Been looking at this amp for a few weeks now. Thank for you for a great, detailed review!!

Thanks for this interesting review, I honestly never heard of this amp or brand, did some research now and it seems to get lots of positive feedback. Looks like great value for money. Thanks again and keep them coming 👍👍👍

Great review!!! Keep the videos coming.

Excellent and timely review for me as I ordered the R8 from China Hifi Audio just yesterday. Your explanation on the settings is very clear. Thank you very much.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

My pleasure. Thanks for sharing. Send me a little review when you receive yours if you will 👍🎄

@boonwong1

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 Hi, good day. I received the Willsenton R8 with KT88 tubes 3 days ago. Gosh, the R8 is real heavy and beautifully finished. Set-up was easy, as was biasing the tubes, as your demonstration has shown. I was initially hesitant about buying a tube amp but what the heck, I thought I should at least try a tube amp to see what the rave is all about. Well I am glad I did. Compared to my existing amp, a Yamaha WXA50 powering a set of B&W 607 S2 desktop speakers as my room is rather small. The sound was good but as usual one is always looking for a better sound. The R8 sound is more rounded and vocals especially is beautifully deep and relaxing. I am still running in the KT88 tubes but so far the sound is good enough. Hope it gets even better later. I am also sourcing for EL34 tubes and will try them out later. Although I have already placed my order just before I saw your review, your review helped to boost my confidence that the choice was right. Thank you very much and all the best in the new year!

I've had this amp for 8 months now. I've had many expensive valve amps previously but prefer the R8. I've upgraded all the capacitors that I thought mattered plus replaced the stock tubes. Everything I changed bought a positive result to my ears. BTW, I loved your review.

Thank you for the setup demo

@hvskyline1368

3 жыл бұрын

I know not enough reviewers do that

Great review and I think you are the only one pointing out the location of the headphone jack. Well done👍👍

I'm very glad you played some decent music to get a feel of this amp. There was depth.

Great review, thanks for that!

Excellent review... as good as I have ever heard!!! Thank you... Nice espresso machine too......

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

john anderson Thank you. Twice 👍😁

Thanks for your review. I bought one after I saw this and I am not disappointed. I am running the stock tubes with EL34's. I tried Gold Lion KT77's but preferred the stock EL34's which are pretty robust tubes. I did upgrade the coupling caps from the cheap, little stock caps to nice AudioNote Copper foil and that was a big improvement. Next I'll probably upgrade the 6SL7's and and get a set of KT88's to try. But now it's time for a coffee!

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

My pleasure. Must be the best R8 around now 😀 - Checked out your channel by the way (subscribed immediately). Very impressive 👍 - If you’re interested in doing something together drop me a line at theaudiophilebarista@gmail.com - Enjoy the coffee ☕️

Love ❤️ Love this Review very informative and simple . Thank you so much,

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

All you need Is Love Thank you 😃

It's nice to see that I'm not just talking myself into believing that this amp is great. I bought one back in March and have been so incredibly happy with it. I'm using it to drive a pair of Focal Chorus 807v standmounts and it does so beautifully. Very musical amp. And thanks for the great review!

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

You are not talking to yourself 😀 - Glad you like the amp. I hear from a lot of owners that there is even more music in there when you are willing to change tubes. - Thanks for sharing. Much appreciated 😀👍

@dmnrbnsk

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 I've already started rolling tubes. So far, the best combination I've found was to replace the power tubes with JJ's KT88 and the 6sl7 tubes with Northern Electric 6sl7. I've always thought of JJ's tubes as more of a guitar amp tube but the add a "crispness" to the sound (particularly the low end) and those Northern Electrics have dramatically improved separation. I was using Tung-Sol el34b for a while and they were a great combination with the ortofon 2m blue that came on my turntable but I recently replaced that cart with the new Grado Prestige gold3. It still sounded great but was a little too melow. Now with the new tubes, it is as near to perfect as my ears are capable of hearing.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

@@dmnrbnsk Thank you for this nice update 😀 Much appreciated 👍

I’m buying this today ( black). Looks right up my alley. I bought their LS35a to go with my super vintage tube integrated

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Congratulations man (and thanks for sharing). I was wondering about the combi with that loudspeaker. Keep me posted please?

Thanks for a very informative review. Thumbs up and I just subscribed.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

2Bad Thanks and welcome 👍😃

Great Review! Thank you

Great review

Excellent review. You show all the features including how to bias. Your impressions of the sound from different tubes and speakers is also invaluable. I ordered one 10 weeks ago and still waiting. Covid-19 has delayed shipping and I used the cheapest shipping rate. I think it's the best bang for your buck.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Hi there, thank you for your kind words 👍 - That is quite a long wait 🙁 Keep me posted when it arrives and what your first impressions are if you will?

@normancameron6041

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 Okay. So it arrived today. I biased the KT88 tubes and plugged in everything and all is good. I played a little Diana Krall and then put on Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms. Compared to my Simaudio P5 preamplifier and Odyssey Stratos amp, there seems to be a cleaner, crisper sound. The base is good and tight. I think my solid state system had more body and the sound seemed to be coming from between the speakers. With the Willsenten the sound seems to be more from the individual. Now I can't provide much of a critique after 1 hour of listening. I think the sound will improve once it has a few more hours on it.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Norman Cameron Congratulations 😃 Glad it arrived. - Thanks for sharing your first impressions. - ‘more body with solid state’ A typical difference between tubes and solid state. Well spotted 😉 Tubes give you more air and freedom in the sound (in general). - ‘image more from the center’. Give the amp some burn in time. - Enjoy the amp 👍

@normancameron6041

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 Thanks again. I'm glad to hear the center fill will happen with break-in. I just noticed how quiet this integrated amp. is. I can't hear any audible hiss when I put my ear to the speaker. My old system I could hear hiss from 3 feet away. I also ordered some EL34 tubes. They should be a bit warmer?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Norman Cameron You may want to experiment with loudspeaker placement if the center channel is not solid enough (after break in).

Excellent review ! My first time hearing of this amp and manufacturer and I'm impressed. I live on a tight budget being disabled and this seems to be a great choice without killing my wallet. I used to want to have a ton of power for blasting my ears out but now being older, I want a good "listeners" amp. Even thru KZread with its constraints on sound, you can tell this combo of yours sounds wonderful. My speakers are a satellite/passive sub setup from Delcoid. They're about 40 yrs old now but I love them. I'd have to spend around $4k US to get something comparable now. That's not gonna happen. My amp is a GAS Ampzilla II, also about 40 yrs old. It sounds great but could do with some recapping. The same goes for my GAS Thoebe preamp. AS I said, I believe this would make a great replacement, or stand-in, for my current setup and would cost far less than the recapping. Again, thanks for a great review. You have a new subscriber.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Ron Hillier Hi, thanks for your kind words and welcome to my channel 😀 - Nice Ampzilla setup 👍 Too bad restoration will be too expensive. It’s nice to see vintage gear being looked after, but I can understand your preferences has changed. Thanks for watching

Wow I'm impressed.

Before adjusting the bias, you should have changed the setting in the back, from the KT88 to EL 34 tubes. Hope everybody got this. Thanks

Enjoyable review !!

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks 😀🎄

Nice review! Nice sound! A lot to play with, which us audiophiles like to do. Did a search and found a bit wave in forums. You made me pull out my Cantate Domino from shelf, haha...

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Xiaopeng Wang Thanks. At least you have the Cantate (CD or vinyl?) 😁. - What is ‘bit wave’?

@xiaopengwang4884

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 A lot of good reviews on forus.

This is one of the most well done audiophile reviews that I have seen on KZread - informative and interesting with good camera work. The descriptions of the amplifier's strengths and weaknesses are well balanced and well expressed. I was heartened to see that all of the components of your system used in your review of the amplifier were presented, which is standard practice in the audiophile print media, but sorely lacking in many KZread reviews. I was impressed with the comprehensiveness of this review since the different tubes, settings, and speakers with different impedances and sensitivities were compared and contrasted. All of this was done in an engaging manner and at a good pace so that nothing was rushed nor overly dragged out. Thank you for such a wonderful video review.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Luminiferous Wow, thanks 😃👍 Much appreciated. - I grew up with audiophile print media (40 years ago) and those reviews were more like stories than just a review 😀

@luminiferous1960

4 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 I also started my audiophile journey about 40 years ago, when I was in college. So I can truly appreciate the truth of what you said about the audiophile print media of that era. Thanks for keeping the flame alive in another medium.

Great video

Beautiful music can move people, and high-quality products will also move people. We are serious about quality

Hi there my friend from beautiful Florida USA this by far is your best video I have watched all your videos.... and by far is the best video because it was calm and with And done well with a calm voice and gentle voice and I think your subscribers will agree with me please going this way with your videos believe me you will get more subscribers with videos like this keep them coming in this fashion....

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Well hi there Florida USA 😃 Thanks for the compliment and the encouragement. Much appreciated. - I am still trying to find my own style and comments like these help me very much. - Thanks for watching 👍

@MrGonzo4000

4 жыл бұрын

The Audiophile Barista well my friend this is your style believe me you have found it TRUST ME

Really great, you sould do this full time.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks 😀 Much appreciated 👍

Suggestion: play popular tracks that audiophiles have heard often. Good review.

@gustercc

3 жыл бұрын

Pretty sure this is one.

nice review, wish I could afford one

Nice house!

Damn good...

Wonderful, informative, hype-free review. Excellent! Thank you. One observation: To prevent "sticker shock", it is worth pointing out that shipping cost for these (and similar) amplifiers is extremely high making them much less of a bargain than they might at first appear. In the case of the Willsenton, shipping to the US adds $375 to the cost. The $800 amp is really an almost $1200 amp when all is said and done.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Glad you liked the review.👍 - About the shipping costs, those are all over the place in different countries and because I got this one on loan from a friend, who got it as a review sample, I did not even know what it would cost to ship it to the Netherlands. - I should have mentioned that there will be extra costs, but as this was my first review ever I forgot. Thanks for the reminder because I am working on a few reviews at the moment 😀

@dpfreedman

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 Hard to believe this was your first review. Presentation and pacing were ideal with good production values and genuinely useful content. Very much looking forward to future reviews from you.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

@@dpfreedman Thanks man 😃 It took me way too long to make that video, but comments like this makes it all worth it 👍

@firststspeedway-hotwheelsr3545

3 жыл бұрын

One of the nicest reviews I've been watched........ and it's your first.....wow. Please keep the reviews coming.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

@@firststspeedway-hotwheelsr3545 Thank you 👍

Let's BOOGIE!!

I want to use this Willsenton R8 as just an amp. Could I leave the power switch on and plug it into a switched power outlet? Will it power on correctly if it just plugged in while already turned on? Thanks!

Amazing review. I love how it looks. You have me considering it. I’m looking for an tube amp. But there so expensive this may a option

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Felix Laboy Thanks for the compliment 👍 - Let me know if you picked one up 😉

@felixlaboy1453

4 жыл бұрын

The Audiophile Barista yes I will. I’m in the U.S. but I see on there website there option from 110 or 115 i know our most common is 110. Or can I go with the 115

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

I’m sure you can, but as I am not an electrician and I don’t live in the U.S. you better check locally 😉

@michaelslevin8115

3 жыл бұрын

@@felixlaboy1453 115

@felixlaboy1453

3 жыл бұрын

@@michaelslevin8115 Thank you very much

Watched your review about a month ago, just watched it again now. Really enjoyed your review - thank you! Have pulled the trigger on one of these now about 3 weeks ago after watching this and a few others online. No update on when it will ship as yet but looking forward to it arriving. Chose all black with KT88s and seamail as air postage to Australia was bit OTT. Now I just need to be patient for another month or so I guess! Yong has been great with answering all my queries thus far but has gone a bit silent when I ask about ETA. Im not worried, this amp is clearly in flavour right now so I am sure it will arrive safely and I'd rather wait a week or so longer than have a hurried finish on the amp.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Wow, glad you liked the review and thanks for telling me. Much appreciated 👍 - So what will be your source and loudspeakers if I may ask? - Hope it will arrive soon. Keep me posted please.

@Boss-wy2ch

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 well crazy thing, I just received shipment notification about 30min ago!! By sea will be about 30-40 days I suspect. Loud speakers are KEF Q950s, my digital source is streaming via Bluesound node 2i but by passing its DAC and using Denafrips Ares II DAC. For CDs I use my Oppo 205. Analog source is Music Hall 9.3 TT with Garrot Bros FGS Optim cartridge using Graham Slee Accession phono stage. I am looking forward to this tube amp. I wanted a dedicated tube amp and this Willsenton I believe will do the job nicely. Sound and build quality from all I have read accross the net is great, its got some flexibility with TR/UL modes and and I plan on rolling tubes to find the sound that suits me most.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

That's a sweet setup you have there. I m using the bluesound with an external dac too and also the oppo for cd's. Nice 😃👍 Let me know when it arrives if you will.

@Boss-wy2ch

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 Thank you! Not a worry, its on its way, been out at sea for a few days now, but I think its at least a few weeks away and with the pandemic things are a bit slower than usual.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

08Boss302 👍

May i know what type connector you used for CD and Aux 1 input? and does the volume knob rotates when you increase and decrease the volume from the remote?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Sure. On the Aux connection there is the ‘platinum’ from Silent Wire. - On CD there is the ‘Tunami Terzo V2’ from Oyaide and yes, the volume knob rotates when you change the volume via the remote 👍

Great review! Have you compared it to a Muzishare x7? I would appreciate your thoughts.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Kevin Nagy Hi there, I never heard the Muzishare so I can’t comment on that. - I looked up the website and I understand why you would ask that. They look pretty similar. In fact, I think the rear is exactly the same (except for the phono input). It feels a bit like a Willsenton with phono in a different case? - Are you interested in the Muzishare? - Thanks for watching 👍

You'r lucky to have that great room! So this amp is very good with large orchestral pieces? Sounds very transparent with vocals.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Aleksandar Stojceski Thank you, I love my room 😀. - Large orchestral pieces are difficult but for $800 this amp does a pretty good job. You will need a loudspeaker that can demonstrate these qualities though.

What brand and model rca interconnect are those. I like the screw on to secure feature. I just purchased an r8. Great review.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Gerald Morrow Hi, that interconnect is the ‘Tunami Terzo v2’ from Oyaide with genesis connectors. - Enjoy the r8. What speakers will you use with it?

Thanks

Dit is een mooie revieuw ivar. De versterker ziet er erg mooi uit en klinkt erg goed. Als ik ooit een buizenversterker zou kopen dan wist ik het wel. Maar ik zou mijn linn niet vervangen voor deze versterker de linn is te goed daar voor. Heb genoten van je video en muziek keuze. Gr André de vries.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

andre de vries Dank voor het compliment 😀👍

@frankgeeraerts6243

4 жыл бұрын

Bedankt voor de mooie presentatie, ......welke versterker of combinatie ....eeuwige discussie.....Class A of AB , .....triode, pentode of UL.............buizen of transistors ??? Na meer dan zestig jaar met buizen en andere ook transistors.............wel , degene die me HIFI totaal doet vergeten en mij meeneemt op de muziekale reis.....meestal met buizen maar ook met zeer goede transistor versterkers.....vaak zijn het versterkers ontwikkelt met de oren van de ziel, alle huidige versterkers meten correct tot zeer goed, weinigen verdwijnen om plaats te laten aan de muziek ipv te willen imponeren met spectaculaire geluiden ...................muziek is harmonie, is een tall die siel beroert, veel audiofielen zijn dat vergeten. Nogmaals bedankt en doe rustig voort met luisteren, vergelijken heeft geen zin en is de weg die leid naar de HIFI hel , alleen wat een keten je emotioneel te vertellen heeft telt en meestal is de versterker het hart daarvan.

Ordered mine yesterday. EL34 version

Is it trying to clone a classic amp of some type?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

It’s not a replica if that’s what you mean. Many tube amps look like this if you ask me.

Excellent video and great review, Ivar! The demonstration at the end sounded really nice. Felt like I was viewing a setup at a high end show. I love the look of the amp. It reminds me of the Manhattan skyline. I’m guessing it would sound nice with my Heresy’s. When you say a lack of base control do you mean it can have a boomy or muddy sound? And, did you buy it from Andrew?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

P Sol Thanks man 👍 I can imagine this amp being a good match for your Heresey’s. - Let’s call it muddy. Boomy is more like a room problem. Start and stop from bass notes should be immediate but it’s not. Start and stop linger a bit (hard to describe sound in words). - I have it on loan from Andrew.

@likesnoozn

4 жыл бұрын

The Audiophile Barista I always figured that was a function of either the source material(lousy mixing) or the speakers themselves. Is that more an issue with the “warmth” of tube amps than solid state?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

P Sol It could be all of those things. But one aspect is that the amplifier must be capable of controlling the low frequency drivers. Not only starting the movement but also stopping the movement. - I believe this is not the same as tube warmth. That is about rolled of highs and harmonics, but I miss the technical knowledge to really explain this.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

John sweda Bass control is lacking just a bit. It is hard to describe all these things in words but it is a minor problem. Muddy may give the wrong impression.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

John sweda Too technical for me 🙂 www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/willsenton-tube-amplifier-c-77/willsenton-r8-kt88-el34-x4-tube-integrated-amp-power-amplifier-headphone-p-2268?zenid=1ec590a6e701294dd9445f8b7e810f8a

Would one of the axillary inputs be used for phone inputs? I don't see a "phono" input. I thought that was strange. Also does it have a woofer connector?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, a cellphone (phone) can always be connected to analog inputs. If you connect in via an analog cable of course. - There is no connection for a turntable (phono) - It does not have a dedicated subwoofer connector. - Hope this helps.

Cool review relaxed presentation not like your funny friend Andrew the know all???? haha makes me crazy shouting craptalk all the time,keep up the good work.

Might I ask which brand of both speaker cables | power cords you’re using?.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Of course you may 😀 It is the van Den Hul Magnum Hybrid LS cable. - The power cable is a DIY Oyaide Tunami cable with Oyaide connectors. C-046 + P-046

Hello Ivar. Great review. You sound a lot like Hans B! From your experience, how do you differentiate the EL34 and the KT88. Which tube gets hotter?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Hi, Hans and I are both Dutch so that might not be too strange 😉 - I did not measure temperature so I can''t answer that question. - Thanks for watching the review.

@michaelkaiser5994

3 жыл бұрын

Prices have almost doubled on Amazon.

great review. Have you reviewed the Muzishare X7 tube amp? i'm trying to decide on that or the Willsenton R8. so confused as what to get.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Hi, have not reviewed that one. They look very, very similar. The rear looks exactly the same. - Are you using a record player? I think that is the main difference. I hope this helps. Let me know what you decide 😀

@SimonBrownja

3 жыл бұрын

I am using a record player but mostly steam.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

@@SimonBrownja The Willsenton has no phono input.

Can I ask you 1 thing? Did you actually ordered this amp from : www.china-hifi-audio.com? Or did they send it to you? I just want to make sure that people are ACTUALLY getting stuff from there, because I am very new to this site and their shop

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Tom Si Hi. They send it. Check out ‘Vintage stereo’ on KZread. They actually send it to him and he did a review on this amp. He was kind enough to let me review it too.

If someone want more bass from a tube amplifier you need a much much bigger output transformer. The size makes it look like it wouldn't go much below 50Hz.

Fantastic Review. I just ordered the amp. What cables are you using from the Node to the amp? I like that they screw in. Also what power cord? Is there a US version. Thank you

@theaudiophilebarista2424

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, thanks and congratulations on ordering this wonderful amp. What kind of loudspeakers are you going to use if I may ask? - The power cord is the ‘Tunami’ from Oyaide. There is a US version. - The black screw in cable is the ‘platinum’ from Silent Wire. - Let me know if you like the amp 👍☕️🔊

@frankfleischman7285

2 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 just set up the amp today w a new set of Tekton Impact Monitors and I can’t believe how sweet everything sounds on day 1! Very impressive. I’m going to let the stock KT88’s do their thing for a while. I have other tubes that I’ll “roll “ after I let these break in. Going to order those cables. Thank you

Is it possible to have a bluetooth connected to this amp? Or can play music wirelessly? Thank you!

@marcclasara7592

4 жыл бұрын

@Douwe Bloot Thank you. Yes, I already searched about it. Thank you!

Hi nice video! How would you compare this amp to your Quad 34/306 ?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Hi, the Quad has much less resolution, but both are very musical and can be listened to all day.

Do you think these would have any trouble driving the KEF LS50 speakers?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Hi, I never had the LS50’s so I can’t tell, and based on the numbers it is hard to tell. Most reviews say they need powerful amplification I can only say you have to try (and I know that is a big problem these days). - Maybe check out some reviews to see what they use. With the KT88 tubes the Willsenton will give you 2 x 45 watts. That’s all I can tell you. Hope it helps.

Great review! How is the build quality? I would really like to see inside!

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I did not check the inside, but build quality is very solid. This thing does not feel cheap.

@ebaysnipa

4 жыл бұрын

The Audiophile Barista thanks for the review, was it point to pint wiring? or circuit boards?

@ajitmoses

4 жыл бұрын

ebaysnipa These are point wiring.

Dank voor de review, maar wat is toch bias (current) ? Ik kom dat vaker tegen op youtube maar begrijp niet wat dat is.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

François Du Nord Hai, dat gaat over de spanning die de buis nodig heeft. De bias stelt deze op het juiste punt in. Niet te veel stroom, niet te weinig stroom. Beide is niet goed voor de buis en niet voor het geluid. Misschien zal ik er een video over maken. Dank voor je vraag, dank voor het kijken 👍

very nice review.I bought a Willsenton r8 last week,it will be sent next month.Did you have to pay import duties???

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Hai, missed your post (sorry). Import duties are all over the place in different countries so I stopped making any calls on that. Please let me know what (if) you had to pay when they arrive if you will. - What are you going to pair the amp with if I may ask?

@gertjanvanderkooij9242

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 ,verity audio tamino.Op dit moment met een primare i 30,hier ben ik niet tevreden over.klinkt veel te helder in het hoog.Mis een hoop muzikaliteit en hoop deze te vinden met de willsenton

In playing the music tracks at 18:23 and 20:30, which tubes did you use? Willsenton KT88? Willsenton EL34? In Triode mode?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Such beautiful music 😀 I can see in the video that the indicator is green, that means triode. Not sure about the tubes. EL34 would be my guess

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

I checked. It was the EL34

I am about to order mine. I am a little confused about the voltage options. I live in USA. Can you say which option i get?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Hi, good choice 👍 I believe USA uses 110 or 120. But please check locally because I am not from the USA.

Prima review 👌🏼 hoe is de Willsenton R-8 t.o.v. de Accuphase E-206 die je eerder hebt uitgeprobeerd ? Ik ben erg benieuwd NL. Omdat ik nu met een Accuphase E-205 draai, maar wel geïnteresseerd ben in een willsenton buizen versterker. Mvg

Great review, very methodical approach. May I ask, what does musical and boogie factor. What problems did the small tubes present? Did they just stopped working? On another note, when I listen through my laptop good recordings of good setups like this one, it sounds way better than playing straight the original! How can this be explained?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Tassos Tsoutis Thank you 🙂 Much appreciated. - Yes, I was going to explain that but apparently I forgot. - ‘musical’ is about the flow of the music. ‘Boogie factor” is about making you get up and dance. I’m sure those are not official terms 😁 - The tubes got a buzzing sound and they became very microphonic. The new tubes are dead quiet as it should be. - About your laptop. Only thing I can think of is that in a video you also hear the acoustics of the room. With the original not. 😳 Thanks for watching

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

John sweda Is this answering his question?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

John sweda Interesting

@tassostsoutis601

4 жыл бұрын

@@johnsweda2999 Can you reproduce that effecr with a some kind of DSP?

@tassostsoutis601

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks John and TAB for your answers

A good review - but the Willsenton is $800. With shipping it is over $1200.

Nice video. I share your thoughts about el34 is better sounding than kt88. Remember, El34 tube is designed as a real audio tube, just as the smaller el84 is. However, a lot of tubes, can be used for audio gear , but very often, the tubes are not really designed for that purpose...

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

JH allo Hi, thanks for watching. I did not know the EL34 is a real audio tube. Nice to know 👍 - The tubes in my main OTL mono tube amps are actually tubes from CRT televisions 😃 And they make amazing tunes 😎

@jhallo7740

4 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 Yes, i know, the pl 519 types. For otl amps, it is important to use tubes with impedance, as low as possible. It's always a combination of factors, what makes a amp good sounding.(or not) 845 , 211, fu29 , and much more types, are for instance, designed for high frequency gear/transmitters, but are also used for amplifiers. It can be good sounding with the right parts, and layout of the amp.😉 The invention of the el34 tube, was really intended for audio gear. Also tube pa equipment, is very often designed with el 34 types, or the equivelant kt 77 tube.

Going to ask a probably dumb question but I’m new to all of this so here goes: looks like this amp doesn’t have a phono input? Is that true? If it is true, and you want to listen to vinyl with this amp, do you have to get a separate phone pre-amp? And again, if so, what would you recommend that won’t break the bank while conserving all of that lovely tube amp vibe? Thanks.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

scrumpymanjack Hi, no such thing as dumb questions. It’s called ‘learning’. 😉 - Correct, the amp has no phono input so you need an external phono pre-amp if you want to play vinyl. - I have not tested ‘cheap’ phono amps but the Shiiit Mani seems to be getting a lot of great reviews at the moment. Arcam and Rega also offer some lower priced solutions. Thank you for asking.

@scrumpymanjack

4 жыл бұрын

The Audiophile Barista thank you. Great review and appreciate the feedback. Subscribed!

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

scrumpymanjack Thanks and welcome 😀👍

How is this tube amp with Magnepan LRS since they demand power?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

2 ай бұрын

Hi, thanks for your comment. Unfortunately the Willsenton is no longer here and the Magnepans are in need of a repair so I can't answer your question 🫤

Is Rel strata on the left side?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Yep, that is a Strata 3

Just got this amp. Its beautiful. Is the ultralinear mode green or red led?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Hi, according to the manual red is the ultralineair mode. Did you not get a manual?

@jram9571

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 I did get it but did not find it the info, but thank you for letting me know.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

@@jram9571 👍

Hi is it possible to connect subwoofer to this thanks in advance Pat.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Hi, there is no dedicated subwoofer connection. You can always connect a REL sub to the loudspeaker terminals though. Thanks for asking 👍

Can you use this amp as a PRE- Amp?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Hi, you cannot use it as a pre-amp. You can use it with a pre-amp so it acts as a poweramp only.

What’s the preamp tubes used?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Those are 6SL7 tubes

I have received this amp about a week ago. Although dynamics, bass and trebble are all good, I find that the midrange sound grainy; vocals in particular which renders the sounds uninvolving. I find the sound much better when it is used as a power amp only fed by a quality tube preamp. I was wondering if you have tried to do some tube rolling for the preamp tubes at all?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Hi there, thanks for your response. Remember, it is 'just' an 800 dollar amp so it can't be perfect. Tell me more about your system please (source, cables etc) because 'uninvolving' is not what I recognize. I did not do any rube rolling.

@lesarnolfinis6775

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 Hello and thank you for your reply. My system consist of a sotm sms200 streamer, a Project S2 dac (I like MQA), and some vintage Wharfedale e50 speakers. For reference, I have a Line Magnetic 211 el34 amplifiers, a Chinese amplifier, which I also imported for about the same price as the Willsenton. The Line Magnetic does have a more neutral sound signature. It is less powerful than the Willsenton but creates the midrange magic, which makes vocals sound so good.At this stage, the R8 fails in the midrange. I upgraded to NOS tubes with the Line Magnetic. As we know the quality of tubes is 40% of the amplifier sound quality, so I will upgrade the preamp tubes of the R8 and give it 100 hours to deicide to keep it or not.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

les arnolfinis Perfect. That’s what this hobby is all about 😀 - Make sure to try the Willsenton with some different cables and loudspeakers to see if that makes a difference because I really did not find the Willsenton ‘uninspiring’. - Also, wich power tubes do you use in the Willsenton? - Keep me posted how it works out if you will?

@lesarnolfinis6775

3 жыл бұрын

You are indeed very correct. One can not buy a tube amp and expect it to just sound right out of the box. A tube amp offers the possibility of tuning the sound through tube rolling. Time and money need to be invested to extract its potential. As a matter of fact, I have replaced the stock 6SN7 tubes (Russian origin I think) with RCA grey 6SN7GT (1950) and almost all the reservations I had about the hard/grainy midrange have disappeared, a real transformation with much smoother vocals and a more cohesive sound altogether. I am waiting on the NOS 6SL7 tubes and I will give you some more feedback. Do you still use the amp or have you sent it back?

@lesarnolfinis6775

3 жыл бұрын

After having upgraded the 6SN7, I got my hand on some RCA 6SL7GT and again it is a very large jump in sound quality with a much more delineated soundstage with beautiful vocals now. The sound is less warm now but more true. Because of its affordable price, the stock preamp tubes are poor. The amp with stock stock tubes shows potential with a silent background and good bass and treble but has an unrefined and coarse midrange and upgrading the preamp tubes is pretty mandatory for the amp to become very good sounding for my ears.

Hi, many thanks for the review. Have you compared this amp with other Chinese amps? like Line Magnetic, Cayin or Yaqin. I am wondering if it is worth it to add more money and buy an amp from one of those brands or Willsenton will have the same performance for less money

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Ouafi Squalli Hi, this was my first Chinese amp review so I can’t compare it unfortunately.

@zeissiez

4 жыл бұрын

I have experience with Line Magnetic LM508IA and LM219IA and Willsenton R8. The Line Magnetic amps are awesome, but tube rolling is very expensive. The Willsenton R8 is cheap, more flexible, the Triode & Ultralinear modes are great for matching different songs at a touch of a button on the remote control. And you have the choice of EL34 or KT88 in one amp. For the price the sound quality is superb. The build quality is as good as the Line Magnetic amps. Cayin amps are more solid state sounding, if that’s your thing, they are equally as good as the Line Magnetic amps. No experience with Yaqin, as I am not a fan of their design.

Please share track/artist info. Thanks!!

Is hij zo goed? Ik zit te twijfelen tussen deze en de cambridge audio cx-a81. Enig advies?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Ferry van dijk Hai, advies is uiteraard lastig omdat ik verder niets weet van jou of je systeem. - De Cambridge heeft als extra nog zaken als een ingebouwde DAC en Bluetooth. Verder heb ik de Cambridge niet gehoord. - De Willsenton is echt een goede versterker. Ik sta zeker achter mijn review. - Wat heb je momenteel voor versterker?

@ferryvandijk3008

4 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 Ik heb een marantz 7003 gehad. Daarna een yaqin mc100b , ben toen uit praktische reden over gegaan naar een av reciever ( voor surround) maar wil nu een stereo opstelling samen stellen. Met de whardale linton ( de nieuwe ) als uitgangs punt. Weet dat de cambridge wat extra functies heeft maar geluid gaat boven functie.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

​@@ferryvandijk3008 Wow, is that the '85 edition? I am curious about that one 😊 - Together with the Cambridge it would be an all British setup. Should work just fine. - But I can also imagine those loudspeakers to be a wonderful match for the Willsenton. Difficult. - My choise would be the Willsenton. But choosing a amplifier is very personal, so don't take this as an advice. It is just my opinion. - Let us know what you ended up with.

@ferryvandijk3008

4 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 Will do. Thanks

@michaelmuetstege2965

4 жыл бұрын

Let op dat niet alle luidsprekers goed gaan met buizen. Ik bezit een set Klipsch KG5.2 met 96dB/m zou je denken dat deze goed gaat met buizen, maar door de impedantie verloop van de hoorntweeter is het geluid juist op mijn buizenversterkers scherp en onaangenaam. Het is daarom handig om te weten hoe de impedantie curve verloopt van jou type luisprekers (iets wat fabrikanten meerstal niet mee leveren).

What do you think about the muzishare x7?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

I never heard it in person, but apart from a different outside design it looks pretty similar. Did you hear it?

@dudiflug3804

4 жыл бұрын

The Audiophile Barista No

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Maybe I'll get my hands on it one day 😉

@dudiflug3804

4 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 What is your main system in Daly use?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

@@dudiflug3804 This is my main system kzread.info/dash/bejne/aKubtaOfc8jNdbQ.html - Enjoy 😃

What is the component next to the turntable? Curious

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

The little black thing on the right side? That is a magnifying glass. I use it to check the cartridge.

@dougg1075

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 no the audio component

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

@@dougg1075 Oh, sorry, that is my pre amplifier. - A 35 year old prototype that is hand built and I still have it in service with the guy that designed and built it at the time. - He has been improving on this model and you can still buy the ‘evolved’ version, today, for €15.000. I got mine for a fraction of that price in my most lucky score ever 😉 I have a video on it and an interview with the designer is in the making

Can it be used as a pre?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Nope. You can use it as a power amp only if you want, but not as a pre amp.

You installed EL34 tubes but you did not show you switching the back switch from KT88 to EL34...

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

J. Badinter You are correct, my bad. - Fortunately I showed the switch at the beginning of the video. Thanks for informing me 👍

Long term reliability prospects please.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Joy&BRUCE bruce How do you propose I determine that please?

I almost bought this but I didn’t like the idea of hearing a ball bearing rolling around in the remote.

welke buizen zitten erin kt 88 standaard of ps vane

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry, had je reactie gemist. De Willsenton KT88 buizen zitten er standaard in maar als je de Willsenton besteld kun je een keuze maken voor andere buizen.

How about if you have 6 ohms speakers which one I choose the 4 ohms biding post !?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

5 ай бұрын

Hi, I would use the 4 ohm posts, but if your speakers are say to drive I would definitely try both and listen.

@samidebs3559

5 ай бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 hi , is R8 built with internal DAC or do i need external DAC!?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

5 ай бұрын

@@samidebs3559 The R8 does not have a DAC

Sensitiity and impedance are completely different measurements and comparing the impedance to the sensitivity is not a good thing. I have had 4 ohm speakers with very high sensitivity (above 90dB) and 8 ohm speakers below 85dB. Your comparison there is going to confuse people, especially those newer to the hobby. Overall, the Willsenton R8 is a very good integrated tube amplifier. If you have this older version (anything made April 2023 or earlier) there are some modifications that need to be made to fix ground noise issues and also fix issues that can result in red plating the output tubes if the bias pots go open. Skunkie designs has some good videos on those modifications. If you have a new version (made after April/May 2023) Willsenton have incorporated the modifications into the design and these new versiosn don't have the issues. The KT88's have a brighter, more lively sound, EL34's are a bit warmer, so what you use is entirely personal taste, but I will say the Willsenton tubes, although good, are not as good as the more expensive PS Vane tubes.

Is it easy to get service for this amp?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Joy&BRUCE bruce Well, the company is based in China, but the design is pretty straightforward and should be easy to service.

@Jalahr77

3 жыл бұрын

FYI... They do have contacts in a few countries listed on the website. Looks like you pay shipping to them if you need service. www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/pages-title-page-17

Hi Thomas, can you put different pin compatible tubes into this amplifier ? Does it have autobias like the amps in the movie of which I insert a link here, or does it need selected tubes and work only with this one type od power tubes ? kzread.info/dash/bejne/h5-a3JWjnqXIpLg.html

Power?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

In the description box

To EVERYONE who is interested in the Function and build Quality of the Willsenton R8, please watch this: kzread.info/dash/bejne/pWipqsOjl6iunKw.html

How does the Willsenton R8 compare to the Boyuu Reisong A10 EL34 tube amp which is a little over half the price of the Willsenton R8, and which has received good reviews by Zero Fidelity kzread.info/dash/bejne/n6lsuLNxnq-dqsY.html and by Steven Guttenberg the Audiophiliac kzread.info/dash/bejne/qHefk5SxqszcoJs.html ?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Luminiferous Hi, I never heard the Boyuu or had one in my house so I can’t compare. If it is just as good for even less money, that would be mind blowing 😃 Would be nice to get my hands on one?

CHINESE AMPS RULE!!! Tube sound for us blue-collar guys!

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Kevin Thomas LOL, you better believe it 👍😀

@trekjudas

4 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 I have a Chinese tube amp by Yaqin and it just blows away my old solid-state amp, preamp combo. The Odyssey Stratos is a good amp but the Yaqin just crushed it!

@jhallo7740

4 жыл бұрын

@@trekjudas I have owned the Yaqin ms 34 D. Very nice sounding amp, but replace immediatly the high voltage capacitors in the power supply section! They have too low voltage ratings, and are a ticking timebomb in the amp.🤔Also replace the coupling capacitors between the pre, and power amp section. They advertised with brandname " philips", but are in fact "philco's" a cheap clone... Replace with good mkp types, such as Solen, or Mundorff. I bett, you will hear a very pleasant difference in sound. Also you can improve the sound with tube rolling, especially the preamp tubes... Looking at the power switch, and how that is wired and connected to the power transformer, you can remove the big CE stickers from the amp.😁

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Kevin Thomas 😁 Once you get the tube bug it’s hard to shake 👍

@billiondollarbaby3276

4 жыл бұрын

@@trekjudas Yaqin is not a musical sounding amp. Line Magnetic and Willsenton are MUCH better. Try one

If you think the R8 is good, have a look at Skunky Designs revision. Id them all - including replacing ALL resistors! and a heap of ground wire alteration to escape the inherently bad design features. The result is good but after MUCH work

Great video as always, but “This is a good amp”? I have a LOT of gear, as I operate a recording studio and media lab. In virtually all respects, it is comparable to or in some respects beats my $9,500 McIntosh 1502, my $17K Devialet, and several others other than my custom $65K Metaxas and Sins. I did change the tubes spending an additional $285, but still... The speakers I tried it with are Decware ZF15L, Focal Aria, Monitor Audio Gold 200’s, and others here. The only speakers it didn’t drive beautifully was my Martin Logan ESL 9’s, but they work best with high current A/B or similar amps. So, with a change of tubes to match your needs and preferences, this is a $5K+ amp.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks 👍 And that is a serious compliment for the Willsenton. - Btw your taste in equipment is amazing 👍☕🎼🔊😃

@JingoLoBa57

2 жыл бұрын

Amazing kit list here. I hope my next contract is secured to fund a sample of this amp.

rolling the tube will tighten up the bass

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Ash J Williams Thanks. Any tubes I should consider?

@terrywho22

4 жыл бұрын

​@@theaudiophilebarista2424 For the power tubes, I would recommend Gold Lion KT77s. If you are budget conscious, then Tung-Sol EL34B. For the preamp tubes, typically nothing beats high quality NOS tubes. I don't use 6SN7s, but some of the most widely regarded tubes are the round plate Tung-Sol 6SN7GT, the Sylvania 6SN7GT from the early 50s, and the black glass Ken-Rads, but the are all expensive! Maybe someone that uses 6SN7s will offer advice, but I would consider trying RCA or Westinghouse tubes if you would like to spend less than the crazy prices some NOS are going for. Love the bonus footage!!! Good luck!!

@MrWkendwarrior

3 жыл бұрын

Before u start tube rolling, break in stock tubes. 50 hours?.....Tubes take a while to break in, once they do the sound greatly improves. Also, before tube rolling, try to match sound characteristics of tubes u want to buy with your preamp, source a d especially your speakers. Spend a lotttttttt of time researching tube types amd their sound characteristics to best match your components or u will be wasting your money on tubes that may have great reputations but just dont match or sound good in your system. Few tube rolling options i used on a similar Yaqin MC100b tube amp i like, that may apply on this amp, hope this is helpful: Electro Harmoniz 12AX7 = less brightness, increased warmness Sylvania CHROME DOMES = rich full sound, tightens up the bass 12ax7's mullards. Deep smooth mids, crisp responsive top end, and a really clear defining bottom end. If ...this amp can accept KT90 tubes, they sound better than kt77 or kt88: KT90 and set idle current to 100mA. It will indeed improve sound. NOS TungSol 6550 circa 1963 to 1965 ( 3 quads in stash) it sounded amazing!!! for 6SN7 i preferred the Ken Rads or RCA Gray Glass but I also used a pair of TungSol black glass it's just they cost more than the amp itself . . . for the input tubes I used for best results Sylvania 5751 black plates triple mica's best sounding of the bunch including the Telefunken ECC83 and the mighty RCA's and GE's i also found better (MUCH BETTER) sounding in triode strapped mode (TR) many things to be said about this amp, maybe quality of materials was not as great as some of the Europe's and US's best but for the price never anything come as close to a very good amp for a very small fraction of the cost. READ THE MANUAL!!!! adjust the bias on the power tubes regularly (at least....every 4 to 6 months if using good tubes) this amp it's a keeper!

What the difference i heard same sound

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Difference between what? There is only one sound clip. - What do you mean by ‘difference’?

How does it compare to Schitt Freya plus.Thanks.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

Raul Patel Hi, I never had the pleasure of having the Frey’s plus here so I can’t comment on that. Did you hear it? If yes, what was your impression?

@js1812

4 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 Freya is a pre-amp. Two different things.

Nog steeds tevreden over de wilsenton r8,na een jaar??

@theaudiophilebarista2424

2 жыл бұрын

Hai, ik had de versterker te leen van een vriend voor meerdere maanden. Helaas wilde hij hem terug 😁 Ik kan je vraag dus helaas niet beantwoorden.

can u connect the R8 to a sub?

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

Hi, there is no sub connection. You could connect a Rel to the loudspeaker terminals of course

@lamjos

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 Thanks. I assume a Rel you meant a sub with high-line input connecting to the loudspeaker. It works for my solid state amp. But I do not understand why people say connecting tube amp to sub such a tricky thing. Even the Rel instruction shows a funny way to connect directly to the tube amp .. I m confused.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

@@lamjos Hi, I am not sure if I understand you, but you need an analog line out to connect to a sub and the R8 does not have that. That is why.

@lamjos

3 жыл бұрын

@@theaudiophilebarista2424 hi, yup R8 and many stereo amp do not a line out (or sub out). So I used to connect my class A amp to the loudspeakers and have a pair of jumpers connect the loudspeakers to the high-pass input of the sub. Thus the amp will not see the sub in the system because of the parallel connection. It should work for a tube amp (class A) as well, but many people do not do that.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

3 жыл бұрын

@@lamjos I get it. I thought the high level signal can just be taken from the amplifier loudspeaker binding posts (instead of the loudspeaker posts as you did) because the amp would not be bothered too much by the high impedance input on the side of the subwoofer. - It is not the same as connecting two loudspeakers where impedance can become a problem

After seeing that the PS Audio powerplant regenerator cost more than my Hifi System I gave up watching. Hifi for the Elite not the masses.

@theaudiophilebarista2424

4 жыл бұрын

I don't know if the cost of your system defines what is elite and what is not, but in this hobby even my system is on the cheap side. Check out my High End Munich 2020 video to see what real elite looks like? Thanks for watching (partly) 😀

@coenheydenrych154

4 жыл бұрын

Why deny yourself the pleasure of watching to the end? If you want to know what "elite" is, go to kzread.info/dron/8mwfiB_0vQtdPPbBJv0EMQ.html