Newbie looking for info on WOPLs

[Nick Danger]

When I signed up on this forum I was encouraged to ask questions. Ask away I'm told. So I start asking... like any good consumer should. Hell its a lot of money we're talking here. So look at the title of my thread: Newbie looking for info! You are forewarned I'm asking questions. WOPL is a brand unto itself really. So one of the ways to understand a product is to compare it to similar products out there and that's what I've been doing. I have not heard any of these other amps I've been asking about but others have, including many here. Yet the unhelpful answer I get is, 'buy it and you tell us.' Well so much for ask away. Am I the only one who finds that a bit contentious? Then comes 'first of all young lady (anyone else picture finger wagging when they read those word?)...if you would invest some time.' Invest some time!? Look at the time stamps of my posts. I've barely been off this site except to sleep since Ron turned me on to it 2 days ago. I've been sorting through threads but its a new forum to me; I'm a little lost still. But really I hesitate to even bring this all up because next we'll start talking about whether being called young lady as a full grown woman is patronizing or not and I really just want to talk about audio!
So let's move on. Thanks Ron and NavLinear, that's exactly some of the info I've needed.
I'm committed Ron. I've told you several times that I trust you. But I'll still ask questions. I like turning over every stone and seeing what's underneath. It may be something we've never seen before- a new discovery or not but its still the process for me. Haven't any of you ever experienced really wanting something that someone you trust recommended, but asked a lot of questions to make sure the recommendation was right? Like you have a friend who extolls the virtues of his BMW, say, and you get excited and want one too. But while you're out shopping for a BMW you see a Hyundai that mimics that high-priced European car but for much less money and you say to your friend, hey is the BMW really all that much better than this? You're learning and asking. Its how we validate our decisions.
And it's not like I'm not enjoying music at a pretty nice level already. I want to be careful that I'm not just chasing after more and bigger all the time in this hobby. I mean $1000 buys a lot of new music too...or oil in the tank. I do live in Maine

You might be best served by auditioning one and then making the decision, Michele. I had to hear one first before I was willing to drop the loot myself. PL chassis are out there so you don't need to feel worried about not being able to get a donor unit for a build down the road.

 

[drummergrl]

I'd loooove to hear one. Ron's way way far from me. It appears that the audition model is not traversing the country any longer. Is that correct?

 

[BubbaH]

I have never heard one myself. I had thought about getting in on the traveler, but decided that money would best be used towards a purchase. Canada Eh. High shipping.

 

[Northwinds]

When I signed up on this forum I was encouraged to ask questions. Ask away I'm told. So I start asking... like any good consumer should. Hell its a lot of money we're talking here. So look at the title of my thread: Newbie looking for info! You are forewarned I'm asking questions. WOPL is a brand unto itself really. So one of the ways to understand a product is to compare it to similar products out there and that's what I've been doing. I have not heard any of these other amps I've been asking about but others have, including many here. Yet the unhelpful answer I get is, 'buy it and you tell us.' Well so much for ask away. Am I the only one who finds that a bit contentious? Then comes 'first of all young lady (anyone else picture finger wagging when they read those word?)...if you would invest some time.' Invest some time!? Look at the time stamps of my posts. I've barely been off this site except to sleep since Ron turned me on to it 2 days ago. I've been sorting through threads but its a new forum to me; I'm a little lost still. But really I hesitate to even bring this all up because next we'll start talking about whether being called young lady as a full grown woman is patronizing or not and I really just want to talk about audio!
So let's move on. Thanks Ron and NavLinear, that's exactly some of the info I've needed.
I'm committed Ron. I've told you several times that I trust you. But I'll still ask questions. I like turning over every stone and seeing what's underneath. It may be something we've never seen before- a new discovery or not but its still the process for me. Haven't any of you ever experienced really wanting something that someone you trust recommended, but asked a lot of questions to make sure the recommendation was right? Like you have a friend who extolls the virtues of his BMW, say, and you get excited and want one too. But while you're out shopping for a BMW you see a Hyundai that mimics that high-priced European car but for much less money and you say to your friend, hey is the BMW really all that much better than this? You're learning and asking. Its how we validate our decisions.
And it's not like I'm not enjoying music at a pretty nice level already. I want to be careful that I'm not just chasing after more and bigger all the time in this hobby. I mean $1000 buys a lot of new music too...or oil in the tank. I do live in Maine

Michele, you misinterpret what Lee meant. He was being honest, we listeners can't pinpoint what makes a WOPL sound the way it does other then knowing the zillion hours of painstaking engineering work Joe put into the idea and the final product (which is constantly being improved upon). Joe is the one to ask, he is an electronics guru with a lifetime of experience. Lee is an oldschool oil worker, his is the get 'er done mentality kind of guy. Some things he can't explain, he is a builder, not a designer. Trust me, if you needed something, Lee would give it willingly, he is just like that. He does not mince words and has a way of talking that sometimes can be misinterpreted. I have fell victim myself and ended up with egg on my face

Maybe you should ask the guy that sold his $15k Mark Rowland after hearing a WOPL? Maybe ask ME why I sold a Levinson 333 that cost 8 times as much. I can't tell you why Michele, the WOPL just does everything better with grace, class and power

Put it this way, if you spend a $100 for a chassis and put about what it cost for a cheap Best Buy Pioneer unit in WO parts and add in a few bucks labor, you get something that your $1000 would not even buy a shipping box for in the World Class audio game

Don't think wrong of Lee, he is a gentle person inside a roughneck exterior. The dude took his cat camping and cried like a baby when Jazz passed away. He's one of the good ones Michele

Joe, where are you? We need some help here

 

[Northwinds]

Here is some specs from a recent build of Lee's

What do those figures mean though? Even a dummy like me can see that flat response and insanely low noise floor, the math does not lie, those figures are real. The specs reflect the quality of the product but do not explain the sonic magic when one is in full song to me

 

[drummergrl]

I don't think they're bad questions. A couple (former) Carver owners spoke up and I learned a bit more about Carvers and their shortcomings.
Same with the other brands and models I asked about. i learned about the glue problem with the Yamaha M-80 and others confirmed what I thought about the PA amps that were suggested to me- not audiophile equipment.

 

[drummergrl]

i'm reading the thread right now on your build Ron!

 

[mudshark]

LOL ..... QVC

 

[BubbaH]

I have a Crown XLS 1000, and a Yorkville AP800. Pro style power amps. The XLS is a pretty good bang for the buck. The AP needs some work so its sitting right now.

 

[Northwinds]

I also feel I have to add this...

The WOPL is not the end all be all, NOTHING IS!!!! BUT it will go toe to toe with anything of similar power on the planet and still COST LESS and most of the time, will put other amps on the trailer

That Pioneer Elite you are selling is WAY better spec wise then most of the other amps you asked about. WHY does it not satisfy you? That is the real question

I am thinking hard about lending you my WOPL Michele, that will leave me with nothing to listen to though since there is no fucking way I will put a lesser component into the chain, I would puke if I had to use a Sony, Onkyo, Pioneer, Tandberg or whatever else is sitting in the garage. A think at least one of Lee's 700B's that are here are supposed to work but they take 1/4". Maybe I will drag my ass over to RS and get a few RCA to 1/4" adapters and toss one in my system so you can use mine for a few weeks or so. I would be scared to crank the shit out of one with no DC protection though so I would not be enjoying it the way I am accustomed to

 

[Nick Danger]

I'd loooove to hear one. Ron's way way far from me. It appears that the audition model is not traversing the country any longer. Is that correct?

I would contact Lee directly(laatsch).

 

[drummergrl]

I don't like that you have to use the remote to do so many functions on the pioneer Elite. I want knobs. Is that really stupid?

 

[derek92994]

I don't like that you have to use the remote to do so many functions on the pioneer Elite. I want knobs. Is that really stupid?

Nope that's fine. I prefer analog dials as you can make adjustments to the sound with precision.

 

[Northwinds]

i'm reading the thread right now on your build Ron!

Which one LOL, Jer built me two. The 2nd build is the one to read

The first... well Blackie was a special amp in her own way but she definitely was not a classy chick, she was one of those roller derby girls missing her front teeth and just wanted to break bones. She was a take no prisoners amp even rode hard and put away wet. I found her laying on wet grass blown up at a tagsale and Jer brought her back to life

Silvara is the ice princess, she just looks at me with those come hither and cranketh eyes. She's a heartbreaker and a speaker destroyer if I let her have her way. You've seen the vids

 

[derek92994]

I'm going to be in a lot of pain when I have to use my Pioneer as a pre-amp as it only has bass and treble controls using buttons, so I can't fine tune like I do with my current amp (analog dials).

 

[BubbaH]

Vids Ron? Got a link?

 

[drummergrl]

This one, I'm up to pg 18 http://forums.phxaudiotape.com/showthread.php/4653-Northwind-s-400-to-WOPL-500/page18

 

[Northwinds]

Vids Ron? Got a link?

Camera mic can't handle the SPL's Ben but you get an idea of the clarity and lowend. This is a lesson on how to bury the meters on a 400. Right now at low level through my computer, the bass is booming. In person, it quite the experience AND SHE HAS MORE TO GIVE!!!!

All processing equipment is disengaged (EQ, dbx and DSS-100), just pure from the preamp and dbx CDP

http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v514/maxwedge426/DSCF6987_zpsvy8mjrp5.mp4

 

[BubbaH]

Killer vid Ron.

 

[Northwinds]

Killer vid Ron.

She get beaten daily like that! You think Jer can build a good amp or what? Dan came to my house on the way to New Jersey and his jaw hit the floor when Silvara sang for him. It was a religious experience seeing him lost in the meters with this big stupid grin on his face and he's a huge dude! Like 6' 5"!!! I am about 6ft and it was like looking up at my Dad LMAO!!!