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A "potentially wormable" vulnerability exists in SMBv3 and specifically the compression. Information was accidentally released by Microsoft and then by Cisco Talos Intelligence on the below page but then taken down. The Microsoft page is now blank. Screenshot below the link. Due to its similarity to EternalBlue Twitter is already trying to call it CoronaBlue. Microsoft did not include a patch for it in the latest March 2020 Patch Tuesday. 
 
https://blog.talosintelligence.com/2020/03/microsoft-patch-tuesday-march-2020.html
 

 
Microsoft's blank page that will probably have helpful information at some point. This page now has a patch available.
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0796
 
Additional information on FortiGuard Labs and Twitter.
 
https://fortiguard.com/encyclopedia/ips/48773
 
https://twitter.com/search?q=CVE-2020-0796&src=typed_query
 
Temporary remediation is to either disable SMBv3 or disable compression. Use common sense when following directions off Twitter to edit your registry or run PowerShell.
More better article: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-leaks-info-on-wormable-windows-smbv3-cve-2020-0796-flaw/
 
Upadate - Security Advisory from Microsoft: https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/ADV200005
 
 

A "potentially wormable" vulnerability exists in SMBv3 and specifically the compression. Information was accidentally released by Microsoft and then by Cisco Talos Intelligence on the below page but then taken down. The Microsoft page is now blank. Screenshot below the link. Due to its similarity to EternalBlue Twitter is already trying to call it CoronaBlue. Microsoft did not include a patch for it in the latest March 2020 Patch Tuesday. 
 
https://blog.talosintelligence.com/2020/03/microsoft-patch-tuesday-march-2020.html
 

 
Microsoft's blank page that will probably have helpful information at some point. This page now has a patch available.
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0796
 
Additional information on FortiGuard Labs and Twitter.
 
https://fortiguard.com/encyclopedia/ips/48773
 
https://twitter.com/search?q=CVE-2020-0796&src=typed_query
 
Temporary remediation is to either disable SMBv3 or disable compression. Use common sense when following directions off Twitter to edit your registry or run PowerShell.
More better article: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-leaks-info-on-wormable-windows-smbv3-cve-2020-0796-flaw/
 
Upadate - Security Advisory from Microsoft: https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/ADV200005
 
 

A website should only ever use HTTPS, there are no excuses. That site is a liability. That site may be hosted safely but it is going through many corporate, state, and government owned pieces of equipment. Should they be able to inject scripts, ads, modify pages, or add images onto a HTTP page so it looks like the creator of the site did it? No.  Attackers have used HTTP sites to attack other sites, this happens all the time. HTTPS ensures content integrity and also give the person the ability to detect tampering. If you only ever encrypt your secrets they stand out like a sore thumb, encrypt everything. Even if your site doesn't collect any user information HTTPS provides confidentiality for header information, contents, and URLs. Even internal corporate sites or VPN only sites should be using HTTPS. Also just because a sites ads are over HTTP doesn't change the fact that that site should still be using HTTPS. They should figure out a way out of that ad publishing contract and ask why they are serving ads over HTTP.

A website should only ever use HTTPS, there are no excuses. That site is a liability. That site may be hosted safely but it is going through many corporate, state, and government owned pieces of equipment. Should they be able to inject scripts, ads, modify pages, or add images onto a HTTP page so it looks like the creator of the site did it? No.  Attackers have used HTTP sites to attack other sites, this happens all the time. HTTPS ensures content integrity and also give the person the ability to detect tampering. If you only ever encrypt your secrets they stand out like a sore thumb, encrypt everything. Even if your site doesn't collect any user information HTTPS provides confidentiality for header information, contents, and URLs. Even internal corporate sites or VPN only sites should be using HTTPS. Also just because a sites ads are over HTTP doesn't change the fact that that site should still be using HTTPS. They should figure out a way out of that ad publishing contract and ask why they are serving ads over HTTP.

A website should only ever use HTTPS, there are no excuses. That site is a liability. That site may be hosted safely but it is going through many corporate, state, and government owned pieces of equipment. Should they be able to inject scripts, ads, modify pages, or add images onto a HTTP page so it looks like the creator of the site did it? No.  Attackers have used HTTP sites to attack other sites, this happens all the time. HTTPS ensures content integrity and also give the person the ability to detect tampering. If you only ever encrypt your secrets they stand out like a sore thumb, encrypt everything. Even if your site doesn't collect any user information HTTPS provides confidentiality for header information, contents, and URLs. Even internal corporate sites or VPN only sites should be using HTTPS. Also just because a sites ads are over HTTP doesn't change the fact that that site should still be using HTTPS. They should figure out a way out of that ad publishing contract and ask why they are serving ads over HTTP.

A website should only ever use HTTPS, there are no excuses. That site is a liability. That site may be hosted safely but it is going through many corporate, state, and government owned pieces of equipment. Should they be able to inject scripts, ads, modify pages, or add images onto a HTTP page so it looks like the creator of the site did it? No.  Attackers have used HTTP sites to attack other sites, this happens all the time. HTTPS ensures content integrity and also give the person the ability to detect tampering. If you only ever encrypt your secrets they stand out like a sore thumb, encrypt everything. Even if your site doesn't collect any user information HTTPS provides confidentiality for header information, contents, and URLs. Even internal corporate sites or VPN only sites should be using HTTPS. Also just because a sites ads are over HTTP doesn't change the fact that that site should still be using HTTPS. They should figure out a way out of that ad publishing contract and ask why they are serving ads over HTTP.

Here is the source https://share.dmca.gripe/hZYMaB8oF96FvArZ.txt if you want to test it out for yourself. Looks like it was floating around for quite a while before anybody noticed it. If the key was used before it had expired, there would be no warnings. Impersonating a trusted web server would be a gold mine for a sophisticated attacker especially after what Google Project Zero discovered being used out in the wild, potentially leading to full device compromise of a Pixel or Galaxy device. Also VikingVPN and TorGuard were hacked.
 
This tweet aged well:
 

Ignore them. I work in the infosec field as a penetration tester, which is what the job is called and is being incorrectly identified as a security analyst. Generally a security analyst and a penetration tester will have wildly different responsibilities. You should stick with it (hacking) because it is in super high demand and pays very well, it is also incredibly challenging and interesting. The quickest way into the penetration testing field is by getting a certification called the Offensive Security Certified Professional. It is technically an introductory level certification but penetration testing is not a introductory level field. The OSCP is a grueling 24 hour long hands-on only exam. It is best to start out as a system administrator or help desk, move to a Jr Security Analyst position, then a Security Engineer position, and then finally Penetration Tester. A good place to get some experience for free is https://www.hackthebox.eu/ which has a network you VPN into with machines to hack very similar to the OSCP.

Ignore them. I work in the infosec field as a penetration tester, which is what the job is called and is being incorrectly identified as a security analyst. Generally a security analyst and a penetration tester will have wildly different responsibilities. You should stick with it (hacking) because it is in super high demand and pays very well, it is also incredibly challenging and interesting. The quickest way into the penetration testing field is by getting a certification called the Offensive Security Certified Professional. It is technically an introductory level certification but penetration testing is not a introductory level field. The OSCP is a grueling 24 hour long hands-on only exam. It is best to start out as a system administrator or help desk, move to a Jr Security Analyst position, then a Security Engineer position, and then finally Penetration Tester. A good place to get some experience for free is https://www.hackthebox.eu/ which has a network you VPN into with machines to hack very similar to the OSCP.

Ignore them. I work in the infosec field as a penetration tester, which is what the job is called and is being incorrectly identified as a security analyst. Generally a security analyst and a penetration tester will have wildly different responsibilities. You should stick with it (hacking) because it is in super high demand and pays very well, it is also incredibly challenging and interesting. The quickest way into the penetration testing field is by getting a certification called the Offensive Security Certified Professional. It is technically an introductory level certification but penetration testing is not a introductory level field. The OSCP is a grueling 24 hour long hands-on only exam. It is best to start out as a system administrator or help desk, move to a Jr Security Analyst position, then a Security Engineer position, and then finally Penetration Tester. A good place to get some experience for free is https://www.hackthebox.eu/ which has a network you VPN into with machines to hack very similar to the OSCP.

Ignore them. I work in the infosec field as a penetration tester, which is what the job is called and is being incorrectly identified as a security analyst. Generally a security analyst and a penetration tester will have wildly different responsibilities. You should stick with it (hacking) because it is in super high demand and pays very well, it is also incredibly challenging and interesting. The quickest way into the penetration testing field is by getting a certification called the Offensive Security Certified Professional. It is technically an introductory level certification but penetration testing is not a introductory level field. The OSCP is a grueling 24 hour long hands-on only exam. It is best to start out as a system administrator or help desk, move to a Jr Security Analyst position, then a Security Engineer position, and then finally Penetration Tester. A good place to get some experience for free is https://www.hackthebox.eu/ which has a network you VPN into with machines to hack very similar to the OSCP.

My sister was an only child.
A cat will blink when hit with a hammer.
Linus uses a step stool to make these videos, he never knew his real stool.

My sister was an only child.
A cat will blink when hit with a hammer.
Linus uses a step stool to make these videos, he never knew his real stool.

http://wooaudio.com/products/wahps2.html
The reason they aren't selling is because these are much nicer (I actually don't know that) . I own both a Woo Audio and Silverstone. The Woo Audio one doesn't require a screw driver to put together like some mechanical trollop (strumpet?) ergo it's easier to disassemble as well,  in my opinion looks nicer but not by much, feels nicer, and has adjustable height, also you don't have to take the first pair off to get to the 2nd pair depending on what you do with your cables.

My sister was an only child.
A cat will blink when hit with a hammer.
Linus uses a step stool to make these videos, he never knew his real stool.

My sister was an only child.
A cat will blink when hit with a hammer.
Linus uses a step stool to make these videos, he never knew his real stool.

My sister was an only child.
A cat will blink when hit with a hammer.
Linus uses a step stool to make these videos, he never knew his real stool.

I work with Cisco Aironet 3600 Series AP's quite often sometimes with the AC module this is substantially cheaper and you don't need to buy a 350$ adapter to get AC or 2500$-16000$ wireless LAN controller. It would be really cool to see a comparison between the two even with the enormous price gap, might have to pick one up to try this. Does the web interface have the same robustness as a Cisco terminal? With VLANs, QoS, etc...

I don't even understand why Hotspot Shield is popular. I would strongly recommend Private Internet Access with L2TP/IPSEC. They claim they don't keep any traffic logs or monitor users activities, except they are based in the US - NSA - make of that what you will. Either way any modern VPN deployment shouldn't use PPTP, stick with L2TP/IPSEC regardless of which service you go with. Hotspot Shield provides almost no information as to the type of VPN or encryption provided, it doesn't look like IPSEC. PPTP is strangely pervasive with MSCHAPv2 and very susceptible to offline dictionary attack. It also relies on the users password for the encryption - people don't pick strong passwords. The root of the problem with MSCHAPv2 is it uses DES 3 times...that is additive complexity not multiplicative complexity and is NOT the same as 3DES.

WA5LE review with HD800's
 
http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/15717-woo-audio-5le-headphone-amplifier-review/#entry176988

That router is only 10/100 and has a whole bevy of features you won't need or won't know how to use, OSPF, Frame Relay, NAT, VLSM, etc. Cisco routers and switches are initially configured through a serial cable and a terminal (Putty, Hyper Term etc) and then configured with SSH, or if you like to live dangerously, Telnet. In short the router is meant for enterprise and is not for consumers, hence no really useful GUI. Moreover you will easily eclipse the price of the router buying expansion cards for additional Ethernet jacks or T1 cards. I would not recommend buying it but if you do you might as well get a CCNA lab for 300$ and get the CCNA cert and at least have a marketable skill.  
 
...or because you want to set up MPLS on your internal LAN because your just a hardcore motherfucker I'd recommend the Cisco 1941.

Woo Audio 5LE Review
 
  About 3 months ago I ordered a Woo Audio 5 from Woo Audio (www.wooaudio.com). Buying it with the intention that it would be my endgame headphone amplifier. I purchased it with the internal component upgrades and with only the stock tubes. Shortly I will be purchasing some 274b's and 300b tubes but have not quite made up my mind on which one's to buy; but when I do I will try and update this review.    A terse history of my headphone experience and how I ended up spending $3600USD on a headphone amplifier, so you know where I am coming from experience wise. I am not an audiophile.     Currently owned: Sennheiser HD800's, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica ATH-W1000x, Westone ES5 IEM.   Previously owned: Sennheiser HD 600's, AKG 701's, JVC HARX700, Westone 4, Westone 1, HiFiMan HE-500.   Currently owned amps: Woo Audio WA5LE, Centrance DacPort,  Fiio E17, Musical Fidelity HPA.   Previously owned amps: Woo Audio 6, Lehmann Audio Rhinelander, Musical Fidelity V-CAN.   Currently owned DAC's: MHDT Havana, Musical Fidelity V-DAC, Centrance Dacport.   Previously owned DAC's: Wyred 4 Sound DAC-1.     This started about 4-5 years ago with the amazing headphone by JVC, the HA RX700, which for $33 sounds absolutely fantastic and you really cannot go wrong. Shortly after I bought various in-ear monitors which I didn't even bother listing above, but ended up with the Westone 1. It then, like heroin, quickly got out of hand and dozens of returns and purchases later I now have a Woo Audio 5LE.    From the reviews I read they shipped in wooden crates due to the combined weight of 75lbs. To be honest I was almost more excited of getting something shipped to me in two wooden crates and having the UPS person think I was an arms dealer then listening to the amp; this idea was very sexy to me. But after a long wait (1 month, as they are each made to order) I finally got the knock on the door only to find them encased in heavy duty cardboard. Now with my aspirations of being an arms dealer dashed and disappointment aside; I opened each box and found them to be packed extremely well in closed cell foam cut to fit each component. The tubes were tucked throughout and everything was unharmed. After setting everything up the component train went as such:   Computer, FLAC, ALAC, MP3 320 > Logitech Squeezebox Touch > SPDIF > MHDT Havana > RCA > Woo Audio 5LE  > Headphones used in this review: Sennheiser HD800's, Audio-Technica ATH-W1000x.   All stock headphone cables, interconnects from Monoprice. Needless to say I have never noticed an improvement in sound through any cable ever.   I left it on for 4-6 hour periods for several weeks running random music through it but never listening, saving my initial impressions after everything burned in. The music I listened to for this review:   Massive Attack: Mezzanine - This album is a no brainer for assessing the quality of headphones, or for that matter any piece of audio gear. It oozes production value and it is clear a lot of time went into mastering the album. In my opinion this has to be in the top 5 best recorded albums, it is ruthlessly revealing and incredibly nuanced. It is fantastic for assessing bass response (Angel), as well as vocals (Inertia Creeps, Mezzanine, and Tear Drop), and seeing how much detail comes across with the distortions and effects in each track. If none of this matters to you it is also the best album I've ever heard to have sex to. If you can find something better, let me know.   Starker Plays Kodaly - With a hard 's'. This album is spectacular, I've listened to it since I was a teenager and it still gives me chills. Janos Starkers' technical ability on the cello is devastating  he play's Kodaly's cello sonata like it's on fire; with the right gear Starkers cello comes alive. I picked this album because I am extremely familiar with it and have heard it on everything from $33 JVC HARX700's to a $250000 dollar Wilson Audio speaker setup, as well as hearing it played live by various performers. Mid range trial by fire. That said, this album changed my life and I was deeply saddened by Starkers recent passing.   Diana Krall: Live In Paris - Lady Krall consistently has the best recorded albums out there and this one in my opinion is the best. Her vocals out of a warm tube amp are something wonderful, it makes it quite difficult not to fall in love with this album. The live audience also helps show how well your headphones resolve detail. The imaging on this album I feel is also particularly good.   RCA In Living Stereo: Bartok Concerto for Orchestra - I almost have a hard time believing this album was recorded under Fritz Reiner in the 50's. It sounds better then basically anything today and was a personal revelation for me when I first heard it. I have since listened to every RCA In Living Stereo SACD Hybrid they've released and they are all a gold standard in quality. Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra play it as if it is the last time it will ever be played, with a real sense of urgency. The separation between instruments is spectacular with this recording.   John Coltrane: A Love Supreme- As Douglas Adams said “Beethoven tells you what it's like to be Beethoven and Mozart tells you what it's like to be human. Bach tells you what it's like to be the universe.” This album I feel could be interchanged with Bach and nobody would complain. I've heard it best described as "sheets of sound" which seems to be the best description. The amount of humanity and passion that comes across in Mr Coltranes saxophone could not be understated. The resolution of details in this album with a good set of headphones or speakers is truly great and I fear that most people will never get to hear what it can sound like, which is a shame.   Katy Perry: Teenage Dream - This album sounds dreadful. Why does she emphasize each word? It sounds like she said each word individually and was then stitched together. Nothing remains of the humanity in her voice, it has been evacuated, presumably digitally. Some of the songs, like Peacock, I don't think qualify as a song let alone a chant. This album did not benefit at all from any sort of amplification or any headphone in any price range and am a worse person for listening to it. Her music is distinctly both nasal and phallic. Also, loudness war. Also listened to: Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Bach, Beethoven, Charles Mingus, Ali Fark Toure, and Macklemore.   Through with the music on to the headphones.    I will be very upfront about this, the Sennheiser HD800's are absolutely spectacular and are easily my favorite headphone. The clarity and the neutrality of the sound haven't been touched by anything I have heard. Do keep in mind I have not listened to Stax's latest high-end offering. But when compared to basically any other phone, it bury's the competition. Out of the Woo Audio 5LE the HD800's sound gorgeous, warming them slightly and softening the highs it removed any sort of fatigue I experienced out of the Rhinelander. This was most evident in Mezzanine when listening to Teardrop the sibilance disappeared and the harshness mellowed. I listened for hours no problem. The WA5 provided excellent bass response not overpowering but tight, deep and accurate. In the song Angel (Mezzanine) bass and details were resolved that I had not heard before. I try and avoid saying this since it gets thrown around constantly in certain circles and has become something of a banality. The soundstange of the HD800's is enormous so with proper orchestral music like Bartok Concerto for Orchestra or Mahler the music engulfs you and the WA5 only helps this by improving transient response, and making the soundstage more whole and rounded. As a frequent attendant of orchestras I sometimes feel the HD800's go a bit overboard with the soundstage. The mid range in A Love Supreme was lush and smooth and Mr Coltrane never sounded so good, the mids felt more emphasized then on any other amp I've listened to before, which is a good thing and the double bass solo was satisfying. Again due to the mid range emphasis Diana Krall's vocals were intoxicating, she almost hypnotizes you. Then there was Starker, listening to this, on this amp, with these headphones, was like I was listening to it for the first time. It was everything it could be and sounded beautiful.     The Audio Technica ATH W1000x are in an over crowded price bracket with a lot of crappy headphones and some good ones. My initial apercu with these headphones listening to classical was not good but I almost exclusively keep these for jazz and they do it brilliantly with their warmish, wholesome sound signature. More like the HD650's then the HD800's in my opinion. Out of the WA5 and listening to  John Coltrane A Love Supreme a permanent unfading smile came across my face for the entirety of the album and brought me 30+ minutes of pure happiness easily paying for the thousands of dollars I spent. I listened to it again and again enoying every minute of it. Charles Mingus Ah Um and Dave Brubek Take Five are also worth mentioning here because they made these headphones sing with this amp. Charles Mingus Moanin, the baritone sax sounded perfect. This headphone/amp pairing didn't seem to take to classical music as well as the HD800's did. Still can't figure out what it's missing, a certain je ne sais quoi. While the WA5 helps the headphone resolve more detail, it doesn't compare to the HD800's missing a lot of nuances or not emphasizing things that are stark and clear in Mezzanine on the HD800's. At the same time one wouldn't expect it to, as the HD800's are over double its price. One thing the headphones didn't need was added warmth that the WA5 did add, while I love it for jazz it leaves something to be desired for piano sonata's.   Finally, please be aware this is very subjective and what sounds good to me may sound like somebody throwing turds in your ears.   Onwards and upwards.   The amp itself is stunning to look at and made out of machined aluminum, it looks like it will last 10 life times. It is clear that with a lot of audiophile gear your paying for the chassis, the WA5 is no exception. The separate PSU connected via an umbilical cord to the amp portion kept the noise floor dark. The volume knobs are perfect and an audiophiles wet dream. I loved the sound with my MHDT Havana DAC and sounded a little worse out of a Wyred 4 Sound DAC-1. The input selector wasn't really of much use to me but is a nice feature that wasn't on my WA6. It did not come with a power cable which for $3600 it should come with 5. As I said earlier the whole unit weighs 75lbs and it actually makes the shelf I have them sitting on bow a little. If I had to nitpick, the blue power light is super obnoxious and I wish the umbilical cord was a little longer just in case. Shipping was 125$ and Jack Wu responded to my emails in less then 24 hours and notified me with a tracking number right when it shipped.   This amp sounds significantly better then a Woo Audio 6. With the HD800's the WA6 sounded like it had to work but with the WA5LE it's like getting chemotherapy because you are tired of shaving your head. I find it only sounds a little better then the Lehmann Audio Rhinelander, a wonderful solid state amp and you really notice diminishing returns. At work I have a Musical Fidelity HPA, but haven't had enough time to bring it home with the HD650's to make any real comparisons but I did notice a dramatic improvement in the small soundstage of the HD650's on the WA5LE. I have also heard it is a fantastic pairing with the Hifiman HE-6, which hopefully I can get my hands on a pair shortly.   In summation this headphone amplifier has a dead quite background, beautiful mids and upper mids that stick out, tight deep bass, effortless sound, an imposing beautiful look, famed 300B characteristics, somewhat headphone picky endgame headphone amplifier.       
 

Lol, you guys don't even realise his whole channel is a big troll.

Double-sided momboard.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNxcUbpz-og

Woo Audio 5LE Review
 
  About 3 months ago I ordered a Woo Audio 5 from Woo Audio (www.wooaudio.com). Buying it with the intention that it would be my endgame headphone amplifier. I purchased it with the internal component upgrades and with only the stock tubes. Shortly I will be purchasing some 274b's and 300b tubes but have not quite made up my mind on which one's to buy; but when I do I will try and update this review.    A terse history of my headphone experience and how I ended up spending $3600USD on a headphone amplifier, so you know where I am coming from experience wise. I am not an audiophile.     Currently owned: Sennheiser HD800's, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica ATH-W1000x, Westone ES5 IEM.   Previously owned: Sennheiser HD 600's, AKG 701's, JVC HARX700, Westone 4, Westone 1, HiFiMan HE-500.   Currently owned amps: Woo Audio WA5LE, Centrance DacPort,  Fiio E17, Musical Fidelity HPA.   Previously owned amps: Woo Audio 6, Lehmann Audio Rhinelander, Musical Fidelity V-CAN.   Currently owned DAC's: MHDT Havana, Musical Fidelity V-DAC, Centrance Dacport.   Previously owned DAC's: Wyred 4 Sound DAC-1.     This started about 4-5 years ago with the amazing headphone by JVC, the HA RX700, which for $33 sounds absolutely fantastic and you really cannot go wrong. Shortly after I bought various in-ear monitors which I didn't even bother listing above, but ended up with the Westone 1. It then, like heroin, quickly got out of hand and dozens of returns and purchases later I now have a Woo Audio 5LE.    From the reviews I read they shipped in wooden crates due to the combined weight of 75lbs. To be honest I was almost more excited of getting something shipped to me in two wooden crates and having the UPS person think I was an arms dealer then listening to the amp; this idea was very sexy to me. But after a long wait (1 month, as they are each made to order) I finally got the knock on the door only to find them encased in heavy duty cardboard. Now with my aspirations of being an arms dealer dashed and disappointment aside; I opened each box and found them to be packed extremely well in closed cell foam cut to fit each component. The tubes were tucked throughout and everything was unharmed. After setting everything up the component train went as such:   Computer, FLAC, ALAC, MP3 320 > Logitech Squeezebox Touch > SPDIF > MHDT Havana > RCA > Woo Audio 5LE  > Headphones used in this review: Sennheiser HD800's, Audio-Technica ATH-W1000x.   All stock headphone cables, interconnects from Monoprice. Needless to say I have never noticed an improvement in sound through any cable ever.   I left it on for 4-6 hour periods for several weeks running random music through it but never listening, saving my initial impressions after everything burned in. The music I listened to for this review:   Massive Attack: Mezzanine - This album is a no brainer for assessing the quality of headphones, or for that matter any piece of audio gear. It oozes production value and it is clear a lot of time went into mastering the album. In my opinion this has to be in the top 5 best recorded albums, it is ruthlessly revealing and incredibly nuanced. It is fantastic for assessing bass response (Angel), as well as vocals (Inertia Creeps, Mezzanine, and Tear Drop), and seeing how much detail comes across with the distortions and effects in each track. If none of this matters to you it is also the best album I've ever heard to have sex to. If you can find something better, let me know.   Starker Plays Kodaly - With a hard 's'. This album is spectacular, I've listened to it since I was a teenager and it still gives me chills. Janos Starkers' technical ability on the cello is devastating  he play's Kodaly's cello sonata like it's on fire; with the right gear Starkers cello comes alive. I picked this album because I am extremely familiar with it and have heard it on everything from $33 JVC HARX700's to a $250000 dollar Wilson Audio speaker setup, as well as hearing it played live by various performers. Mid range trial by fire. That said, this album changed my life and I was deeply saddened by Starkers recent passing.   Diana Krall: Live In Paris - Lady Krall consistently has the best recorded albums out there and this one in my opinion is the best. Her vocals out of a warm tube amp are something wonderful, it makes it quite difficult not to fall in love with this album. The live audience also helps show how well your headphones resolve detail. The imaging on this album I feel is also particularly good.   RCA In Living Stereo: Bartok Concerto for Orchestra - I almost have a hard time believing this album was recorded under Fritz Reiner in the 50's. It sounds better then basically anything today and was a personal revelation for me when I first heard it. I have since listened to every RCA In Living Stereo SACD Hybrid they've released and they are all a gold standard in quality. Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra play it as if it is the last time it will ever be played, with a real sense of urgency. The separation between instruments is spectacular with this recording.   John Coltrane: A Love Supreme- As Douglas Adams said “Beethoven tells you what it's like to be Beethoven and Mozart tells you what it's like to be human. Bach tells you what it's like to be the universe.” This album I feel could be interchanged with Bach and nobody would complain. I've heard it best described as "sheets of sound" which seems to be the best description. The amount of humanity and passion that comes across in Mr Coltranes saxophone could not be understated. The resolution of details in this album with a good set of headphones or speakers is truly great and I fear that most people will never get to hear what it can sound like, which is a shame.   Katy Perry: Teenage Dream - This album sounds dreadful. Why does she emphasize each word? It sounds like she said each word individually and was then stitched together. Nothing remains of the humanity in her voice, it has been evacuated, presumably digitally. Some of the songs, like Peacock, I don't think qualify as a song let alone a chant. This album did not benefit at all from any sort of amplification or any headphone in any price range and am a worse person for listening to it. Her music is distinctly both nasal and phallic. Also, loudness war. Also listened to: Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Bach, Beethoven, Charles Mingus, Ali Fark Toure, and Macklemore.   Through with the music on to the headphones.    I will be very upfront about this, the Sennheiser HD800's are absolutely spectacular and are easily my favorite headphone. The clarity and the neutrality of the sound haven't been touched by anything I have heard. Do keep in mind I have not listened to Stax's latest high-end offering. But when compared to basically any other phone, it bury's the competition. Out of the Woo Audio 5LE the HD800's sound gorgeous, warming them slightly and softening the highs it removed any sort of fatigue I experienced out of the Rhinelander. This was most evident in Mezzanine when listening to Teardrop the sibilance disappeared and the harshness mellowed. I listened for hours no problem. The WA5 provided excellent bass response not overpowering but tight, deep and accurate. In the song Angel (Mezzanine) bass and details were resolved that I had not heard before. I try and avoid saying this since it gets thrown around constantly in certain circles and has become something of a banality. The soundstange of the HD800's is enormous so with proper orchestral music like Bartok Concerto for Orchestra or Mahler the music engulfs you and the WA5 only helps this by improving transient response, and making the soundstage more whole and rounded. As a frequent attendant of orchestras I sometimes feel the HD800's go a bit overboard with the soundstage. The mid range in A Love Supreme was lush and smooth and Mr Coltrane never sounded so good, the mids felt more emphasized then on any other amp I've listened to before, which is a good thing and the double bass solo was satisfying. Again due to the mid range emphasis Diana Krall's vocals were intoxicating, she almost hypnotizes you. Then there was Starker, listening to this, on this amp, with these headphones, was like I was listening to it for the first time. It was everything it could be and sounded beautiful.     The Audio Technica ATH W1000x are in an over crowded price bracket with a lot of crappy headphones and some good ones. My initial apercu with these headphones listening to classical was not good but I almost exclusively keep these for jazz and they do it brilliantly with their warmish, wholesome sound signature. More like the HD650's then the HD800's in my opinion. Out of the WA5 and listening to  John Coltrane A Love Supreme a permanent unfading smile came across my face for the entirety of the album and brought me 30+ minutes of pure happiness easily paying for the thousands of dollars I spent. I listened to it again and again enoying every minute of it. Charles Mingus Ah Um and Dave Brubek Take Five are also worth mentioning here because they made these headphones sing with this amp. Charles Mingus Moanin, the baritone sax sounded perfect. This headphone/amp pairing didn't seem to take to classical music as well as the HD800's did. Still can't figure out what it's missing, a certain je ne sais quoi. While the WA5 helps the headphone resolve more detail, it doesn't compare to the HD800's missing a lot of nuances or not emphasizing things that are stark and clear in Mezzanine on the HD800's. At the same time one wouldn't expect it to, as the HD800's are over double its price. One thing the headphones didn't need was added warmth that the WA5 did add, while I love it for jazz it leaves something to be desired for piano sonata's.   Finally, please be aware this is very subjective and what sounds good to me may sound like somebody throwing turds in your ears.   Onwards and upwards.   The amp itself is stunning to look at and made out of machined aluminum, it looks like it will last 10 life times. It is clear that with a lot of audiophile gear your paying for the chassis, the WA5 is no exception. The separate PSU connected via an umbilical cord to the amp portion kept the noise floor dark. The volume knobs are perfect and an audiophiles wet dream. I loved the sound with my MHDT Havana DAC and sounded a little worse out of a Wyred 4 Sound DAC-1. The input selector wasn't really of much use to me but is a nice feature that wasn't on my WA6. It did not come with a power cable which for $3600 it should come with 5. As I said earlier the whole unit weighs 75lbs and it actually makes the shelf I have them sitting on bow a little. If I had to nitpick, the blue power light is super obnoxious and I wish the umbilical cord was a little longer just in case. Shipping was 125$ and Jack Wu responded to my emails in less then 24 hours and notified me with a tracking number right when it shipped.   This amp sounds significantly better then a Woo Audio 6. With the HD800's the WA6 sounded like it had to work but with the WA5LE it's like getting chemotherapy because you are tired of shaving your head. I find it only sounds a little better then the Lehmann Audio Rhinelander, a wonderful solid state amp and you really notice diminishing returns. At work I have a Musical Fidelity HPA, but haven't had enough time to bring it home with the HD650's to make any real comparisons but I did notice a dramatic improvement in the small soundstage of the HD650's on the WA5LE. I have also heard it is a fantastic pairing with the Hifiman HE-6, which hopefully I can get my hands on a pair shortly.   In summation this headphone amplifier has a dead quite background, beautiful mids and upper mids that stick out, tight deep bass, effortless sound, an imposing beautiful look, famed 300B characteristics, somewhat headphone picky endgame headphone amplifier.