related video: Willsenton R800i Tube Integrated amplifier Review: th-cam.com/video/k_qDijH8B-Y/w-d-xo.html Available on Amazon now: Willsenton R8 (USA) : amzn.to/34AWntv (Canada): amzn.to/3gnHQ6F Disclaimer/ Personal interest in my reviews - nbtsmedia.com/about-us/
believe me, the 770$ it cost now is just a joke. compare it with different tube amp the same seller offers and it's hard to understand why he is selling this amp so cheap
Wow...finally! It's a dreary, crappy, cold and rainy day here. I get my coffee, open my computer, and The Audiophiliac is reviewing a ANOTHER headphone...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, Sean's gone into hiding, and Thomas is MIA as well... But wait! What's this?! Jay's finally gotten around to reviewing the Willsenton?! Ohmigod! Lol, seriously though man...this was a long time coming but the wait was well worth it. You nailed this review, and seeing as how I will very soon be taking possession of the Double Impact SEs, I am very, very excited to check out this integrated. Thank you for this review, Jay. Oh yeah, you can now ignore the gentle chiding I gave you for not getting around to reviewing the Willsenton over on your Patreon site! Haha!
I bought Willsenton R8 3 weeks ago in China. It makes LS50 sound incredible. Powerful and very crisped sound. I am happy to have it. Thanks for your help to purchase a good tube amp.
Hello, just wondering how is going with the amp. Trying to get more information on it before I pull the trigger, looking into a Prima Luna, similar design, any problem with the unit,is it living up to your expectations,any feed back will help,thanks
I agree with you review. I also reviewed this amp and yesterday, after it was 5 weeks in his house, my friend also reviewed it. This amp is for the price(around 1000$) extreme good. It is not only good but a real beautiful thing. When I tested it I didn't liked the el34 tubes on it. I prefered the kt88 but when it went to my friend to test/review it he discovered after a few more days burn in that in fact the el34 sounded better as the kt88 tubes. The el34 needs a very long time to burn in. I wonder how long you burned in those el34. Try to burn them in for about 100/120 hours, because this is what these el34 needs to burn in, you will hear a complete different el34.
@@Jayiyagi out of the box the el34 sounded really ugly, i was very disappointed but when I heard them playing in Ivars house(after he burned those el34 in longer) I was really surprised how much of a difference good burning in time can do. It was my first tube amp so no experience at all but now I know it for the next time.
@@vintagestereo interesting ! I did not notice THAT big of a difference but yes, with all tube amps, there is tube burn in for sure and I have experienced this
This dude is joining the elite status of youtube audio reviewers, it has been great to experience this type of content grow on youtube the past few years.
I think it's interesting that when solidstate amplifiers came out some of us engineers and some audiophiles stated that transistors and digital technology could not match the sound quality of Tubes. We knew that a transformer is an analog devise and a speaker is an analog devise and vacuum tube is and analog devise. Dynamic impedance and load matching requires analog. It looks like these newer tubed amps use a push pull circuit probably a KT-88 tube or one like it. Just like we did in the 1960's.
You're reviews are getting so good! Thank you for pointing out exceptional value products like you usually do! Who wants to spend 4k$ on an amplifier during the COVID area?
Excellent review Jay. Very descriptive and informative. I've been awaiting this review for a very long time, having seen it as a working example in your listening room. I'm going to pull the trigger on this as my next purchase. Well done!
Jay, Thank you for the content and thoughts you share on your channel. I purchased a R10 in 12/2020 and really enjoy the amp. I rolled the tubes a few months ago and it improved the the dynamics, sound stage and frequency response (better bass & treble). I am happy to share the tube selection if you are interested.
I ordered one soon after seeing your review. Got it 5 weeks later (3 days ago) and is amazing. My first tube integrated amp and can't stop listening to it. I also love my McIntosh gear but some music just sounds more immersive with this amp. Next step is to connect my Technics RS-1700 and turntable to see it's full potential. B&Ws 803 D3 and just using 25-35% of volume so far.
@@pseudoty haven't played Rock n Roll yet. Only soft rock and jazz so far and bass has been good so far. I'll play some Rock n Roll from digital and analog sources and post my opinion here.
Listening to your review, one thing stands out. Why do people think Tube Amps are soft on the bass side? I have some amplifiers from the Early 40's and early 50's that are genuine tube amps, and with the speakers from that era, they have plenty of bass, crisp, clear and not muddy or over blown. I think modern tube amps lose something, maybe modern made tubes are not quite the same, or maybe its modern output transformers that are lacking. I guess you can only reveiew a modern tube amp, but they really don't compare to older tube amps.
Newer is NOT BETTER. Just like when CDs came out. Yes I understand the advantage over vinyl however the sound of vinyl is so much better. There's no comparison and then I have an assortment of head shells and cartridges that I use on my turntable. Depending on what type of music I'm listening to. Can't do that on a CD player. Oh yes a lot of today's tube equipment is really hybrid. Not real 100 % tube like before solid state. I miss being able to take my tubes to my local electronic shop plugging them to their tube tester that used to show me whether they were starting to wear out or needed to be replaced completely. Then just walking up to the sales desk and purchasing new for a very small fee unlike today.
Ok, what’s inside this puppy? Point to point wiring or just a board, capacitors, transformers. Wiring quality, hand soldering? Where are the tubes from? Do they make their own tubes? How are the tubes, do they last? It does look like a well built unit.
I Have and always Had a Passion to recreate an accurate Soundstage of Music !!! Years Ago I obtained a System that Satisfied Me and Had to turn my attention elsewhere !!! Once you start a Family, they Come First !!! Now, over the years the Prices Have Gone Up So High, that I’m Glad I was Born Back Then !!!! NO WAY COULD I BE INVOLVED IN THE HIGH-FI MARKET NOWADAYS !!!!
Great review Jay. Although the Reisong A10 is lower budget, less inputs and lower wattage. Would love to get your take on the sound comparison of the two.
I also love this amp. I owned Conrad Johnson , Audio Research , Cary and Prima Luna. You can improve the sound by a lot . I changed the tubes it came with to Shuguang Treasure 50 anniversary , The 6SN7 to CV-181-T , The 6SL7 to tung -sol 6SL7GT its like heaven . I have made a video if you want. The best amp i have ever owned.
Outstanding review.. Tempting... Curious how this compares with other Chinese branded integrated amps like Cayin, RFTLYS, Muzishare etc... They all look outstanding but impossible to audition before making a decision. Thanks.
I took a drink of beer every time he said, 'high gain design'... The reason for matching the bias in a push pull tube amp is because each tube handles half of the sine wave, and a mismatch will cause output signal distortion. The reason for adjusting the overall bias level for both tubes is to lengthen the life of the tubes by not exceeding the plate current of the tubes.
I understand your love of tubes! I'm a PrimaLuna man myself and am never going back! Are you still with Audio Excellence? Fantastic, insightful and thorough review. Thank you, keep up the good work Jay.
Hi Jay. After watching this video I took the plunge and bought the Willsenton R8. I also bought the SoundArtist Pre-1 for my Crown XLS2502 as well as their LS3/5a's. I also have the Q Acoustics Concept 500 towers, Cambridge Audio CXU (streamer/disc transport), Cambridge Audio CXA60, Rega Planar P6 with Nagaoka MP500 cartridge, a Schiit Audio Phono stage and a Naim Uniti Atom. Yes, I've got a lot of "stuff", so I guess I'm an audiophile of sorts, but getting back to the Willsenton R8, I bought it just on a whim (and partly on your review of it as well), and after owning it for about 6 weeks now, I have to say that it is something very special. At the moment I'm not sure which I like best out of the Naim Uniti Atom and the Willsenton R8. They are both excellent, but have a feeling that my musical and tonal tastes are leaning more and more towards the R8. What is your opinion? On another note, it would be great if you could audition the Q Acoustic Concept 500's. I think they are something special too, especially for the price here in Australia. Any chance of you auditioning them? I would be very interested (as I'm sure your audience would be too) as to what you think of them. Do they give some of the lower tier Wilson Audio speakers a run for their money? A question I'd really like answered. :)
@@kylebowers3383 - I bought it direct from the China HiFi website. This was just over a year ago now, and while I've also purchased the Willsenton R800i, I still use the R8, but with very expensive NOS tubes. The R8 is in another room, but it's still used almost as much as the R800i. So a lot has changed since I wrote the above post. I now believe that tubes are better than solid state and consequently all my solid state amps have been placed into storage. Am I a tube convert? Absolutely.
Update to my "Be Wary" post 4 days ago. China HiFi Audio is GOOD. Received feedback from Yong Lee in my "junk" folder and should have checked. That was my fault. I received shipping and other info regarding my order. Therefore, I would recommend purchasing from them.
Hi Jay, first of all I have to thank you for reviewing this tube amplifier. Honestly I'm a beginner for high end audio and I've been wanting to try a tube amplifier for a long time, but not sure where to start as I have very little knowledge about it. After watching your amazing review on Willsenton R8, I've finally decided to purchased it thru Alibaba express instead of order it direct from China Hifi due the fact I'm reside in Indonesia and this is my first time purchasing any hifi audio from China direct, worrying it may not come in a good condition, lol. Anyway, it arrived about a month ago with very good packaging, the unit was in perfect condition and I've followed your advice, connecting all the cables and adjusting the output tubes using BIAS meter and start playing and listening few genre of music with my old KEF R500 speakers. Although as I mentioned this is the first time I really owned a Tubes Amp, I'm really satisfy with the quality of sound and it came out exactly as you described on your review. So, I should say thank you to you, Jay...!! Note: I have a question about the tubes, Jay.. As you mentioned that different output tubes have different character of sounds, do you mind sharing with me your reference of tyoe and brand/s that you thing is good for me to start? Fyi, mine now using KT88 stock which come with the amp. I'm thinking to buy EL34 tubes as well as other KT88 tubes for me to try. Thanks in advance, Jay...!
You both live in hot countries, I would make sure that that you don't place them under the TV. They should have good ventilation so that the heat can dissipate.
@@ajitmoses Hi Ajit... nice to know you. Regarding the heat from the Amp, it's quite hot after long hours of listening, especialy I keep mine inside the rack which place below my wall mounted TV but so far it's still fine. Although I have to make an extra wooden box to be place in front of my rack whenever I need to check and adjust the BIAS of those 4 power Tubes from time to time. On your case, if you put it on the rack under your wall mounted TV, it is depend how close is the distance, but as I noticed, the most heat is coming from the front part of your Amp (Tubes), I guess it should be okay, Ajit.....
Thomas I hope you will review more german speakers....Not sure if your friends/shops over there have german speakers but I would hear your opinion about them
Thx for the review. I have the Willsenton R-35I which is one step down from your review model. It’s EL34 tubed. Paired wit Atlantic Technologies AT-2 speakers. I have some Tekton Enzo XLs coming in 2 weeks. Great sound stage, depth, bass and midrange are excellent. I agree with your description of the bass. The treble is where I have an issue. It very dark. It’s there, but very rolled off. I tried using a Monoprice tube amp (EL84) and a 70s SAE Integrated amp (solid state) and the highs are great, so it’s not my source. May need more burn-in or maybe try different tubes. I play guitar also, so have preamp tubes to try. It uses 12ax7 and 12au7 tubes. If you have any suggestions, I’d appreciate it. Keep the great reviews coming.
I changed out the chinese 12ax7s with NOS West German Telefunkens and wow, what a difference. Tighter bass, higher treble range, better clarity, and well, just everything better. Can’t stop smiling.
I just got the Muzishare x7 thanks to Mr Zero Fidelity. It’s my first tube amp. I’m running Zu Omen DWs with it. So far so good.... though I expect better tubes will help a lot. Anyway, I would love to now how this Willsenton unit compares. I still have a week to send the Muzishare back on Amazon. Hmmmmmm..... fantastic reviews! Thanks!
After listening to my US$2500 Luxman SQ 38u (4 EL34) for the last 15 years. I purchased Willsenton r8 with KT88 just for curiosity. And I listen to them with TAD TSM300 and KEF LS3/5a for comparison. I used a cheap mechanical switching device for AB with amp as well as speakers. To my surprise, there were no sonic difference, even though they're using different types of tubes. My friends and I just can't tell the slight difference. Any comments? Some suggested that I should test without the switching device.
Question. Does the R8 have a volume control that ramps up slowly or does it have more of a 'hair trigger' volume control? I used to own a tube integrated that had a really bad hair trigger volume control. Volume went from nothing to loud by turning the volume control about 1/4 of an inch! I had to get rid of that integrated.
My understanding of the distortion with tubes (also a guitar player) is that once you start getting power amp gain, you're getting past the amp's rating (whereas in solid state, you're at the rating), so a 30 watt tube amp if allowed to push into some power tube overdrive may match a 50 watt solid state amp in total volume. With sensitive speakers and allowance of a little bit of warming gain with these, the volume could get extremely loud - especially in vocal ranges.
Just pulled the trigger on this yesterday, Jay your channel is great, so on your word I have taken a leap of faith on this one. I have the Ares II just prior to your review aired and concur with your review of that DAC - I am working on the same agreed logic on this purchase albeit unheard! 5 days ago there were 6 in stock, I thought I'd wait a day to decide and missed out....then 3 days ago there were 10 in stock and now down to 3. This thing is still running out the door, fingers crossed QC is not being rushed as the demand is so high!!! I'd suspect not though, Yong has been great to deal with and I sense he is a stand up guy on his products. I chose black and shipping via sea as the shipping cost to Australia expensive. Yong has a note on the website at least 20days to fulfil the order and I expect at least 40 days for the shipping. At this point I suspect its not likely I will see the amp until middle maybe late October - still looking forward to that time though!!! Chose the KT88 option on recommendation from Yong. Will be powering KEF's and primarily used in an analog set up (turntable into phono stage) playing heavy metal / hard rock with a little bit of blues and jazz. I considered other models but on this review and Yongs kind guidance I think this will be an awesome addition to my current amps and my first full tube amp. Will chime back in 3months or so once its arrived and playing.
I am also interested in this amp. I hope you like it. If you don't mind me asking, who did you buy from? And what was the shipping cost if you had to pay for that? Thank you!
I just ordered this amp, the first tube amp I will have had in about 50 years. It will be interesting to see how I like it with my rather power hungry Acoustat 1 panels.
This is one of your BEST REVIEWS, considering all the videos i have seen from u have been outstanding! Your breadth of knowledge on tube amps, ti e u spent gathering info, demystifies tube amps for novice tube amp owners or those SS amp owners wanting to try tube amps with less reservations! I cannot understate the importance of your style removes tune amp stigmas and myths, thx! Tube amp options of tube type selector swtitch, up front bias meter, how well it pairs with a variety of speakers, DAVcs, streamers, better power , speaker and interconnect cables, price, makes this a solid winner. Can u pls compare this w the Yaqin MC100b integrated tube amp. I have this amp, upgrade the power cable rolled to many better tubes, stock Shugang tubes are mehhh, love bias adjustments w a separate meter. Seems Chinese mfg lines use lesser voltage than USA, other owners dialed down coltage w a Variac to approx 105 colts?for better performance. May i add tubes are not one and done biasing them, since they wear down with use....i found rebiasing them once every 2 months helps a lot, more often if amp is used daily. I was surprised u did not delve i to tube rolling, since this amp has great potential.please consider this amp bs Yaqin MC100b at same price point comparison review...i am most interested in sound comparisons...thank u,keep up the outstanding review content and your added insight!
Thanks for the comparison with the Double Impact. These are the speakers I have and I was contemplating replacing my PS Audio Stellar stack with this amp but was wondering if it was a good match. So glad you tried it and recommend it. This validates what I was going to do. And since I don’t have the means $ to make too many mistakes, your trusted opinion is very valued. Thank you!
I kind of based my purchase of the R8 on top of this review. I'm so happy. Delivery was expensive but took only 1 month. Couldn't ask for more. It's awesome. So crisp, sound stage is awesome and the sound is just like on clouds. Pairing them with Focal Chora 826Ds. At the moment hooked up Nvidia Shield with Tidal to Marantz AVR 6010, and L/R as preout to the willsenton r8. Next upgrade is a good Streamer/DAC and some better Power cables, excited to get more out of this thing.
Great review: comprehensive and clear. Your review of the Hegel 90 with LRS was also tantalizing! Now off I go to the listening room in my head for the imaginary shootout!
Small comment/nit on something said in the review - Biasing is current balancing, not voltage. A voltage drop across a reference resistor (of known value) is how current is measured. So the voltage could be perceived as a side effect of current flow though an impedance. Who is the OEM for the Willsenton tubes? Assuming China or Russian. Maybe a good upgrade would be to order the cheaper EL84 version and throw some good balanced tubes in there (tested and matched), eg Tube Doctor or similar? Cheers,
I've love to see how it compares with the PrimaLuna Evo. (Note, the gain tubes are the ones that have the biggest impact to sound. Those are the 6SN7.) Also, it is a shame they don't give the option to ship with no tubes. :( I'd personally would want to use the Gold Lion power tubes and some NOS 6SN7s
8 months ago you posted this where's your review what's the verdict I would never spend any money on a 25 watt amp or a 45 watt amp two small for me and from China where you can't get it returned forget about it
Hi, thaks for great contenst as always. My speakers are 6Ohm (Dali Ikon 8). I plan to buy this amp, which speaker shoud I use with my 6 Ohm speakers? I have two solid state power amps adn my speakers does support bi-amping. Do you recommend to use this amp only for mid/high tones and one of my power amps for base ? Thanks!
Will it match an already warmish sounding Dynaudio Evoke 10, with an already rolled off treble? Maybe hard to drive with 84 dB? And it is specified as 6 ohm, so am I able to connect it with the r8 (4 and 8 ohm) anyway?
Just discovered audiophile videos and greatly enjoying binging on your videos especially during this period of required “social distancing”. Your sense of reason and balance in pursuing your passion really resonates with me. When indulging in the search for an abstract elitist ideal, i.e. the perfect sound system, it’s clearly all too easy to go overboard and lose sight of the principle of diminishing returns as many audiophiles posting advice on TH-cam including you have cautioned. Toward that end I’ve just purchased a Willsenton amp and a pair of Tekton double impact speakers following your recommendations as my initial venture into stereophony. I am certain I will feel amply rewarded by following your well reasoned advice. I have a question. What kind of appropriate cables would you suggest to connect this system? Thanks for sharing your avocation/vocation! Also extend my appreciation to your fellow “partners-in-crime”, Adrian and Philip, at Audio Excellence!
@@ryanlahay9361 whats your take on 100 % pure silver hifi wires, thats a scientific basic that after gold,, silver is the 2nd best conductor known,,then follow 3rdly by copper ., whats your take ?
Excellent descriptive review! I’ve actually built Tube amplifiers in electronics class and a 5 Tube super het radio learning tube basics. I hope you’re following up on your masters degree-follow your dreams!
The output transformer is a non-linear element as a function of frequency. Therefore it introduces a significant phase distortion if one compares the input phase of the signal with the output phase! To remedy this, it is necessary to build OTL (Output Tarnsformer Less) amplifiers. Much better!
Thanks for the awesome review Jay. How does the use of solid state rectifier and not a tube rectifier in this amp affect the whole tube experience ? Lastly, what is the difference between the Tekton double impact "neutral sound" vs the Harbeth "neutral sound" ? Thank you Jay for what you do. It is always a joy and learning experience when I watch your videos.
all those are a topic for a different day my friend but overall good questions for me to answer down the line. too long to explain here but I'll keep it on my list. thank you
@@Jayiyagi Thanks Jay, looking forward to that video conversation hopefully soon. I have a feeling that Tekton neutral is "American" neutral, sterile with pronounced treble and Harbeth neutral is "British" neutral, warm, midrange emphasize more musical neutral ?
Useful and detailed review. I am currently looking at buying a Tube amplifier in this price range. Whilst I have some experience with vacuum tubes in guitar amplifiers I own, I dont have much with respect to amplifiers used in HiFi systems. The research I have done so far, suggests that vacuum tubes perform well in the pre-amp section of the signal path and present issues in the power output stage. There is usually a transformer inserted so that the power output tubs can match the low impedance of the speakers. This transformer can affect the bass frequencies and other things. At what point would you only use tubes for the pre-amp stage and use a solid state amplifier for the power stage? Should I invest in a fully tube powered integrated amp, or a hybrid amp that has a tube pre-amp stage and solid state power stage? (I know that with guitar amplifiers, the signal from your guitar is coloured by the pre-amp stage. The pre-amp stage is actually the part of the amplifier where the amp gets its unique characteristics from. The power stage merely amplifies these characteristics)
When ordering - in the voltage selection option, can you please confirm if we need to choose 110 or 120 for US? I am wanting a dual voltage option, but I'm not sure if I should choose 110/220 or 120/240 option.
How to make a trannie amp sound more "tuby". Obviously the least invasive way is to do it with speakers. I made speakers with 5" full range drivers in "oversized" boxes with a unique acoustic "gap" feature and they simply smoke my B&W 706 reference speakers! To make the speakers, get some 5" FR drivers with the metal phase plug that is stationary. Make or reuse speaker boxes that are like a squat floor stander size. Instead of fully mounting the driver in the hole, raise and mount the driver 1 cm above the hole (with the top screws) and 1.5 cm above the speaker hole (with the bottom screws). Use extended screws and use soft thin garden spray hose for the spacers. It is easily compressed with the screw, so make the spacers slightly longer to apply pressure on the driver. Now it's easy to mount the driver with the gap. An acoustic gap. BUT...you have to "bass vent" the driver hole by making a 40 mm deep 5" diameter tube running into the box from the hole. I made mine with polypipe too big and cut and re-bent to fit the driver hole (that is if you can't find tubing the right size). If you don't do that the speaker will fail, obviously. Put some wadding in and it's done. You can add a filter "crossover" but only mildly cos the acoustic gap does most of it. How do they sound? More spacial more holographic, amazing med life like sound. Highs are also extended by an "octave" with the acoustic gap. And the bass has a nice tubby kick drum sound. The sound is so life like that sometimes I'm startled cos I hear a "real" voice in my room and there is nobody else there. I played my speakers at a friend's gathering and somebody said there is someone yelling out and the dog barked. It was in the recording. A jet went past really low over my room once and as I looked out I realised it was in my speakers. And I OFTEN have to turn it right down to see if I can still hear some sounds. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether a sound is from outside or from my speakers. So you can have this experience too! I lent the speakers out and I asked them if my speakers sounded "different"? They said yes definitely. Then I asked if they liked the difference? And they said yes.
Hello Jay! Great review again... Love you passion for better value (and quality) products :) would you recommend these over the Atoll IN 30 if paired with Klipsch RP600M? I also plan to get a REL T7/i subwoofer. Thank you for your help in advance! :)
So I bought this amp and have been really enjoying it for about a month; but yesterday, a tube went bad! I bought this from Amazon, seller was TubeAmplifierStore. Questions: 1. Does Willsenton warranty the tubes? If so, how would I go about getting them to send me a replacement? 2. While I wait on them, I might just buy another matched set of KT88s. However, this is my first experience with a tube amp, so I don’t know which tubes I want. The tubes it came with have the Willsenton name. I assume they’re a rebranded tube made by someone else. Does anyone know what these really are? If I wanted a sound similar to the tubes it came with, what brands should I think about? Right now I’m considering Mullards or Gold lions. I mostly listen to acoustic rock, jazz and classical. Thoughts? Thanks!
Glad I found this thanks Jay. The biasing setup and selection of modes are a real value. I've been using a modest collection of HiFi gear for years and my son is getting into it too. Music and audio keep us connected.
I finally got it!! Damn that shipping is long! Ok, anybody who gets one you have to hold the bias switch down and turn the knob AT THE SAME TIME! DAMN, INSTRUCTIONS DON'T TELL YA THAT!
kt88 tubes are basically a slightly more powerful form of an el34 tube for those that don't know (they can be interchanged if the supporting circuitry allows for it though any time a tube is changed even with a direct replacement the tude needs to be re-biased as biasing controls the current to the grid and all tubes are different - due note that some amps are self biasing but if you don't know then take it to someone that does - power tubes usually operate at 300VDC to 500VDC while preamp tubes typically operate at 100VDC to 200VDC so a tube amp can kill you quite easily) - the real difference is that the kt88 is a beam tetrode and the el34 is a pentode and the significance is interference and output power - there are triodes, tetrodes, pentodes, and beam tetrodes going from least to most powerful and most to least susceptible to emi and rfi roughly - plain tetrodes typically are the noisiest but when shielding was added which is the beam part it solved this and also made it more efficient and powerful - i'd say that if transistor tech would have developed more slowly then we probably would have gotten beam pentodes as well
Very thorough review of what looks to be an excellent product. Great job, Jay! While I've always lusted for a tube amp in the past; there were 2 problems for me. 1- they tended to be very expensive (not just to purchase but also to maintain. Tubes, especially matched sets tend to be costly, and will need to be replaced at least once every year/2 years depending on how often you use the amp). 2- I have owned pets (cats) for the past 30 years, and tube gear is just a no go for me for safety and proper functioning reasons. With that said though, my ears perked up when you mentioned how you were a musician and how the KT88 tube was used alot in guitar amps for years. While I'm not a musician, I have a fondness for the KT88 tube because I have listened to quite a few tube amps in the past that featured that tube. Most specifically, my favorite power amp from the early 90's was a Sonic Frontiers Power 2. It also was in ultra linear mode and could be used as a monobloc. I heard this 200 watt/channel amp with a pair of Vandersteen 4c's and was blown away by how it sounded. They bass was tight, fast and deep. The mids were spectacular with how organic and natural the instruments sounded. Timbre was more realistic than anything I'd ever heard before. Highs were detailed without ever being piercing and the stage was both wide and deep, but without sacrificing a sense of immediacy. I'm sad that they went out of business, but I appreciate that I had a chance to listen to their excellent, Canadian made gear when they were still around. Btw, I concur with your assessment that watts/channel is very different between tubes and solid state. In the end, I think that the efficiency of the speakers and load makes a huge difference; especially if you like to crank it up like I do. I'm jealous that you can accommodate the Double Impact in your listening space. My room is way to small for that. But man, a big tower like that with 96db?! Beautiful!
Thanks for all in depth reviews NBTS !!! Would you think this would be beefy enough to adequately drive a pair of KEF LS50's? Or would I be better off going for a beefier high current A/B w/ ~100 8ohm 200 4ohm wpc?
Awesome review Jay, I see you also have the hint 6 on the rack. What are your thoughts on the Parasound, and how does compare to the Hegel line of products in terms of sound?
Thank you for explaining tube amplifier to me. There is no room correction software with these, not even an equalizer? You have to use only your speaker's and this amp's factory settings? Or does it connect to a receiver that can do this?
Hi! Jay, i have a question, can I add or hook up my active subwoofer, a Klipsch Sub 12 by using speaker line level input & output of the subwoofer to my Willsenton R8 KT88/EL34 Tube Integrated amplifier, do you think it may damage
Thank you so much for watching this valuable video and consoling me very quickly in this difficult time when the world is desperately hoping that the vaccine will come out soon and the corona virus 19 will end. We sincerely support you to become an extra large channel.
GOOD afternoon. I bought this amp based on your recommendations and I agree with you, for the money, best amp in my collection. Thank you,!! The question I have is that I also wanted to get the speakers you recommended, the tekton Double impact. Will this amp be enough to enjoy those speakers? Will I get the holographics and placement or should I get a speaker with more power? Thank you. keep up the great posts....
Feels like its taking a shot at Primaluna... TR/UL switching ... similar remote design .. headphone out... replaced full autobias with simplified manual bias... both dont have preout... solid socket mounts.. good build quality.
💪💪👍👍👌👌🤗🤗 fantastic review Jay I'm loving this amplifier I have a musical Paradise Mark 3 very inexpensive only maybe 8 watts and I'm so in love with it I only could imagine this I am definitely a tube man now this will definitely be my next purchase along with the denafrips Ares or the musical Paradise tube DAC thank you very much stay safe keep up the Fantastic reviews
I'm wondering why only the center transformer gets warm? The left and right stay cool!?! Sounds great, but I would've thought all three would warm up equally. Any ideas?
Great review Jay, thanks I appreciate your insights as always. Did you try to drive any Magnepan’s by any chance - particularly interested in whether it can drive the LRS’s?
Great review! I too would like to see it up against a Yaqin. I have the silk audio MC100SE which is a reworked Yaqin MC 100B. I also can’t wait for the review of the Tekton Lore Ref. I just bought a pair and would be interested in what you think. Keep up the great channel!
I was about to get that amp but I noticed the power seems to be switched on by pressing and holding the volume button? (Logic switching). I need a hard on/off switch. I am turning the unit on/off by an AUDIOPHONICS Trigger. Can anyone confirm if you pull the power cord on this amp while its on can you plug it back in and it turns back on or does it stay off? Please say it turns back on 🤞🏻 Thanks guys.
Hi Jay. Watch and enjoy your channel regularly. Also, I chime in with J. G. below on a comparison with Muzishare X7, which I tried but found lacking in the bottom end and with a slight bump in the upper mids. I am very interested in this unit but need some more input. I am looking for a unit that gives that huge 3d tube soundstage and is tonally balanced for a full, rich low mid range. Not a sloppy or muddy one... but a full rich one tonally, with that classic tube air and liveliness. Is this the amp I am looking for? Also, did you try any tube rolling? Has anyone recommended any particular pre amp or power tubes? Look forward to your reply and hope you stay well! Thanks in advance.
I am trying the X7 right now . I found that the midrange and highs are way too bright even in triode mode. More than 50 hours burn in time. Did you have the same experience also and did you keep the x7. Thanks 😊
Thanks for insight on Bias adjustment, where as nobody else has done so in their review. I know it is Class A/B, however from what I hear it gets pretty hot.
just received the Willsenton R8, wonderful to look at and great sound as well , thank you Jay, as I just followed your advice, Yong gave us great service as well
How do you think this amp would do with your JBL 300's? I have the 4333's and am looking for an amp. Any thoughts about that match in terms of power and sound? Which pre-amp and amp tube packages would you include for your JBLs?
related video:
Willsenton R800i Tube Integrated amplifier Review: th-cam.com/video/k_qDijH8B-Y/w-d-xo.html
Available on Amazon now:
Willsenton R8 (USA) : amzn.to/34AWntv
(Canada): amzn.to/3gnHQ6F
Disclaimer/ Personal interest in my reviews - nbtsmedia.com/about-us/
believe me, the 770$ it cost now is just a joke. compare it with different tube amp the same seller offers and it's hard to understand why he is selling this amp so cheap
@@vintagestereo much agreed. I thought I would be receiving some small ass amp for $770 but my back broke when I first got the package
Unfortunately it is not available. 😞
@@Jayiyagi did you already tryed the
Willsenton R-800i 300B?
cheers
@@SpinnerPaddlefoot back in stock !
Wow...finally! It's a dreary, crappy, cold and rainy day here. I get my coffee, open my computer, and The Audiophiliac is reviewing a ANOTHER headphone...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, Sean's gone into hiding, and Thomas is MIA as well... But wait! What's this?! Jay's finally gotten around to reviewing the Willsenton?! Ohmigod! Lol, seriously though man...this was a long time coming but the wait was well worth it. You nailed this review, and seeing as how I will very soon be taking possession of the Double Impact SEs, I am very, very excited to check out this integrated. Thank you for this review, Jay. Oh yeah, you can now ignore the gentle chiding I gave you for not getting around to reviewing the Willsenton over on your Patreon site! Haha!
Just got mine working. This is the best AMP I own. By FAR! Actually, I am blown away by it. I don't know if I can ever buy a different one again.
I bought Willsenton R8 3 weeks ago in China. It makes LS50 sound incredible. Powerful and very crisped sound. I am happy to have it. Thanks for your help to purchase a good tube amp.
Hello, just wondering how is going with the amp. Trying to get more information on it before I pull the trigger, looking into a Prima Luna, similar design, any problem with the unit,is it living up to your expectations,any feed back will help,thanks
I agree with you review. I also reviewed this amp and yesterday, after it was 5 weeks in his house, my friend also reviewed it. This amp is for the price(around 1000$) extreme good. It is not only good but a real beautiful thing. When I tested it I didn't liked the el34 tubes on it. I prefered the kt88 but when it went to my friend to test/review it he discovered after a few more days burn in that in fact the el34 sounded better as the kt88 tubes. The el34 needs a very long time to burn in. I wonder how long you burned in those el34. Try to burn them in for about 100/120 hours, because this is what these el34 needs to burn in, you will hear a complete different el34.
Hey man. thanks for stopping by. yeap ! I had these boys for about 2 months now and we always burn in everything !
@@Jayiyagi out of the box the el34 sounded really ugly, i was very disappointed but when I heard them playing in Ivars house(after he burned those el34 in longer) I was really surprised how much of a difference good burning in time can do. It was my first tube amp so no experience at all but now I know it for the next time.
@@vintagestereo interesting ! I did not notice THAT big of a difference but yes, with all tube amps, there is tube burn in for sure and I have experienced this
@@vintagestereo i am really trying to get into my first tube amp and wondering to get this one.
@@vintagestereo How do you burn in the tubes? Do you play music on this amp non stop or you just turn the amp on?
2 years late, but Jay THIS VIDEO convinced me to buy a Willsenton R8. Many thanks to you and our Canadian friends who inspire us to pursue our hobby.
This dude is joining the elite status of youtube audio reviewers, it has been great to experience this type of content grow on youtube the past few years.
Thanks man. Idk about elite status but I will always keep it real, humble and honest. Lol
@@Jayiyagi 😘
@Marten Dekker it is an award given in 2020. Not the best in 2020. Please read the description
I think it's interesting that when solidstate amplifiers came out some of us engineers and some audiophiles stated that transistors and digital technology could not match the sound quality of Tubes. We knew that a transformer is an analog devise and a speaker is an analog devise and vacuum tube is and analog devise. Dynamic impedance and load matching requires analog.
It looks like these newer tubed amps use a push pull circuit probably a KT-88 tube or one like it. Just like we did in the 1960's.
You're reviews are getting so good! Thank you for pointing out exceptional value products like you usually do! Who wants to spend 4k$ on an amplifier during the COVID area?
Good explanation of some of the technicalities that usually nobody takes time to do for neophyte like me.
Excellent review Jay. Very descriptive and informative. I've been awaiting this review for a very long time, having seen it as a working example in your listening room. I'm going to pull the trigger on this as my next purchase. Well done!
Thank you for your comment and being a patreon !
Jay,
Thank you for the content and thoughts you share on your channel. I purchased a R10 in 12/2020 and really enjoy the amp. I rolled the tubes a few months ago and it improved the the dynamics, sound stage and frequency response (better bass & treble). I am happy to share the tube selection if you are interested.
Hi, which tubes did you roll - I am interested in getting this amp? Thanks👍🏻
I ordered one soon after seeing your review. Got it 5 weeks later (3 days ago) and is amazing. My first tube integrated amp and can't stop listening to it. I also love my McIntosh gear but some music just sounds more immersive with this amp. Next step is to connect my Technics RS-1700 and turntable to see it's full potential. B&Ws 803 D3 and just using 25-35% of volume so far.
Just wondering.. the cheapest shipping to the United States is $326. I thought it was less than that a month ago. Was it less for you?
Do you play Rock n Roll with it? I have B&W CM9 S2 @89db sensitivity and lesser tube amps struggle with bass and more complex music.
@@bradley8apig461 hes, the price has increased overall. Paid $1199 on Amazon including shipping.
@@pseudoty haven't played Rock n Roll yet. Only soft rock and jazz so far and bass has been good so far. I'll play some Rock n Roll from digital and analog sources and post my opinion here.
Listening to your review, one thing stands out. Why do people think Tube Amps are soft on the bass side? I have some amplifiers from the Early 40's and early 50's that are genuine tube amps, and with the speakers from that era, they have plenty of bass, crisp, clear and not muddy or over blown. I think modern tube amps lose something, maybe modern made tubes are not quite the same, or maybe its modern output transformers that are lacking. I guess you can only reveiew a modern tube amp, but they really don't compare to older tube amps.
Newer is NOT BETTER. Just like when CDs came out. Yes I understand the advantage over vinyl however the sound of vinyl is so much better. There's no comparison and then I have an assortment of head shells and cartridges that I use on my turntable. Depending on what type of music I'm listening to. Can't do that on a CD player. Oh yes a lot of today's tube equipment is really hybrid. Not real 100 % tube like before solid state. I miss being able to take my tubes to my local electronic shop plugging them to their tube tester that used to show me whether they were starting to wear out or needed to be replaced completely. Then just walking up to the sales desk and purchasing new for a very small fee unlike today.
Ok, what’s inside this puppy? Point to point wiring or just a board, capacitors, transformers. Wiring quality, hand soldering? Where are the tubes from? Do they make their own tubes? How are the tubes, do they last? It does look like a well built unit.
I never have supported a channel through Patreon before but your content and the help you have given me is definitely worth it to me. Thanks!
I Have and always Had a Passion to recreate an accurate Soundstage of Music !!!
Years Ago I obtained a System that Satisfied Me and Had to turn my attention elsewhere !!!
Once you start a Family, they Come First !!!
Now, over the years the Prices Have Gone Up So High, that I’m Glad I was Born Back Then !!!!
NO WAY COULD I BE INVOLVED IN THE HIGH-FI MARKET NOWADAYS !!!!
Great review Jay. Although the Reisong A10 is lower budget, less inputs and lower wattage. Would love to get your take on the sound comparison of the two.
Nice Job Jay, just a suggestion. I would suggest check bias every 6 months and adjust bias is needed. Tube gain may change over time.
Would love to see a comparison between the Muzishare X7, Reisong Boyuu A10 and the Willsenton R8
I would very much like to see a head to head with this and the Muzishare X7. Great channel - Thank you.
I also love this amp. I owned Conrad Johnson , Audio Research , Cary and Prima Luna. You can improve the sound by a lot . I changed the tubes it came with to Shuguang Treasure 50 anniversary , The 6SN7 to CV-181-T , The 6SL7 to tung -sol 6SL7GT its like heaven . I have made a video if you want.
The best amp i have ever owned.
How can I watch the video that you have created I have ordered it as well as I am just waiting
Yeah, show us the video!
@@stephencosta6814 send me your email i will send video.
@@verocimil send me your email you will love the Music i recorded with a Shure stereo mic directly into my phone
@@juliodejesus1532 much appreciated to get the video @lampham244@gmail.com
Outstanding review.. Tempting... Curious how this compares with other Chinese branded integrated amps like Cayin, RFTLYS, Muzishare etc... They all look outstanding but impossible to audition before making a decision. Thanks.
I took a drink of beer every time he said, 'high gain design'...
The reason for matching the bias in a push pull tube amp is because each tube handles half of the sine wave, and a mismatch will cause output signal distortion. The reason for adjusting the overall bias level for both tubes is to lengthen the life of the tubes by not exceeding the plate current of the tubes.
Your review on this tube amp is one of your best!!!! Verrrrry articulate, explaining amp in simple to u derstand terms
I understand your love of tubes! I'm a PrimaLuna man myself and am never going back! Are you still with Audio Excellence? Fantastic, insightful and thorough review. Thank you, keep up the good work Jay.
Hi Jay. After watching this video I took the plunge and bought the Willsenton R8. I also bought the SoundArtist Pre-1 for my Crown XLS2502 as well as their LS3/5a's. I also have the Q Acoustics Concept 500 towers, Cambridge Audio CXU (streamer/disc transport), Cambridge Audio CXA60, Rega Planar P6 with Nagaoka MP500 cartridge, a Schiit Audio Phono stage and a Naim Uniti Atom. Yes, I've got a lot of "stuff", so I guess I'm an audiophile of sorts, but getting back to the Willsenton R8, I bought it just on a whim (and partly on your review of it as well), and after owning it for about 6 weeks now, I have to say that it is something very special. At the moment I'm not sure which I like best out of the Naim Uniti Atom and the Willsenton R8. They are both excellent, but have a feeling that my musical and tonal tastes are leaning more and more towards the R8. What is your opinion?
On another note, it would be great if you could audition the Q Acoustic Concept 500's. I think they are something special too, especially for the price here in Australia. Any chance of you auditioning them? I would be very interested (as I'm sure your audience would be too) as to what you think of them. Do they give some of the lower tier Wilson Audio speakers a run for their money? A question I'd really like answered. :)
@@kylebowers3383 - I bought it direct from the China HiFi website. This was just over a year ago now, and while I've also purchased the Willsenton R800i, I still use the R8, but with very expensive NOS tubes. The R8 is in another room, but it's still used almost as much as the R800i. So a lot has changed since I wrote the above post. I now believe that tubes are better than solid state and consequently all my solid state amps have been placed into storage. Am I a tube convert? Absolutely.
Update to my "Be Wary" post 4 days ago. China HiFi Audio is GOOD. Received feedback from Yong Lee in my "junk" folder and should have checked. That was my fault. I received shipping and other info regarding my order. Therefore, I would recommend purchasing from them.
Good to hear Norman😉
How has your unit perform, and have you done any tube swampping, for better quality tubes ?
Which set of binding posts should one use when dealing with speakers with 6 ohm impedance ?
Nice amp! I just went tube on one of my systems for the first time and I can say I may become a die hard tube guy.
Hi Jay, first of all I have to thank you for reviewing this tube amplifier. Honestly I'm a beginner for high end audio and I've been wanting to try a tube amplifier for a long time, but not sure where to start as I have very little knowledge about it. After watching your amazing review on Willsenton R8, I've finally decided to purchased it thru Alibaba express instead of order it direct from China Hifi due the fact I'm reside in Indonesia and this is my first time purchasing any hifi audio from China direct, worrying it may not come in a good condition, lol.
Anyway, it arrived about a month ago with very good packaging, the unit was in perfect condition and I've followed your advice, connecting all the cables and adjusting the output tubes using BIAS meter and start playing and listening few genre of music with my old KEF R500 speakers.
Although as I mentioned this is the first time I really owned a Tubes Amp, I'm really satisfy with the quality of sound and it came out exactly as you described on your review.
So, I should say thank you to you, Jay...!!
Note:
I have a question about the tubes, Jay..
As you mentioned that different output tubes have different character of sounds, do you mind sharing with me your reference of tyoe and brand/s that you thing is good for me to start? Fyi, mine now using KT88 stock which come with the amp. I'm thinking to buy EL34 tubes as well as other KT88 tubes for me to try. Thanks in advance, Jay...!
You both live in hot countries, I would make sure that that you don't place them under the TV. They should have good ventilation so that the heat can dissipate.
@@ajitmoses Hi Ajit... nice to know you. Regarding the heat from the Amp, it's quite hot after long hours of listening, especialy I keep mine inside the rack which place below my wall mounted TV but so far it's still fine. Although I have to make an extra wooden box to be place in front of my rack whenever I need to check and adjust the BIAS of those 4 power Tubes from time to time. On your case, if you put it on the rack under your wall mounted TV, it is depend how close is the distance, but as I noticed, the most heat is coming from the front part of your Amp (Tubes), I guess it should be okay, Ajit.....
@@ajitmoses Wow..., good to hear that Ajit..! I'm still using my R8 and start rolling tubes... !
Damm.....now I want to get one....
you say this in almost every other review Thomas. back to your channel !
Thomas I hope you will review more german speakers....Not sure if your friends/shops over there have german speakers but I would hear your opinion about them
Thomas & Stereo Try it man and let us know the price and performance ratio
Don't buy it. You'll be hungry 30 mins after listening to it.
@@vintagestereo hello vintage stereo
Thx for the review. I have the Willsenton R-35I which is one step down from your review model. It’s EL34 tubed. Paired wit Atlantic Technologies AT-2 speakers. I have some Tekton Enzo XLs coming in 2 weeks.
Great sound stage, depth, bass and midrange are excellent. I agree with your description of the bass. The treble is where I have an issue. It very dark. It’s there, but very rolled off. I tried using a Monoprice tube amp (EL84) and a 70s SAE Integrated amp (solid state) and the highs are great, so it’s not my source.
May need more burn-in or maybe try different tubes. I play guitar also, so have preamp tubes to try. It uses 12ax7 and 12au7 tubes.
If you have any suggestions, I’d appreciate it.
Keep the great reviews coming.
I changed out the chinese 12ax7s with NOS West German Telefunkens and wow, what a difference. Tighter bass, higher treble range, better clarity, and well, just everything better. Can’t stop smiling.
I just got the Muzishare x7 thanks to Mr Zero Fidelity. It’s my first tube amp. I’m running Zu Omen DWs with it. So far so good.... though I expect better tubes will help a lot. Anyway, I would love to now how this Willsenton unit compares. I still have a week to send the Muzishare back on Amazon. Hmmmmmm..... fantastic reviews! Thanks!
After listening to my US$2500 Luxman SQ 38u (4 EL34) for the last 15 years. I purchased Willsenton r8 with KT88 just for curiosity. And I listen to them with TAD TSM300 and KEF LS3/5a for comparison. I used a cheap mechanical switching device for AB with amp as well as speakers. To my surprise, there were no sonic difference, even though they're using different types of tubes. My friends and I just can't tell the slight difference. Any comments? Some suggested that I should test without the switching device.
Question. Does the R8 have a volume control that ramps up slowly or does it have more of a 'hair trigger' volume control? I used to own a tube integrated that had a really bad hair trigger volume control. Volume went from nothing to loud by turning the volume control about 1/4 of an inch! I had to get rid of that integrated.
My understanding of the distortion with tubes (also a guitar player) is that once you start getting power amp gain, you're getting past the amp's rating (whereas in solid state, you're at the rating), so a 30 watt tube amp if allowed to push into some power tube overdrive may match a 50 watt solid state amp in total volume. With sensitive speakers and allowance of a little bit of warming gain with these, the volume could get extremely loud - especially in vocal ranges.
cool amp. would love to see a primaluna one day
Do you like the KT88 or the EL34 more?
Because I am not shure which one I should purchase.
Just pulled the trigger on this yesterday, Jay your channel is great, so on your word I have taken a leap of faith on this one. I have the Ares II just prior to your review aired and concur with your review of that DAC - I am working on the same agreed logic on this purchase albeit unheard! 5 days ago there were 6 in stock, I thought I'd wait a day to decide and missed out....then 3 days ago there were 10 in stock and now down to 3. This thing is still running out the door, fingers crossed QC is not being rushed as the demand is so high!!! I'd suspect not though, Yong has been great to deal with and I sense he is a stand up guy on his products.
I chose black and shipping via sea as the shipping cost to Australia expensive. Yong has a note on the website at least 20days to fulfil the order and I expect at least 40 days for the shipping. At this point I suspect its not likely I will see the amp until middle maybe late October - still looking forward to that time though!!! Chose the KT88 option on recommendation from Yong. Will be powering KEF's and primarily used in an analog set up (turntable into phono stage) playing heavy metal / hard rock with a little bit of blues and jazz. I considered other models but on this review and Yongs kind guidance I think this will be an awesome addition to my current amps and my first full tube amp. Will chime back in 3months or so once its arrived and playing.
Damn were 3 in Stock. Now wanted to order.. Sold out :P
I am also interested in this amp. I hope you like it.
If you don't mind me asking, who did you buy from? And what was the shipping cost if you had to pay for that? Thank you!
@@hammalammadingdong6244 Yong at China audio. With shipping around 1k
I just ordered this amp, the first tube amp I will have had in about 50 years. It will be interesting to see how I like it with my rather power hungry Acoustat 1 panels.
This is one of your BEST REVIEWS, considering all the videos i have seen from u have been outstanding! Your breadth of knowledge on tube amps, ti e u spent gathering info, demystifies tube amps for novice tube amp owners or those SS amp owners wanting to try tube amps with less reservations! I cannot understate the importance of your style removes tune amp stigmas and myths, thx!
Tube amp options of tube type selector swtitch, up front bias meter, how well it pairs with a variety of speakers, DAVcs, streamers, better power , speaker and interconnect cables, price, makes this a solid winner.
Can u pls compare this w the Yaqin MC100b integrated tube amp. I have this amp, upgrade the power cable rolled to many better tubes, stock Shugang tubes are mehhh, love bias adjustments w a separate meter. Seems Chinese mfg lines use lesser voltage than USA, other owners dialed down coltage w a Variac to approx 105 colts?for better performance. May i add tubes are not one and done biasing them, since they wear down with use....i found rebiasing them once every 2 months helps a lot, more often if amp is used daily. I was surprised u did not delve i to tube rolling, since this amp has great potential.please consider this amp bs Yaqin MC100b at same price point comparison review...i am most interested in sound comparisons...thank u,keep up the outstanding review content and your added insight!
Incredible amp ... All the different tube options and triode option .... It's like 4 amps in one
You seem to favour kt88 with the Willsenton R8 am I right? Thomas was firm on the el34.
Thanks for the comparison with the Double Impact. These are the speakers I have and I was contemplating replacing my PS Audio Stellar stack with this amp but was wondering if it was a good match. So glad you tried it and recommend it. This validates what I was going to do. And since I don’t have the means $ to make too many mistakes, your trusted opinion is very valued. Thank you!
I kind of based my purchase of the R8 on top of this review. I'm so happy. Delivery was expensive but took only 1 month. Couldn't ask for more. It's awesome. So crisp, sound stage is awesome and the sound is just like on clouds. Pairing them with Focal Chora 826Ds. At the moment hooked up Nvidia Shield with Tidal to Marantz AVR 6010, and L/R as preout to the willsenton r8. Next upgrade is a good Streamer/DAC and some better Power cables, excited to get more out of this thing.
$1500 on Amazon now. INFLATION IS GOOD
Great review: comprehensive and clear. Your review of the Hegel 90 with LRS was also tantalizing!
Now off I go to the listening room in my head for the imaginary shootout!
I missing the review part... Where is measurements and graphs? I only see a person who reads from marketing booklet.
This is how you do a review!
Jay, have you reviewed or listened to the Muzishare X7? Im trying to decide between that or the R8. This will be my first tube and I confused.
When you listen to a Decware Zen amp you will be confused no longer.Better sound, better price,lifetime warranty,no brainer.
@@karenjobagy5822 not enough powa
Ordered....Getting my Cornwall IV in this week Jay...Im sure it will be a great match with this amp. Keep up the good work buddy!
Cornwalls + this amp in triode mode will be awesome! Enjoy!
Please keep us posted as I have an older Cornwall (2, I think) and am seriously thinking about getting this integrated amp.
BILLIONDOLLAR BABY have you heard Bob Crites speakers ??
Have you received yours yet? I ordered one too 4 weeks ago and haven't seen it shipped.
Might go with this for my Heresy IV - please give an update once you have some hours on it!
Small comment/nit on something said in the review - Biasing is current balancing, not voltage. A voltage drop across a reference resistor (of known value) is how current is measured. So the voltage could be perceived as a side effect of current flow though an impedance.
Who is the OEM for the Willsenton tubes? Assuming China or Russian.
Maybe a good upgrade would be to order the cheaper EL84 version and throw some good balanced tubes in there (tested and matched), eg Tube Doctor or similar?
Cheers,
is it better then the Reisong Boyuu A10 or the Muzishare X7?
I've love to see how it compares with the PrimaLuna Evo. (Note, the gain tubes are the ones that have the biggest impact to sound. Those are the 6SN7.)
Also, it is a shame they don't give the option to ship with no tubes. :(
I'd personally would want to use the Gold Lion power tubes and some NOS 6SN7s
I tried the Willsenton R8 and indeed this is a very good amplifier
Jay because of your review I have placed an order for this amp. Hopefully it will sound good enough to impress me.
8 months ago you posted this where's your review what's the verdict I would never spend any money on a 25 watt amp or a 45 watt amp two small for me and from China where you can't get it returned forget about it
Compared to the boyuurange a50? Which is best? What are the sound comparisons? Thx
Hi, thaks for great contenst as always. My speakers are 6Ohm (Dali Ikon 8). I plan to buy this amp, which speaker shoud I use with my 6 Ohm speakers? I have two solid state power amps adn my speakers does support bi-amping. Do you recommend to use this amp only for mid/high tones and one of my power amps for base ? Thanks!
Excellent Jay! Thanks…what do you have the amp resting on?
EXCELLENT explanation . Especially for new tube amp user
thanks !
Will it match an already warmish sounding Dynaudio Evoke 10, with an already rolled off treble? Maybe hard to drive with 84 dB? And it is specified as 6 ohm, so am I able to connect it with the r8 (4 and 8 ohm) anyway?
Jay, your really hitting your stride... Excellent review!!!
john anderson His *what* is hitting his stride? Does that hurt??
@@agentred8732 lmao
Just discovered audiophile videos and greatly enjoying binging on your videos especially during this period of required “social distancing”. Your sense of reason and balance in pursuing your passion really resonates with me. When indulging in the search for an abstract elitist ideal, i.e. the perfect sound system, it’s clearly all too easy to go overboard and lose sight of the principle of diminishing returns as many audiophiles posting advice on TH-cam including you have cautioned. Toward that end I’ve just purchased a Willsenton amp and a pair of Tekton double impact speakers following your recommendations as my initial venture into stereophony. I am certain I will feel amply rewarded by following your well reasoned advice. I have a question. What kind of appropriate cables would you suggest to connect this system? Thanks for sharing your avocation/vocation! Also extend my appreciation to your fellow “partners-in-crime”, Adrian and Philip, at Audio Excellence!
Don't worry about cables, just any regular 12-16awg (I use 14). Just make sure its pure copper and not ACC (aluminum copper clad).
@@ryanlahay9361 any particular brand or none ?
@@fishingbear69 they are all the same.
@@ryanlahay9361 whats your take on 100 % pure silver hifi wires, thats a scientific basic that after gold,, silver is the 2nd best conductor known,,then follow 3rdly by copper ., whats your take ?
@@fishingbear69 It wouldn't matter. Because guess whats inside your speakers ? Copper.
Excellent descriptive review! I’ve actually built Tube amplifiers in electronics class and a 5 Tube super het radio learning tube basics. I hope you’re following up on your masters degree-follow your dreams!
The output transformer is a non-linear element as a function of frequency. Therefore it introduces a significant phase distortion if one compares the input phase of the signal with the output phase! To remedy this, it is necessary to build OTL (Output Tarnsformer Less) amplifiers. Much better!
Thanks for the awesome review Jay. How does the use of solid state rectifier and not a tube rectifier in this amp affect the whole tube experience ? Lastly, what is the difference between the Tekton double impact "neutral sound" vs the Harbeth "neutral sound" ? Thank you Jay for what you do. It is always a joy and learning experience when I watch your videos.
all those are a topic for a different day my friend but overall good questions for me to answer down the line. too long to explain here but I'll keep it on my list. thank you
@@Jayiyagi Thanks Jay, looking forward to that video conversation hopefully soon. I have a feeling that Tekton neutral is "American" neutral, sterile with pronounced treble and Harbeth neutral is "British" neutral, warm, midrange emphasize more musical neutral ?
Would you choose this amp or the billie amp for the Buchardt s400??
Useful and detailed review. I am currently looking at buying a Tube amplifier in this price range.
Whilst I have some experience with vacuum tubes in guitar amplifiers I own, I dont have much with respect to amplifiers used in HiFi systems.
The research I have done so far, suggests that vacuum tubes perform well in the pre-amp section of the signal path and present issues in the power output stage. There is usually a transformer inserted so that the power output tubs can match the low impedance of the speakers. This transformer can affect the bass frequencies and other things.
At what point would you only use tubes for the pre-amp stage and use a solid state amplifier for the power stage? Should I invest in a fully tube powered integrated amp, or a hybrid amp that has a tube pre-amp stage and solid state power stage?
(I know that with guitar amplifiers, the signal from your guitar is coloured by the pre-amp stage. The pre-amp stage is actually the part of the amplifier where the amp gets its unique characteristics from. The power stage merely amplifies these characteristics)
Would you need a preamp to hook a turntable up to this?
The signal to the headphone jack goes through the power tubes?
When ordering - in the voltage selection option, can you please confirm if we need to choose 110 or 120 for US? I am wanting a dual voltage option, but I'm not sure if I should choose 110/220 or 120/240 option.
120
How to make a trannie amp sound more "tuby".
Obviously the least invasive way is to do it with speakers. I made speakers with 5" full range drivers in "oversized" boxes with a unique acoustic "gap" feature and they simply smoke my B&W 706 reference speakers! To make the speakers, get some 5" FR drivers with the metal phase plug that is stationary. Make or reuse speaker boxes that are like a squat floor stander size. Instead of fully mounting the driver in the hole, raise and mount the driver 1 cm above the hole (with the top screws) and 1.5 cm above the speaker hole (with the bottom screws). Use extended screws and use soft thin garden spray hose for the spacers. It is easily compressed with the screw, so make the spacers slightly longer to apply pressure on the driver. Now it's easy to mount the driver with the gap. An acoustic gap. BUT...you have to "bass vent" the driver hole by making a 40 mm deep 5" diameter tube running into the box from the hole. I made mine with polypipe too big and cut and re-bent to fit the driver hole (that is if you can't find tubing the right size). If you don't do that the speaker will fail, obviously. Put some wadding in and it's done. You can add a filter "crossover" but only mildly cos the acoustic gap does most of it. How do they sound? More spacial more holographic, amazing med life like sound. Highs are also extended by an "octave" with the acoustic gap. And the bass has a nice tubby kick drum sound. The sound is so life like that sometimes I'm startled cos I hear a "real" voice in my room and there is nobody else there. I played my speakers at a friend's gathering and somebody said there is someone yelling out and the dog barked. It was in the recording. A jet went past really low over my room once and as I looked out I realised it was in my speakers. And I OFTEN have to turn it right down to see if I can still hear some sounds. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether a sound is from outside or from my speakers. So you can have this experience too! I lent the speakers out and I asked them if my speakers sounded "different"? They said yes definitely. Then I asked if they liked the difference? And they said yes.
Hello Jay! Great review again... Love you passion for better value (and quality) products :) would you recommend these over the Atoll IN 30 if paired with Klipsch RP600M? I also plan to get a REL T7/i subwoofer. Thank you for your help in advance! :)
So I bought this amp and have been really enjoying it for about a month; but yesterday, a tube went bad!
I bought this from Amazon, seller was TubeAmplifierStore.
Questions:
1. Does Willsenton warranty the tubes? If so, how would I go about getting them to send me a replacement?
2. While I wait on them, I might just buy another matched set of KT88s. However, this is my first experience with a tube amp, so I don’t know which tubes I want. The tubes it came with have the Willsenton name. I assume they’re a rebranded tube made by someone else. Does anyone know what these really are?
If I wanted a sound similar to the tubes it came with, what brands should I think about? Right now I’m considering Mullards or Gold lions. I mostly listen to acoustic rock, jazz and classical.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Hi, I just want to know if they are capable to drive Kef r3 around 60% of vol ? Or if it is better to go for something like FOCAL Aria 906 ? thx
Glad I found this thanks Jay. The biasing setup and selection of modes are a real value. I've been using a modest collection of HiFi gear for years and my son is getting into it too. Music and audio keep us connected.
Will you recommend this for a first time tube user?
@@miles514 Yes. In part because of the features that make it easy to use.
@nbtstudio, Will the denafrips dac be a good match with the willsenton R8? Or what dac would you recomend?
Buy Loxjie d50 and then never think about DACS again.
I finally got it!! Damn that shipping is long! Ok, anybody who gets one you have to hold the bias switch down and turn the knob AT THE SAME TIME! DAMN, INSTRUCTIONS DON'T TELL YA THAT!
love your videos my friend!!! my system mac mc275 mac c2300 PrLa Scalas II wow love it !! love tubes
kt88 tubes are basically a slightly more powerful form of an el34 tube for those that don't know (they can be interchanged if the supporting circuitry allows for it though any time a tube is changed even with a direct replacement the tude needs to be re-biased as biasing controls the current to the grid and all tubes are different - due note that some amps are self biasing but if you don't know then take it to someone that does - power tubes usually operate at 300VDC to 500VDC while preamp tubes typically operate at 100VDC to 200VDC so a tube amp can kill you quite easily) - the real difference is that the kt88 is a beam tetrode and the el34 is a pentode and the significance is interference and output power - there are triodes, tetrodes, pentodes, and beam tetrodes going from least to most powerful and most to least susceptible to emi and rfi roughly - plain tetrodes typically are the noisiest but when shielding was added which is the beam part it solved this and also made it more efficient and powerful - i'd say that if transistor tech would have developed more slowly then we probably would have gotten beam pentodes as well
Which brand and model was it knock-off from? McIntosh or Conrad Johnson? Just curious on this point more than how good the sound it can reproduce
Very thorough review of what looks to be an excellent product. Great job, Jay! While I've always lusted for a tube amp in the past; there were 2 problems for me. 1- they tended to be very expensive (not just to purchase but also to maintain. Tubes, especially matched sets tend to be costly, and will need to be replaced at least once every year/2 years depending on how often you use the amp). 2- I have owned pets (cats) for the past 30 years, and tube gear is just a no go for me for safety and proper functioning reasons.
With that said though, my ears perked up when you mentioned how you were a musician and how the KT88 tube was used alot in guitar amps for years. While I'm not a musician, I have a fondness for the KT88 tube because I have listened to quite a few tube amps in the past that featured that tube. Most specifically, my favorite power amp from the early 90's was a Sonic Frontiers Power 2. It also was in ultra linear mode and could be used as a monobloc. I heard this 200 watt/channel amp with a pair of Vandersteen 4c's and was blown away by how it sounded. They bass was tight, fast and deep. The mids were spectacular with how organic and natural the instruments sounded. Timbre was more realistic than anything I'd ever heard before. Highs were detailed without ever being piercing and the stage was both wide and deep, but without sacrificing a sense of immediacy. I'm sad that they went out of business, but I appreciate that I had a chance to listen to their excellent, Canadian made gear when they were still around. Btw, I concur with your assessment that watts/channel is very different between tubes and solid state. In the end, I think that the efficiency of the speakers and load makes a huge difference; especially if you like to crank it up like I do. I'm jealous that you can accommodate the Double Impact in your listening space. My room is way to small for that. But man, a big tower like that with 96db?! Beautiful!
Thanks for all in depth reviews NBTS !!!
Would you think this would be beefy enough to adequately drive a pair of KEF LS50's?
Or would I be better off going for a beefier high current A/B w/ ~100 8ohm 200 4ohm wpc?
Awesome review Jay, I see you also have the hint 6 on the rack. What are your thoughts on the Parasound, and how does compare to the Hegel line of products in terms of sound?
Thank you for explaining tube amplifier to me. There is no room correction software with these, not even an equalizer? You have to use only your speaker's and this amp's factory settings? Or does it connect to a receiver that can do this?
Hi! Jay, i have a question, can I add or hook up my active subwoofer, a Klipsch Sub 12 by using speaker line level input & output of the subwoofer to my Willsenton R8 KT88/EL34 Tube Integrated amplifier, do you think it may damage
my tube amplifier?
Thank you so much for watching this valuable video and consoling me very quickly in this difficult time when the world is desperately hoping that the vaccine will come out soon and the corona virus 19 will end. We sincerely support you to become an extra large channel.
GOOD afternoon. I bought this amp based on your recommendations and I agree with you, for the money, best amp in my collection. Thank you,!! The question I have is that I also wanted to get the speakers you recommended, the tekton Double impact. Will this amp be enough to enjoy those speakers? Will I get the holographics and placement or should I get a speaker with more power? Thank you. keep up the great posts....
Yeap ! Great match with the DIs
Feels like its taking a shot at Primaluna... TR/UL switching ... similar remote design .. headphone out... replaced full autobias with simplified manual bias... both dont have preout... solid socket mounts.. good build quality.
💪💪👍👍👌👌🤗🤗 fantastic review Jay I'm loving this amplifier I have a musical Paradise Mark 3 very inexpensive only maybe 8 watts and I'm so in love with it I only could imagine this I am definitely a tube man now this will definitely be my next purchase along with the denafrips Ares or the musical Paradise tube DAC thank you very much stay safe keep up the Fantastic reviews
I'm wondering why only the center transformer gets warm? The left and right stay cool!?! Sounds great, but I would've thought all three would warm up equally. Any ideas?
Great review Jay, thanks I appreciate your insights as always. Did you try to drive any Magnepan’s by any chance - particularly interested in whether it can drive the LRS’s?
Watching
Thanks for the great detailed review!
Great review! I too would like to see it up against a Yaqin. I have the silk audio MC100SE which is a reworked Yaqin MC 100B. I also can’t wait for the review of the Tekton Lore Ref. I just bought a pair and would be interested in what you think. Keep up the great channel!
I was about to get that amp but I noticed the power seems to be switched on by pressing and holding the volume button? (Logic switching). I need a hard on/off switch. I am turning the unit on/off by an AUDIOPHONICS Trigger. Can anyone confirm if you pull the power cord on this amp while its on can you plug it back in and it turns back on or does it stay off? Please say it turns back on 🤞🏻
Thanks guys.
And how does this compare to the muzishare x7 another well reviewed chifi component. Thanks Jay
Hi Jay. Watch and enjoy your channel regularly. Also, I chime in with J. G. below on a comparison with Muzishare X7, which I tried but found lacking in the bottom end and with a slight bump in the upper mids. I am very interested in this unit but need some more input. I am looking for a unit that gives that huge 3d tube soundstage and is tonally balanced for a full, rich low mid range. Not a sloppy or muddy one... but a full rich one tonally, with that classic tube air and liveliness. Is this the amp I am looking for? Also, did you try any tube rolling? Has anyone recommended any particular pre amp or power tubes? Look forward to your reply and hope you stay well! Thanks in advance.
I am trying the X7 right now . I found that the midrange and highs are way too bright even in triode mode. More than 50 hours burn in time. Did you have the same experience also and did you keep the x7. Thanks 😊
Thanks for insight on Bias adjustment, where as nobody else has done so in their review. I know it is Class A/B, however from what I hear it gets pretty hot.
just received the Willsenton R8, wonderful to look at and great sound as well , thank you Jay, as I just followed your advice, Yong gave us great service as well
Vittorio Martini Donati do you listen to Rock n Roll if so how does it sound?
@@pseudoty it sounds great with all types of music , maybe rock and roll is not the favourite one...
How do you think this amp would do with your JBL 300's? I have the 4333's and am looking for an amp. Any thoughts about that match in terms of power and sound? Which pre-amp and amp tube packages would you include for your JBLs?