNET put it, “it’s really the sort of design even the late Steve Jobs at Apple would have appreciated.” It’s that well done. Final pricing for the WA7 has not yet been set, but company President Jack Wu indicated the price would surely fall at or below $1000. 

This is Part 3 of a three-part report. Click here to read Part 1, or click here to read Part 2