Theres a new hybrid versions out ...would be great to get Spritzers or Kevin's view on it...https://wooaudio.com/amplifiers/3es

Given that Woo Audio makes nothing but utter trash... odds are that this one is even worse than the old one.  There are no specifics though but this one might actually be a tube amp...  

Thanks Sptrizer,if I remember the 3es wasnt a true tube amp but used op amps at the outputs????? That's scandalous. I am looking for a SOTA tube amp for electrostatics, its either the Blue Hawaii or the Grand Cayman if  and when that comes out?

There were indeed no tubes in the electrostatic output, it was all ultra cheap high voltage opamps.  Output power is roughly that of the cheapest Stax amp with worse quality.  

25 minutes ago, spritzer said:

There were indeed no tubes in the electrostatic output, it was all ultra cheap high voltage opamps.  Output power is roughly that of the cheapest Stax amp with worse quality.  

thanks so much!  so the BH SE or Grand Cayman are the way to go?

Another amplifier that looks interesting by Feliks Audio:The bliss but................just seen a photo of it in use and the volume was at 14.00 which suggests low gain,12.00 is the most I have ever had to go on a stax amp.....

So there is this manufacturer out there that puts a solid state otl electrostatic amplifier in the same box as a high output dynamic amplifier.  For a whole host of reasons this just seems stupid. Instead of 1 thing well, lets do 2 things poorly.

The first version of the woo audio did indeed use a single tube as a cathode follower into the same apex high voltage  opamps. and boy did woo audio turn colors when this information surfaced.

So they tripled down on the stupid this time.  options include

1) all tube 6sn7 -- 300b -- transformer -- headphones

2) solid state -- headphones

3) 6sn7 -- solid state -- headphones

at least that is what i think their advertising goo says. and whether they are lying this time.

There are 4 different versions of an all tube megatron that you might want to consider instead.

 

 

Edited October 26, 2025Oct 26 by kevin gilmore

54 minutes ago, kevin gilmore said:

So there is this manufacturer out there that puts a solid state otl electrostatic amplifier in the same box as a high output dynamic amplifier.  For a whole host of reasons this just seems stupid. Instead of 1 thing well, lets do 2 things poorly.

The first version of the woo audio did indeed use a single tube as a cathode follower into the same apex high voltage  opamps. and boy did woo audio turn colors when this information surfaced.

So they tripled down on the stupid this time.  options include

1) all tube 6sn7 -- 300b -- transformer -- headphones

2) solid state -- headphones

3) 6sn7 -- solid state -- headphones

at least that is what i think their advertising goo says. and whether they are lying this time.

There are 4 different versions of an all tube megatron that you might want to consider instead.

 

 

Thanks Kevin, who would be the best supplier of such an amp? I live in the UK

i know that birgir has a new batch of megatrons, do not know if they are all sold or not has to deal with eu rules.

soren is also making megatrons also has to deal with eu rules.

headamp has amplifiers, dont think there is an export tariff so this might be a bargain.

there is a guy in california that i cant remember who is doing custom megatrons.