Related videos: KEF home theatre setup guide and giveaway: ua-cam.com/video/GdUjWsRQdaQ/v-deo.html Willsenton r8 review: ua-cam.com/video/5XMpKsrFXFc/v-deo.html tubes I use and recommend for upgrade: psvane acme 805: www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/psvane-vacuum-tube-electron-valve-c-32/psvane-acme-805-vacuum-tube-hi-end-best-match-one-pair-vavle-p-2142 psvane CV181-TII: www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/psvane-vacuum-tube-electron-valve-c-32/psvane-t-series-cv181-tii-collection-version-hifi-amplifier-vacuum-tube-a-pair-p-1205 psvane we274B: www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/psvane-vacuum-tube-electron-valve-c-32/psvane-we274b-vacuum-tube-40s-replica-1-1-5u4g-5z3p-rectifying-p-717 choose one based on what I said in the video: psvane western electric 300b replica: www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/psvane-vacuum-tube-electron-valve-c-32/psvane-we300b-plus-western-electric-replica-tubes-best-matched-pair-valve-300b-p-1486 OR psvane acme 300b: www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/psvane-vacuum-tube-electron-valve-c-32/psvane-acme-300b-vacuum-tube-hi-end-vavle-best-match-one-pair-p-2143 Speaker stands: amzn.to/3ssRhI3 Better speaker stands: solidsteel.it/my-product/ss-7-vintage-hi-fi-speaker-stands/ acoustic panels I use: ua-acoustics.com/ acoustic curtain: amzn.to/31d1zAM BDI Cabinet I use: bit.ly/2OJRwQQ amzn.to/3chBuFZ other BDI Cabinets: bit.ly/3ctxXV1 amzn.to/30bsUCH This video is not sponsored for more info on how we work: nbtsmedia.com/about-us/
What would you recommend for rock or neofolk type music? 805 or 845? It says 805 has more power out put but 845 is better on vocals. I’m really considering this amplifier but I want to make sure it will play my music the way I want it to be heard. Chelsea Wolfe. Kind dude. A few artists.
GReat stuff. I am bit confused. How Willsenton R800i (300b) compare to BoyuuRange A50 MKIII 300B in terms of vocals? Would it be similar with just power output difference? Can you help?
I've bought both the R8 and R800i 805 on Jay's recommendation and couldn't be happier. R8 - throw the stock tubes in the bin and replace with: MELZ 6H9C circa 1952 (6SL7 equivalent) or Sylvania 6SL7WGT JAN (Joint Army Navy) circa 1976 Sylvania 6SN7GTA circa early 1960's Mullard EL34 circa early 1960's With the R8 running with these tubes, this could be an endgame amp for some people. The R800i 805 on the other hand only needs the NEVZ 6H8C replaced with the Sylvania 6SN7GTA circa early 1960's. This opens up the top end and gives a wonderful sound improvement from top to bottom, however, if you want to go one step further, you can replace the stock 805's with PSVane Acme Series. Changing this tube tightens up the bass and I feel extends the bass a little as well, without wrecking what the Sylvania's bring to the table. Clarity is also slightly improved too. So, my overall impression is that the R800i is a more powerful sounding amp and is definitely next level up from the R8, but I still do have a soft spot for the R8 providing you bin the stock tubes. I'm also experimenting with the 12AX7, the 300B and the 274B tube, but so far I'm extremely happy with the sound of the R800i. NOTE: With all tube amplifiers the most important thing to get right is the primary input tube(s). In the case of the R8, it's the 6SL7 pair, while in the case of the R800i, it's the single 12AX7. Personally, I like the MELZ 6H9C (R8) and so far in the case of the R800i, the NOS Philips 5751 (1986 mil spec version of the 12AX7), the Genalex Gold Lion ECC83 gold pin and the JJ ECC803S. All of these are 12AX7 equivalents, although you can also experiment with the 12AT7. The only difference between these two tube types is their gain. The 12AX7 has a gain of 100, while the 12AT7 has a gain of 70, so between both of these tube types, there are lots of options, from crystal clear to very warm sounding. Personally, I would rather have a crystal clear input tube and use other tubes further along the amplification chain to add a bit of colour or flavour to taste. Speakers used: Q Acoustics Concept 500/REL T9x (2) for the R800i and Q Acoustic Concept 300/REL T5x for the R8. Streaming DAC: Naim ND5 XS 2 used with both amps, i.e., these are two separate systems used in different rooms. BTW, the R800i beats my Hegel H390 and my Naim Uniti Atom (by quite a margin in the case of the Atom) in my opinion. I guess I just love tubes better! :)
Hi Rachael, I just purchased the R800i, and thank you for your guid in tube selection. I own Rogue M180 mono’s now and they use KT120 tubes, I hope the R800i will live up to its glory. I have way improve the bass by hooking a sub to my Ayon CD 5s, or one of outputs of the R800i, will this give bass extension that R800i lacks?
Rachael, Maybe you can help me on this. i watched the review of the Willsenton R800i and i am very very close to pulling the trigger. I rewatched the review and read your comments on the tubes which i thought were very helpful. My CONCERN is i just bought the Triangle Genese Trio which has 90 db sensitivity with a minimum impedance of 4,4 ohms. Will the R800i drive them well enough? Also, I have Buchardt S400's with 88db and 4 ohms impedance, will this amp drive them? Triangle Bro 3's have 87 or 90 db (depending on who measures them) with 8 ohms impedance so i have the same concern with them. I also have the LS 50's that i also switch out occasionally but they are rated at ; and a nominal impedance of 8 ohms so they most likely will not match up well? Lastly, I am using the Schiit Freya+, as a preamp, will that be too much tube? Please let me know as i have sold my PS Audio M700's and planned on getting this amp when the shipment arrived at the buyers destination. Help!!!!
@@AusGanesh - I wouldn't say the the R800i lacks bass. In fact, with the right tubes the bass is very very good. Having said this, I use REL subwoofers because they have an excellent high-level input, not to mention that REL are also fast enough to keep up with your speakers, whether they are stand mounts or floor standers. In fact, I've been told that REL can even keep up with Quad electrostatics, which is saying a lot.
@@donguin9348 - The R800i does have a 4ohm tap, but it really depends what is the lowest impedance that the speakers go down to. My Q Acoustic Concept 500's, for example, are rated at 6ohms (90db), but the impedance does dip down to a quite low 3.4ohms. The R800i has no trouble with this at all. It also depends on the volume you are hoping to achieve as well, meaning that a low sensitivity speaker would only perform at it's best in a small to medium sized room. As for your Freya+, try it with NOS Sylvania 6SN7GTA's (circa 1960's). They are not too expensive and will improve the Freya+ quite a lot. They also have a fabulous frequency response when installed in the R8 or R800i. As far as using the Freya+ with the R800i, I haven't tried this, so I cannot comment on whether it might improve the sound or not - it would not be "too much tube", so I certainly wouldn't worry about that. Best to let your ears tell you whether it's a better sound with and without the Freya+.
@@tbear2327 Thank you so much for your quick response. Based on what you are saying It seems i am definitely moving forward with this amp. especially since i have a "small but treated room" and do not have to give up any of my speakers. And, I most likely have the Sylvania 6SN7GTA's setting in a drawer because i used them in the Freya before. Currently running 5692's. Do you happen to have an email you use for public venues for future chat/questions? Thanks, Don
It is an nice review but the screamy blue meters making it soo cheap even it is not a cheap amplifier. The Muzishare R100 is similar but looks more expensive. Will you review one? From component side if you look both of the amplifiers ill prefer Muzishare R100 ( you can see inside pix on aliexpress). So Jay would you review the Muzishare R100(805 triode) ? That is my opinion because i'm building tube amplifiers myself 🙂
You described what you’re hearing very well. Enjoying the music not thinking about analyzing the gear. I get the same feeling with the Doge 10. Now that you have no hair, is the sound defracting more around your head or has a veil been lifted?
I just got this a few days back , pairing it with the Denafrips Pontus 2 and Kef LS50 meta. I changed the 6SN7 to PSVane Mk2 and connects with Mogami good XLR. It’s amazing , very good recommendation , spot on. Thanks Jay. Your reviews are credible. Very enjoyable amplifier.
Mogami gold XLR-i is that a mike cable? can i ask is it to connect the dac to the amp-, i'm getting an almost identical system hope your still loving it....
@@justingriffin2546 Yes to connect DAC to amp via balanced output. Yes loving the results , I added the Iris DDC and I2S ( Jays Audio ) connection to the DAC , changed the 300B and 805 tubes and added a Rel T5X sub and IsoAcoustic Gaia3 ( highly recommended) to the spkr stands. I think I’m done with all upgrades for now and just enjoy the music.
@@robertwang7825 Thanks so much. i'm so looking forward to the upgrade i'm looking at the kef reference 3---supposed to be amazing and beautiful. to look at..
What I enjoy most about tubed gear and glow of the tubes is tube rolling. The fact that you can improve or change the sound by rolling the tubes is something you can't do with solid state amplifiers except perhaps adding a DAC, cables and different speakers etc.
Hello, I have only owned one tube amplifier about two years ago. It was a Dynaco VTA ST-120 Amplifier kit, I am now looking for the best tube amplifier I can fine for around 2,500.00 And I am looking at the Willsenton R800i? My question is witch R800i the one with the 805 tube? or the one with the 845 tube? Is there another amplifier that would be better sounding that I mite consider? Thank you jay I am always looking at Thomas's and your sites. Your both very helpful and informative,
I would be interested to see some how much heat this thing throws? Is it noticeably warmer in your listening room running this beast? Did the R8 generate much heat in comparison? Was the R8's headphone out any good and did it impart any tube sound? Would you have liked a headphone out in the R8i or would that be asking too much?
Being a fellow "Tube Head" Love your reviews of this type of integrated. If you get the chance I recommend an audition of some of the more esoteric offerings: Rogue Cronus Magnum III, Primaluna EVO 400, VLL IT-85, Audio Research VSi75, and BAT VK-80i. I cannot say that these costlier amps will sound better than the Willsenton, but I think it will would be fun to get an idea how they stack up against it. On the review side, if you ever get the chance, I think you would have a lot of fun with any Primaluna integrated. I found you can change their flavor of sound significantly, not only by brand but tube type. To my ear there are notable changes from EL-34 to KT-77, KT88, KT120, and KT150. EL 34 being the sweetest, with the loveliest midrange, that makes voices sound the most natural. Ending at the KT150 which I found to be the punchiest. It gave the amps extended highs, tight bass, and from the top to bottom lighting fast transients.
@@TravelandAudio - RESPECTFULLY you obviously have never heard the original Mullard 6CA7 xf2 Blackburn plant tubes. These are arguably the best EL34 ever made and makes the R8 (paired to the right speakers) a possible endgame amp for many. Preamp tubes MELZ metal-base 6SL7 equivalents and Sylvania 6SN7 T-plate GTA. The sound of the R8 configured in this way is truly amazing...:)
@@tbear2327 I have heard the Mullards before and the have a gorgeous midrange, but lack dynamics. I own a pair of Russian MELZ metal-base, I bought them before the rediculous prices that they are asking for now. I still prefer the Sylvanias 6sn7 GT and GTA over any other 6sn7 family tube. I also would like to recommend you to try the 12sn7, they work perfectly on a 6sn7 preamp!
@@TravelandAudio - Hi. When you say the Sylvania 6SN7 GT, do you mean the "bad boys"? I have 6 matched pairs of the MELZ metal base 6SL7 equivalents. Luckily bought them before the price went through the roof. Most of them are circa early 50's with my best matched and triode balanced pair are both 1952. Anyway, after the bad boys, which are nigh on impossible to buy now, the T-plate was next, which is the one I like. I've never heard the bad boys, but have been told they don't work well in modern circuits because the voltage is too high, which is the reason why the GTA is the better option. Talking about prices, have you seen the price of the Mullard 6CA7 xf2. I paid $US1,600 for two sets of quads and last time I looked they were almost $US2,000 per quad, and that occurred in less than 6 months. Btw, I was almost going to buy the Cayan CS-150A which does use KT150's, but decided on buying the R800i 805 instead. I also own the R8 which was my first tube amp purchase which I use in another listening room.
@@tbear2327 no, I mean all the 6sn7 family. I have the Sylvania bad boys too, but I still prefer the sound of the Sylvania 6sn7GTA to all the tubes. I always like to swap to experience something different. I also like the Russian 6H8C tubes, they are cheap, but sound great! Wow 1,600 dollars for a set of tube, I can buy all the tubes that I have now for that amount of money! ;)) I am also experiencing now using adaptors with the 6F8G and 6C8G tubes. They are from the early 1940s to late 1950s , they sound punchy and dynamic, while at the same time very sweet!
Jay, in another video you mentioned that your favorite tubed preamp is the Doge 8 RCA with the Briar tube. What kind of an improvement is this preamp over the preamp that comes with the R800i?
Great review sir! My only hangup...and I have to believe others might feel the same... is the price of this unit puts it directly into competition with Decware. Decware consistently reviews incredibly well, is widely regarded to be a fantastic value, and truly reflects quality craftsmanship. With that in mind, I would very much like to see you make a comparison review :)
If I am not mistaken Decware do not make any amps anywhere nearly as powerful as this, so there is no direct comparison. If you have to drive high sensitivity speakers, sure, Decware may be an even better choice. But if they made an amp with similar hardware I am guessing it would be significantly more expensive.
@@gaborozorai3714 Decware does make more powerful tube amps and they are indeed more expensive. Then again, the fact their products carry a lifetime warranty is also reflected in the pricing. I completely agree with your point on speakers. Additionally, I have been sorely tempted to purchase Willsenton products in the past, but everyone has to consider their own circumstances. This new unit may indeed punch above its weight class but it's two grand, that doesn't include shipping, and any potential future repairs would be astronomical based solely on shipping alone. Conversely, one could get a stellar Decware unit, a lifetime warranty, and purchase a pair of new speakers from Decware for less than the cost of the Willsenton shipped.
@@jamiejwaters I am sure that's a perfectly sensible comparison for you personally to make, but in terms of products it's oranges to apples. Decware do have a 40 watter but it's a push-pull with KT66 tubes and costs close to $6000. An amp with 300B's driving 805's is a different beast entirely and more expensive to implement.
Nice, will be great to review Doge 10 together with this as the price is almost the same with stock tubes for these two ! Also tube rolling will be expensive for R800i if tube rolling is the thrill for some ! Great review!
Great review and strong statement in favor for tube amps which I totally agree with! Just switched from a very good Tannoy TA600 to a small power LM-211. What a leap forward for my Sonus Faber Cremona V1. And, regarding bass (I prefer the triode setting) I would recommend taking advantage of either a parametric EY or speaker management or similar to adjust the bass to the room - and bang, you will get a disco-ready bass from even a triode or SET amp with low reaching precision, but still this musicality you are describing for the mid range. Just a week ago, I had a late evening listening session, and I had left the balcony door unintentionally open - guess what, the neighbor rang my door bell as they couln’t get into sleep at their house which is more than 45 feet away - and all from 15 Watt triode power. And a comment was “It sounded at our home as if you had a live band playing in your home!” never had this with my TA600 at a max of 2x300 Watts. What If I had this beautifully 805 amp? Probably they would have called the police right away?
Great review. One comment: when reviewers say that a tube amp does not image as precisely as a SS one I always think " sure, you get fatter, fleshed out images, like the real thing." You get that spaciousness that you correctly identify, filled with 3D images of instruments. To me that's better, more natural than pinpoint (i.e. narrow) images.
All electronics distort truth. The only reason for music reproduction at all is for emotional elevation. The best tube designs BLOW AWAY solid state for involvement, goosebumps and the illusion of something live happening in the room with you. The best solid state I've heard have been YBA signature.. but nothing else solid state, for me gets closer to good SET. We listen to music, not sound. Close your eyes and transport without analysis. God bless great single ended direct heated triode designs and the speakers that let them shine...
I had the LM 508 (virtually the same amp) paired with the Tekton DIs, experienced everything you said. I'll be getting back into the hobby with Tekton Moabs or Nebos, with the same 48W SET, can't go wrong!
Hi Jay , your videos are great watch them nearly everyday . Just wanted you opinion , I have a chance to buy a secondhand Willsenton R800i with 211 output tubes apparently ordered directly from factory by previous owner . My question is what are your thoughts on R800i with 211 tubes ? Does 211 sound much different to 845 or 805 . Should I pull the trigger on this one ?
Agree pretty much with everything in Jay’s review except the bass. With stock 805’s yes but try the PS Vane Cossor 805’s those tighten up the bass and it feels like they also dig deeper. I have had mine for about a year now i am extremely impressed with the performance.
Hi thank you for your great reviews. I was wondering if I can use my portable dap astell and kern sp2000t which has no level out as a source to the Wellington r800i ? Thanks
I use an R8 with Acoustat electrostatics, and love it. I'd tempted to get an R800i and see how I like it, but I have a hard enough time with the weight of the R8.
Jay, an excellent review! My question though has to do with the "805" versus "845" amp/s. Is there a totally different amp that uses 845 tubes that cannot cross over. What is the difference? Also, my concern is; i have LS50's, Buchart S400's, Triangle Bro 3's and just received the Triangle Genese Trio's. The Trio's have 90db sensitivity while the others are 85 to 88 db sensitivity. Lastly, I assume the Genese Trio's will match up well with the R800i with the 805's but not the Ls50's or Burchart S400's?
Only people who have had both tubes and transistors know they sound different. I know tubes sound different cos I had some old school 60's little tube amps from second hand shops in the 70's. I had a few, but one really stuck out. It was the best sounding amp I had. But the "devil" got me and I sold it in the eighties. Kicking myself ever since. The brand name was Star.
How do you compare r800i to McIntosh MA 252? I know the MA 262 is hybrid, but since you are an specialist In McIntosh I really would like to know your thoughts. Thanks
Hi jay I bought this one and I really wonder how it will do with my totem forest knowing it is not a really sensitive speaker... Have you tried it with your tribe tower?
Hey Jay, I’m yet to shift from a solid state to tubes but, the plunge is happening now. I have watched this video over 10x to make sure I’ve considered and understood all your review points on the 800i. Thank you for all the detail. If it’s ok I’d like to ask a few questions:? - I’d like to understand what you mean by, not the most silent amp? - Also, It’s been a year and I was wondering how’s it been going with the 805 unit over that time? - I watched your review on on the Doge mk3, soon to be the mk4 and was wondering if the 800i tops the Doge for you? - I understand you not in the business of telling people what to buy but has the 800i remained a loved piece of gear on your rack? - And finally I also wanted to ask if the Kef R3 with a sensitivity rated at an average 87dB and nominal impedance claimed to be 8 ohms will be an ok match? A minimum value of 3.2 ohms suggest that an amplifier with a bit of grunt would be good. Hoping I can squeeze in and change that later. Thanks in advance for any response. I greatly appreciate your channel especially how clear, insightful and fair the feedback is. Take care Nick
Jay probably won’t get around to answering on such an old video so I’ll throw in my 2 cents b/c I’ve had the 805 for about three years. My first tube amp. - there can be a low hum when you turn it on. I might need to adjust things more or isolate my power line better to mitigate that. So it’s not dead quiet like, say, a class D amp but it doesn’t bother me. - I used R3’s with it for a while. Plenty of power for those speakers. I never tried to power an outdoor concert but it played much louder than I’d ever care to listen. - I love the amp. I did upgrade the 6SN7 tubes to some NOS RCA tubes from the 1960’s and it made the soundstage clearly even better. That was about $200. I’m thinking about the other tubes but I haven’t pulled the trigger - as you might know, good 300B tubes can get expensive!
Thanks Jay for this long-awaited video. I guess I'm in the small percentage of viewers who purchased an R8 (matched with Tekton Electron SEs) and was pretty underwhelmed. I did change the tubes to nice EL34s and other quality tubes up front which did help. But, overall, I find the sound of the R8 a little harsh and lacking sweetness in the mid and high range. It's certainly a clean sounding amp, but not that engaging for me. I think I prefer the class A sound which is why this amp is intriguing. Also considering a Elekit tu-8600 300B amp. Any thoughts on how these two amps would compare? The Elekit is much lower power (9 watts per channel)
Nice video, as usual. Here, in Italy, it will comes with custom duties of 22% more, but, based on what I can see here and the quality you're speaking about, it's still a good deal.
Hi Jay, @22.15 you said that solid state are better than tube in sound staging & imaging, is that mostly true in general? @22.56, the depth, layering & the holographic thingy: how good the R8 in this area? I ask because I have the R8, and am contemplating about the R800i now, but have no chance to hear an actual unit near me.
hi jay, im almost convince myself for buy this amp..., but im not shure of which one of the two difernt tube version model..., is for run a pair of kef r5 speakers..., i saw another vid and read something about it and i think i need the model of less power with the tubes 845..., just because the speakers are supuesly high eficience ones with the maximun output of 110db, i hear is recomended that bersion with the 845 tube when the maximun output is 90db plus...., what you think...?, im afraid of to buy the wrong model of the two...., also i have connected to every speaker one sub kef kube 8...., it will be nice if you let me know something..., thanks in advance!
Hi Jay, please help me with the tubes.. I own the the thing for half a year now and feel it as you described it!! Want to upgrade the 300B tubes. Do the acme have same midrange as the we from psvane? Thank you so much for your awesome work!! Best regards from germany 😊
Sure would love to hear what a tube amp sounds like. Unfortunately with everything online sales these days I guess we are left to reviews like yours, then a gamble purchase. Then also a gamble purchase if you want to try different tubes (which I understand is half the fun with tube gear). Thanks for the review Jay.
I just bought this and received it today. A loud hum omits from the middle power transformer. Do I need to return it, or is this something that will go away with break in time?
When Jay mentioned the hum issue, that was bit of a red flag for me. I could be wrong, but if his amp had that problem, another R800i may have it more noticeably, and it might not completely go away, over time. --I'd wait to see what other reviewers also have to say about that issue.
I think tube amps don’t usually have pre outs because of some of the imitations of the circuit design. You could do it but you would essentially need to completely separate the preamp and power amp so you could turn off the power amp when not in use. Tube amps usually aren’t happy when they aren’t hooked up to speakers.
I have been waiting for a review on this tube amplifier for a long time and you have really tempted me to pull the trigger on this amplifier. I am actually considering between this and the Muzishare R100, both very similar specs and around the same price range. I am leaning more toward the R100 because looking at the interior build, the R100 looks more "robust" and more like a point to point wiring amplifier. It will be great if there is a direct comparison between these 2 amplifier.
Apparently R series is being discontinued or modified to a new model towards the beginning of next year while willsenton is a new model and wont see revision any time soon.
@@Jayiyagi Thanks for replying :) . Not sure if you are referring to the Muzishare R100 being discontinued? If I am not wrong, their current R100 is actually a 2021 upgraded version and currently is still selling over at China-Hifi-Audio and Taobao. I doubt the R100 is discontinued because it was just upgraded early this year.
@@cpaint69 not sure. Maybe I am mistaken but the china hifi dude just let me know that the R series will most likely see a revision in beginning of 2022
@@Jayiyagi No problem bro. I have been following a Hong Kong reviewer who did a recent review on the upgraded version of the R100. He shared some improvement on the upgraded version vs the previous version. That's how I get to know about the R100.
Sorry for my rookie question: but Is there any way to use this amp in a 2.1 output system? I have the kef ls50 meta + the kef sub kc62. I also have the RME adi2 dac. Im searching for a tube amp that fits this system. Thanks in advance
The only issue with these amps is that the tubes are not matched. I have the R8 and I assume it is the same with this unit. If you upgrade the tubes to higher quality, matched tubes, the performance will be much better. In other words, tube rolling is a must but they must be matched. Also look for NOS from Russia, UK, and US. I personally would avoid Chinese tubes. Check out Tube Lab UA-cam channel to see tube options for the R8.
The tubes I ordered came matched and with measurements in the box. I think it really depends on what chinese or any country brand you are looking for. I’d just say... for tubes don’t cheap out if you want upgrades
If you have hum at the start, it is not likely to go away with "break in". Check all your cables and if it is still an issue, please don't accept that. If you have hum, get in touch with China HiFi who make the amplifier straight away. They are very helpful and will assist you. Do not wait and hope it may go away with "break in" as the valves/tubes used are not really needing break in as they are factory burn tested. Basically hum equals an issue. Also note that the R8 is a completely different topology and different amplifier to this one. Just like running the R8 in Triode mode is different to Ultra-Linear mode Also note the R8 is roughly half the price of the R800i. You can't compare. It's like apples to oranges.
Very very nice review Jay! What about power and heat. Heard people just love lm219ia but just can not stand the heat. Do you have any heat related issue？ Thanks
Tx for the channel Jay. Please could you help me. Would the Willsenton 800i 300B 805 be a good fit with my speakers. The Kef R3? Thanks ahead for your response.
Fantastic review Jay. Many thanks. I've been using only SS amps so far but after watching your video I am in urge to try tube gear, maybe R800i. Keep up good work.
Thanks Jay for this nice video. Great review! I am going to buy it. I am living in Toronto, Canada. Do you know how much the import duties need to be paid? Thanks!
I'm looking for a tube amp to power the top side of my B&W 801 speakers. I have a high power class-A solidstate amp for the bottom side (Krell 750X2) with ballanced inputs. My tube preamp is a Macintosh C2500. Is this Willsenton amp powerful and dynamic enough to bi-amp my B&W 801's???
Hi Jay, I was going to purchase the r8 but after.your review decided to take it up a notch and buy the r800i. Mr Lee was very helpful, waiting on my shipping date! I’ll let you know what I think. Thanks again really enjoy the Chanel
Very informative review. I am shopping for a new Directly heated triode amplifier(s). My Tekton Double Impact floor standing speakers' sensitivity is rated by the manufacturer at over 98 db. I am currently bi-amping (with Meixing 3008 monoblocks on top and a Parasound A21 on the bottom. The Meixing uses 2A3 driving 805. I am bi-amping because my previous speakers were not as sensitive and I wanted tighter bass. So far I am looking at the Muzishare R100, the Willsenton R800i, the Raphaelite monoblocks. The Raphaelite uses much more iron, uses the Sovtek 2A3 as a driver, but has no preamp bypass. I believe it also uses DC filament (I think), so perhaps lower hum on my sensitive speakers. It is offered only as an 845 version. The R100 has that and even has a MM phono stage. Looking at the pictures of the circuits, the two stereo amps look like different circuits. By the way, your description of the bass correlates exactly with my experience with the 805 Meixing MC3008 (older version) monoblocks. At almost 99db should I be concerned with the hum of the Willsenton?
Further to my comments of the R8 and R800I (805 version), these are the tubes I am using now, and all I can say is WOW! Mullard M8162 (military spec 12AT7 - yes I know the R800i uses 12AX7's, but you can use high output 12AT7's as well). Sophia Electric 6SN7 standard blue/coke bottle style or NOS Sylvania straight-plate (circa early 1960s). Takatsuki 300B - after hearing these, definitely the best 300B ever made and yes, even better than the legendary NOS WE 300B. PSVane Acme series 805 NOS Svetlana 5U4G rectifier tube. The sound produced by this combination is absolutely endgame, although I would only recommend this amp (and most tubes amps for use in a small/medium sized room), unless you have speakers which have a sensitivity of 90dB or greater. Larger rooms require at least greater than 93dB, although ideally greater than 95dB. BTW, my room is medium and my speakers are the excellent Q Acoustics Concept 500 (90dB 6 ohms - in 4Ohm tap). If you want to make these speakers sing and have the R800i, then make these changes. PS: Takatsuki tubes are very expensive, but worth every single cent.
You have to get the New Doge MK3-B !! Jay trust me please man you will keep the Integrated amp !!! Ohh i got the Brimar Pre/ tubes from 1962 BVA 12ax7 ohhh my Godddd Jay ! the Brimars sound so Velvety and creamy smooth n lush ! 😃 Tubes matter!
Related videos:
KEF home theatre setup guide and giveaway: ua-cam.com/video/GdUjWsRQdaQ/v-deo.html
Willsenton r8 review: ua-cam.com/video/5XMpKsrFXFc/v-deo.html
tubes I use and recommend for upgrade:
psvane acme 805: www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/psvane-vacuum-tube-electron-valve-c-32/psvane-acme-805-vacuum-tube-hi-end-best-match-one-pair-vavle-p-2142
psvane CV181-TII: www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/psvane-vacuum-tube-electron-valve-c-32/psvane-t-series-cv181-tii-collection-version-hifi-amplifier-vacuum-tube-a-pair-p-1205
psvane we274B: www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/psvane-vacuum-tube-electron-valve-c-32/psvane-we274b-vacuum-tube-40s-replica-1-1-5u4g-5z3p-rectifying-p-717
choose one based on what I said in the video:
psvane western electric 300b replica: www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/psvane-vacuum-tube-electron-valve-c-32/psvane-we300b-plus-western-electric-replica-tubes-best-matched-pair-valve-300b-p-1486
OR
psvane acme 300b: www.china-hifi-audio.com/en/psvane-vacuum-tube-electron-valve-c-32/psvane-acme-300b-vacuum-tube-hi-end-vavle-best-match-one-pair-p-2143
Speaker stands: amzn.to/3ssRhI3
Better speaker stands: solidsteel.it/my-product/ss-7-vintage-hi-fi-speaker-stands/
acoustic panels I use: ua-acoustics.com/
acoustic curtain: amzn.to/31d1zAM
BDI Cabinet I use: bit.ly/2OJRwQQ
amzn.to/3chBuFZ
other BDI Cabinets: bit.ly/3ctxXV1
amzn.to/30bsUCH
This video is not sponsored
for more info on how we work:
nbtsmedia.com/about-us/
What would you recommend for rock or neofolk type music? 805 or 845? It says 805 has more power out put but 845 is better on vocals. I’m really considering this amplifier but I want to make sure it will play my music the way I want it to be heard. Chelsea Wolfe. Kind dude. A few artists.
What do you never List the Speakers you use to listen too??? rather strange.
is this the 805 or the 845 ??
Nice video as always...which tubes do you recommend for this amplifiers ( I mean brands ) ? Which ones are you using ?
GReat stuff. I am bit confused. How Willsenton R800i (300b) compare to BoyuuRange A50 MKIII 300B in terms of vocals? Would it be similar with just power output difference? Can you help?
I've bought both the R8 and R800i 805 on Jay's recommendation and couldn't be happier.
R8 - throw the stock tubes in the bin and replace with:
MELZ 6H9C circa 1952 (6SL7 equivalent) or Sylvania 6SL7WGT JAN (Joint Army Navy) circa 1976
Sylvania 6SN7GTA circa early 1960's
Mullard EL34 circa early 1960's
With the R8 running with these tubes, this could be an endgame amp for some people.
The R800i 805 on the other hand only needs the NEVZ 6H8C replaced with the Sylvania 6SN7GTA circa early 1960's.
This opens up the top end and gives a wonderful sound improvement from top to bottom, however, if you want to go one step further, you can replace the stock 805's with PSVane Acme Series. Changing this tube tightens up the bass and I feel extends the bass a little as well, without wrecking what the Sylvania's bring to the table. Clarity is also slightly improved too.
So, my overall impression is that the R800i is a more powerful sounding amp and is definitely next level up from the R8, but I still do have a soft spot for the R8 providing you bin the stock tubes. I'm also experimenting with the 12AX7, the 300B and the 274B tube, but so far I'm extremely happy with the sound of the R800i.
NOTE: With all tube amplifiers the most important thing to get right is the primary input tube(s). In the case of the R8, it's the 6SL7 pair, while in the case of the R800i, it's the single 12AX7. Personally, I like the MELZ 6H9C (R8) and so far in the case of the R800i, the NOS Philips 5751 (1986 mil spec version of the 12AX7), the Genalex Gold Lion ECC83 gold pin and the JJ ECC803S. All of these are 12AX7 equivalents, although you can also experiment with the 12AT7. The only difference between these two tube types is their gain. The 12AX7 has a gain of 100, while the 12AT7 has a gain of 70, so between both of these tube types, there are lots of options, from crystal clear to very warm sounding. Personally, I would rather have a crystal clear input tube and use other tubes further along the amplification chain to add a bit of colour or flavour to taste.
Speakers used: Q Acoustics Concept 500/REL T9x (2) for the R800i and Q Acoustic Concept 300/REL T5x for the R8.
Streaming DAC: Naim ND5 XS 2 used with both amps, i.e., these are two separate systems used in different rooms.
BTW, the R800i beats my Hegel H390 and my Naim Uniti Atom (by quite a margin in the case of the Atom) in my opinion. I guess I just love tubes better! :)
Hi Rachael, I just purchased the R800i, and thank you for your guid in tube selection. I own Rogue M180 mono’s now and they use KT120 tubes, I hope the R800i will live up to its glory. I have way improve the bass by hooking a sub to my Ayon CD 5s, or one of outputs of the R800i, will this give bass extension that R800i lacks?
Rachael, Maybe you can help me on this. i watched the review of the Willsenton R800i and i am very very close to pulling the trigger. I rewatched the review and read your comments on the tubes which i thought were very helpful. My CONCERN is i just bought the Triangle Genese Trio which has 90 db sensitivity with a minimum impedance of 4,4 ohms. Will the R800i drive them well enough? Also, I have Buchardt S400's with 88db and 4 ohms impedance, will this amp drive them? Triangle Bro 3's have 87 or 90 db (depending on who measures them) with 8 ohms impedance so i have the same concern with them. I also have the LS 50's that i also switch out occasionally but they are rated at ; and a nominal impedance of 8 ohms so they most likely will not match up well? Lastly, I am using the Schiit Freya+, as a preamp, will that be too much tube? Please let me know as i have sold my PS Audio M700's and planned on getting this amp when the shipment arrived at the buyers destination. Help!!!!
@@AusGanesh - I wouldn't say the the R800i lacks bass. In fact, with the right tubes the bass is very very good. Having said this, I use REL subwoofers because they have an excellent high-level input, not to mention that REL are also fast enough to keep up with your speakers, whether they are stand mounts or floor standers. In fact, I've been told that REL can even keep up with Quad electrostatics, which is saying a lot.
@@donguin9348 - The R800i does have a 4ohm tap, but it really depends what is the lowest impedance that the speakers go down to. My Q Acoustic Concept 500's, for example, are rated at 6ohms (90db), but the impedance does dip down to a quite low 3.4ohms. The R800i has no trouble with this at all. It also depends on the volume you are hoping to achieve as well, meaning that a low sensitivity speaker would only perform at it's best in a small to medium sized room. As for your Freya+, try it with NOS Sylvania 6SN7GTA's (circa 1960's). They are not too expensive and will improve the Freya+ quite a lot. They also have a fabulous frequency response when installed in the R8 or R800i. As far as using the Freya+ with the R800i, I haven't tried this, so I cannot comment on whether it might improve the sound or not - it would not be "too much tube", so I certainly wouldn't worry about that. Best to let your ears tell you whether it's a better sound with and without the Freya+.
@@tbear2327 Thank you so much for your quick response. Based on what you are saying It seems i am definitely moving forward with this amp. especially since i have a "small but treated room" and do not have to give up any of my speakers. And, I most likely have the Sylvania 6SN7GTA's setting in a drawer because i used them in the Freya before. Currently running 5692's. Do you happen to have an email you use for public venues for future chat/questions? Thanks, Don
Jay goes from gandalf the white to a monk in the blink of an eye.
Awesome review brother
It is an nice review but the screamy blue meters making it soo cheap even it is not a cheap amplifier. The Muzishare R100 is similar but looks more expensive. Will you review one? From component side if you look both of the amplifiers ill prefer Muzishare R100 ( you can see inside pix on aliexpress). So Jay would you review the Muzishare R100(805 triode) ? That is my opinion because i'm building tube amplifiers myself 🙂
@@Belinea1610 Eye of the beholder. The meters look great.
I noticed the Holo DAC in background…will you do a comparisson with the Denafrip Terminator?
You described what you’re hearing very well. Enjoying the music not thinking about analyzing the gear. I get the same feeling with the Doge 10. Now that you have no hair, is the sound defracting more around your head or has a veil been lifted?
Hahaha. Less dampening ! ;)
I just got this a few days back , pairing it with the Denafrips Pontus 2 and Kef LS50 meta. I changed the 6SN7 to PSVane Mk2 and connects with Mogami good XLR. It’s amazing , very good recommendation , spot on. Thanks Jay. Your reviews are credible. Very enjoyable amplifier.
Mogami gold XLR-i is that a mike cable? can i ask is it to connect the dac to the amp-, i'm getting an almost identical system hope your still loving it....
@@justingriffin2546 Yes to connect DAC to amp via balanced output. Yes loving the results , I added the Iris DDC and I2S ( Jays Audio ) connection to the DAC , changed the 300B and 805 tubes and added a Rel T5X sub and IsoAcoustic Gaia3 ( highly recommended) to the spkr stands. I think I’m done with all upgrades for now and just enjoy the music.
@@robertwang7825 Thanks so much. i'm so looking forward to the upgrade i'm looking at the kef reference 3---supposed to be amazing and beautiful. to look at..
@@justingriffin2546 I dont the Willsenton has enough power to push the Kefs R3 , better with Tekton or Klipsch or open baffles IMO.
@@robertwang7825 wow thanks-...I made a mistake, i meant the reference 1 meta bookshelf speakers-do you think the Willsenton can drive those?
What I enjoy most about tubed gear and glow of the tubes is tube rolling. The fact that you can improve or change the sound by rolling the tubes is something you can't do with solid state amplifiers except perhaps adding a DAC, cables and different speakers etc.
Looking forward to this. Love my R8, not going to upgrade but it's great to see they are not a 1 hit wonder
As my non-audiophile wife stated upon her first listen to tube gear, “It sounds more real” I couldn't have said it better.
Thank you for the review! I've actually been looking for a review on this amp for the past few days!
My man prepared his head for the heat! 😄👍 Great review, as always.
Been waiting for this review for so long, from Jay’s short hair to long hair to grey hair to no hair
Schizophrenic?
That IS a long time!
Thanks!
Hello, I have only owned one tube amplifier about two years ago. It was a Dynaco VTA ST-120 Amplifier kit, I am now looking for the best tube amplifier I can fine for around 2,500.00 And I am looking at the Willsenton R800i? My question is witch R800i the one with the 805 tube? or the one with the 845 tube? Is there another amplifier that would be better sounding that I mite consider? Thank you jay I am always looking at Thomas's and your sites. Your both very helpful and informative,
I would be interested to see some how much heat this thing throws? Is it noticeably warmer in your listening room running this beast? Did the R8 generate much heat in comparison? Was the R8's headphone out any good and did it impart any tube sound? Would you have liked a headphone out in the R8i or would that be asking too much?
Being a fellow "Tube Head" Love your reviews of this type of integrated. If you get the chance I recommend an audition of some of the more esoteric offerings: Rogue Cronus Magnum III, Primaluna EVO 400, VLL IT-85, Audio Research VSi75, and BAT VK-80i. I cannot say that these costlier amps will sound better than the Willsenton, but I think it will would be fun to get an idea how they stack up against it. On the review side, if you ever get the chance, I think you would have a lot of fun with any Primaluna integrated. I found you can change their flavor of sound significantly, not only by brand but tube type. To my ear there are notable changes from EL-34 to KT-77, KT88, KT120, and KT150. EL 34 being the sweetest, with the loveliest midrange, that makes voices sound the most natural. Ending at the KT150 which I found to be the punchiest. It gave the amps extended highs, tight bass, and from the top to bottom lighting fast transients.
K-T150 is my favorite power tube, if this Willsenton doesn't take KT-150 tubes, it's just a toy!
@@TravelandAudio - RESPECTFULLY you obviously have never heard the original Mullard 6CA7 xf2 Blackburn plant tubes. These are arguably the best EL34 ever made and makes the R8 (paired to the right speakers) a possible endgame amp for many. Preamp tubes MELZ metal-base 6SL7 equivalents and Sylvania 6SN7 T-plate GTA. The sound of the R8 configured in this way is truly amazing...:)
@@tbear2327 I have heard the Mullards before and the have a gorgeous midrange, but lack dynamics. I own a pair of Russian MELZ metal-base, I bought them before the rediculous prices that they are asking for now. I still prefer the Sylvanias 6sn7 GT and GTA over any other 6sn7 family tube. I also would like to recommend you to try the 12sn7, they work perfectly on a 6sn7 preamp!
@@TravelandAudio - Hi. When you say the Sylvania 6SN7 GT, do you mean the "bad boys"? I have 6 matched pairs of the MELZ metal base 6SL7 equivalents. Luckily bought them before the price went through the roof. Most of them are circa early 50's with my best matched and triode balanced pair are both 1952. Anyway, after the bad boys, which are nigh on impossible to buy now, the T-plate was next, which is the one I like. I've never heard the bad boys, but have been told they don't work well in modern circuits because the voltage is too high, which is the reason why the GTA is the better option. Talking about prices, have you seen the price of the Mullard 6CA7 xf2. I paid $US1,600 for two sets of quads and last time I looked they were almost $US2,000 per quad, and that occurred in less than 6 months. Btw, I was almost going to buy the Cayan CS-150A which does use KT150's, but decided on buying the R800i 805 instead. I also own the R8 which was my first tube amp purchase which I use in another listening room.
@@tbear2327 no, I mean all the 6sn7 family. I have the Sylvania bad boys too, but I still prefer the sound of the Sylvania 6sn7GTA to all the tubes. I always like to swap to experience something different. I also like the Russian 6H8C tubes, they are cheap, but sound great!
Wow 1,600 dollars for a set of tube, I can buy all the tubes that I have now for that amount of money! ;))
I am also experiencing now using adaptors with the 6F8G and 6C8G tubes. They are from the early 1940s to late 1950s , they sound punchy and dynamic, while at the same time very sweet!
What floor speaker pairing would you recommend for the R800i tube amp with a budget under US$2,000/pair?
Jay, in another video you mentioned that your favorite tubed preamp is the Doge 8 RCA with the Briar tube. What kind of an improvement is this preamp over the preamp that comes with the R800i?
Great review sir! My only hangup...and I have to believe others might feel the same... is the price of this unit puts it directly into competition with Decware. Decware consistently reviews incredibly well, is widely regarded to be a fantastic value, and truly reflects quality craftsmanship. With that in mind, I would very much like to see you make a comparison review :)
If I am not mistaken Decware do not make any amps anywhere nearly as powerful as this, so there is no direct comparison. If you have to drive high sensitivity speakers, sure, Decware may be an even better choice. But if they made an amp with similar hardware I am guessing it would be significantly more expensive.
@@gaborozorai3714 Decware does make more powerful tube amps and they are indeed more expensive. Then again, the fact their products carry a lifetime warranty is also reflected in the pricing. I completely agree with your point on speakers. Additionally, I have been sorely tempted to purchase Willsenton products in the past, but everyone has to consider their own circumstances. This new unit may indeed punch above its weight class but it's two grand, that doesn't include shipping, and any potential future repairs would be astronomical based solely on shipping alone. Conversely, one could get a stellar Decware unit, a lifetime warranty, and purchase a pair of new speakers from Decware for less than the cost of the Willsenton shipped.
@@jamiejwaters I am sure that's a perfectly sensible comparison for you personally to make, but in terms of products it's oranges to apples. Decware do have a 40 watter but it's a push-pull with KT66 tubes and costs close to $6000. An amp with 300B's driving 805's is a different beast entirely and more expensive to implement.
Tak!
Nice, will be great to review Doge 10 together with this as the price is almost the same with stock tubes for these two ! Also tube rolling will be expensive for R800i if tube rolling is the thrill for some ! Great review!
Great review and strong statement in favor for tube amps which I totally agree with!
Just switched from a very good Tannoy TA600 to a small power LM-211. What a leap forward for my Sonus Faber Cremona V1.
And, regarding bass (I prefer the triode setting) I would recommend taking advantage of either a parametric EY or speaker management or similar to adjust the bass to the room - and bang, you will get a disco-ready bass from even a triode or SET amp with low reaching precision, but still this musicality you are describing for the mid range.
Just a week ago, I had a late evening listening session, and I had left the balcony door unintentionally open - guess what, the neighbor rang my door bell as they couln’t get into sleep at their house which is more than 45 feet away - and all from 15 Watt triode power. And a comment was “It sounded at our home as if you had a live band playing in your home!” never had this with my TA600 at a max of 2x300 Watts.
What If I had this beautifully 805 amp? Probably they would have called the police right away?
Great review. One comment: when reviewers say that a tube amp does not image as precisely as a SS one I always think " sure, you get fatter, fleshed out images, like the real thing." You get that spaciousness that you correctly identify, filled with 3D images of instruments. To me that's better, more natural than pinpoint (i.e. narrow) images.
I agree ! But solid states have sharper imaging and some people like that more so gotta give credit where its due !
All electronics distort truth. The only reason for music reproduction at all is for emotional elevation. The best tube designs BLOW AWAY solid state for involvement, goosebumps and the illusion of something live happening in the room with you. The best solid state I've heard have been YBA signature.. but nothing else solid state, for me gets closer to good SET.
We listen to music, not sound.
Close your eyes and transport without analysis. God bless great single ended direct heated triode designs and the speakers that let them shine...
so... how does it compare to the doge10?
Jay, nice review. Since you’re on a roll with tubes. It would be awesome to get you take on a Decware Zen amp.
Jay, have you ever listened to the Muzishare r100 300b 805?
How does this compare to the Dodge tube amps?
Quick question on XLR connector....Any suggestions on a great quality XLR cable that would work well for this amp? Thanks,
I’m using a pair of Nordost blue heaven XLR connected to my dac and it works very well. I don’t know if it is the best but…
How much do you save on heating costs when you turn on this one?
Well its summer right now.... Why do you think I shaved my hair off ! Gotta keep myself cool somehow
@@Jayiyagi Lol
When I heard it was 45w I said that it wasn't very powerful. But when you said it's single ended triode, I said wow, that's powerful!
With my Klipsch Cornwall IV's do you recommend the 805 or 845 tube version Jay?
I had the LM 508 (virtually the same amp) paired with the Tekton DIs, experienced everything you said. I'll be getting back into the hobby with Tekton Moabs or Nebos, with the same 48W SET, can't go wrong!
Thank you Jay. I will look at pairing this with my newly acquired Klipsch Belle's
Hi Jay , your videos are great watch them nearly everyday .
Just wanted you opinion , I have a chance to buy a secondhand Willsenton R800i with 211 output tubes apparently ordered directly from factory by previous owner . My question is what are your thoughts on R800i with 211 tubes ? Does 211 sound much different to 845 or 805 . Should I pull the trigger on this one ?
Agree pretty much with everything in Jay’s review except the bass. With stock 805’s yes but try the PS Vane Cossor 805’s those tighten up the bass and it feels like they also dig deeper.
I have had mine for about a year now i am extremely impressed with the performance.
Thank you for the input ! I am sure others would appreciate the insight from a fellow owner
Hi thank you for your great reviews. I was wondering if I can use my portable dap astell and kern sp2000t which has no level out as a source to the Wellington r800i ? Thanks
You're like the saitama of audio. Reviewing till losing all hair, but probably heightening your listening senses
I use an R8 with Acoustat electrostatics, and love it. I'd tempted to get an R800i and see how I like it, but I have a hard enough time with the weight of the R8.
This thing is a tank. It really does weigh 100 lbs.
Jay, an excellent review! My question though has to do with the "805" versus "845" amp/s. Is there a totally different amp that uses 845 tubes that cannot cross over. What is the difference? Also, my concern is; i have LS50's, Buchart S400's, Triangle Bro 3's and just received the Triangle Genese Trio's. The Trio's have 90db sensitivity while the others are 85 to 88 db sensitivity. Lastly, I assume the Genese Trio's will match up well with the R800i with the 805's but not the Ls50's or Burchart S400's?
Wondering about this as well
My first tube amp. I love it! Wilsonton R8
Which preamps/DACs did you test with the R800i? I have Tekton DI speakers.
Only people who have had both tubes and transistors know they sound different. I know tubes sound different cos I had some old school 60's little tube amps from second hand shops in the 70's. I had a few, but one really stuck out. It was the best sounding amp I had. But the "devil" got me and I sold it in the eighties. Kicking myself ever since. The brand name was Star.
I have now the same tube setting as you. What bias you are running on your device? Big thanks to you 🎉
Jay, what product is that wood base/stand that your Holo is sitting on in the background?
Hi Jay, Do you prefer this r800i over the Dodge 10 mk3?
How do you compare r800i to McIntosh MA 252? I know the MA 262 is hybrid, but since you are an specialist In McIntosh I really would like to know your thoughts. Thanks
Yes, please! 😇
Do you prefer the 845 version better? (By the way, are the tubes--805 vs 845--are only difference between both R800i models?)
Hi jay I bought this one and I really wonder how it will do with my totem forest knowing it is not a really sensitive speaker... Have you tried it with your tribe tower?
Hey Jay, I’m yet to shift from a solid state to tubes but, the plunge is happening now. I have watched this video over 10x to make sure I’ve considered and understood all your review points on the 800i. Thank you for all the detail.
If it’s ok I’d like to ask a few questions:?
- I’d like to understand what you mean by, not the most silent amp?
- Also, It’s been a year and I was wondering how’s it been going with the 805 unit over that time?
- I watched your review on on the Doge mk3, soon to be the mk4 and was wondering if the 800i tops the Doge for you?
- I understand you not in the business of telling people what to buy but has the 800i remained a loved piece of gear on your rack?
- And finally I also wanted to ask if the Kef R3 with a sensitivity rated at an average 87dB and nominal impedance claimed to be 8 ohms will be an ok match? A minimum value of 3.2 ohms suggest that an amplifier with a bit of grunt would be good. Hoping I can squeeze in and change that later.
Thanks in advance for any response. I greatly appreciate your channel especially how clear, insightful and fair the feedback is.
Take care
Nick
Jay probably won’t get around to answering on such an old video so I’ll throw in my 2 cents b/c I’ve had the 805 for about three years. My first tube amp.
- there can be a low hum when you turn it on. I might need to adjust things more or isolate my power line better to mitigate that. So it’s not dead quiet like, say, a class D amp but it doesn’t bother me.
- I used R3’s with it for a while. Plenty of power for those speakers. I never tried to power an outdoor concert but it played much louder than I’d ever care to listen.
- I love the amp. I did upgrade the 6SN7 tubes to some NOS RCA tubes from the 1960’s and it made the soundstage clearly even better. That was about $200. I’m thinking about the other tubes but I haven’t pulled the trigger - as you might know, good 300B tubes can get expensive!
This is a great review, insightful and gripping to the end.
Thanks Jay for this long-awaited video. I guess I'm in the small percentage of viewers who purchased an R8 (matched with Tekton Electron SEs) and was pretty underwhelmed. I did change the tubes to nice EL34s and other quality tubes up front which did help. But, overall, I find the sound of the R8 a little harsh and lacking sweetness in the mid and high range. It's certainly a clean sounding amp, but not that engaging for me. I think I prefer the class A sound which is why this amp is intriguing. Also considering a Elekit tu-8600 300B amp. Any thoughts on how these two amps would compare? The Elekit is much lower power (9 watts per channel)
Make it sense to roll the 12ax7 also?
It’s all about the soundstage with tubes for sure. My R8 was a revelation in this regard. Best amp I’ve had so far.
Is this amp smooth or bright sounding?
@@locmanw1583 it’s perfect to my ears
Can this be run in mono?
Nice video, as usual. Here, in Italy, it will comes with custom duties of 22% more, but, based on what I can see here and the quality you're speaking about, it's still a good deal.
Thats a hard hit but honestly I think its still great value. Which is crazy cuz I would have not imagined myself saying that with most products
We have Jay out here fresh out of the military! 😂
I honestly like it tho
They used to use tubes in the military ya kno :)
Is there anyway a short listening session could be included in the reviews? That would be helpfull. Thx
When biasing the tubes, do you take 0 as the correct reading.? Thanks.
Have you compared this to the Doge 10 or something like the PrimaLuna Evo 300?
Jay, does this tube hum when you turn it on? I had experience with 845 and 805 (pin on top version) where it hum when powered on.
ever so slightly. Like I mentioned, its normal for tube amps to have noise sometimes but it goes away with usage
Hi Jay, @22.15 you said that solid state are better than tube in sound staging & imaging, is that mostly true in general? @22.56, the depth, layering & the holographic thingy: how good the R8 in this area? I ask because I have the R8, and am contemplating about the R800i now, but have no chance to hear an actual unit near me.
Was there much burn in time needed on your new tubes?
Hi there,
Recently got my Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3g speakers and looking for 800i 805. Do you think they will sound good together?
hi jay, im almost convince myself for buy this amp..., but im not shure of which one of the two difernt tube version model..., is for run a pair of kef r5 speakers..., i saw another vid and read something about it and i think i need the model of less power with the tubes 845..., just because the speakers are supuesly high eficience ones with the maximun output of 110db, i hear is recomended that bersion with the 845 tube when the maximun output is 90db plus...., what you think...?, im afraid of to buy the wrong model of the two...., also i have connected to every speaker one sub kef kube 8...., it will be nice if you let me know something..., thanks in advance!
Jay, How would the Willsenton 800i compare to the McIntosh MA352 to be paired with Klipsch Cornwall IV's?
Can somebody help me please? My unit will only bias to 30. Is this normal? What is the correct bias setting?
Hi Jay, please help me with the tubes.. I own the the thing for half a year now and feel it as you described it!! Want to upgrade the 300B tubes. Do the acme have same midrange as the we from psvane? Thank you so much for your awesome work!! Best regards from germany 😊
I own this r800 but i cannot find o\how to adjust the bias… i beg for some help tks
Sure would love to hear what a tube amp sounds like. Unfortunately with everything online sales these days I guess we are left to reviews like yours, then a gamble purchase. Then also a gamble purchase if you want to try different tubes (which I understand is half the fun with tube gear). Thanks for the review Jay.
I just bought this and received it today. A loud hum omits from the middle power transformer. Do I need to return it, or is this something that will go away with break in time?
😳
Listen around 12:45.
@@christinearmington thanks, my hum is taking place after warm up, different than what he speaks of.
When Jay mentioned the hum issue, that was bit of a red flag for me. I could be wrong, but if his amp had that problem, another R800i may have it more noticeably, and it might not completely go away, over time. --I'd wait to see what other reviewers also have to say about that issue.
It would be great if this amplifier had a pre out for the base. What kind of music do you play with this amp. Thanks for the review!
I think tube amps don’t usually have pre outs because of some of the imitations of the circuit design. You could do it but you would essentially need to completely separate the preamp and power amp so you could turn off the power amp when not in use. Tube amps usually aren’t happy when they aren’t hooked up to speakers.
Is there any tube amplifer you recommend to drive Magnepan speakers?
No there is not. For my personal taste, it’s not a good match
Hello, sorry for my question but I am a beginner. I was wondering if this amp could be used with my Infinity Renaissance 90's speakers ?
I have been waiting for a review on this tube amplifier for a long time and you have really tempted me to pull the trigger on this amplifier. I am actually considering between this and the Muzishare R100, both very similar specs and around the same price range. I am leaning more toward the R100 because looking at the interior build, the R100 looks more "robust" and more like a point to point wiring amplifier. It will be great if there is a direct comparison between these 2 amplifier.
Apparently R series is being discontinued or modified to a new model towards the beginning of next year while willsenton is a new model and wont see revision any time soon.
@@Jayiyagi Thanks for replying :) . Not sure if you are referring to the Muzishare R100 being discontinued? If I am not wrong, their current R100 is actually a 2021 upgraded version and currently is still selling over at China-Hifi-Audio and Taobao. I doubt the R100 is discontinued because it was just upgraded early this year.
@@cpaint69 not sure. Maybe I am mistaken but the china hifi dude just let me know that the R series will most likely see a revision in beginning of 2022
@@Jayiyagi No problem bro. I have been following a Hong Kong reviewer who did a recent review on the upgraded version of the R100. He shared some improvement on the upgraded version vs the previous version. That's how I get to know about the R100.
I took eyeing on both brands. Hope Jay would review the X9.
How do you connect a high level input for subs with this amp?
Tdai 3400 Lyngdorf vs willsenton r800i ???
How does this compare to PrimaLuna evo series?
Primaluna is overall a more brighter/more airy - solid state feeling amplifier in comparison
Tubes and solid state amp’s connect you to the music differently
Sorry for my rookie question: but Is there any way to use this amp in a 2.1 output system? I have the kef ls50 meta + the kef sub kc62. I also have the RME adi2 dac.
Im searching for a tube amp that fits this system.
Thanks in advance
The only issue with these amps is that the tubes are not matched. I have the R8 and I assume it is the same with this unit. If you upgrade the tubes to higher quality, matched tubes, the performance will be much better. In other words, tube rolling is a must but they must be matched. Also look for NOS from Russia, UK, and US. I personally would avoid Chinese tubes. Check out Tube Lab UA-cam channel to see tube options for the R8.
The tubes I ordered came matched and with measurements in the box. I think it really depends on what chinese or any country brand you are looking for. I’d just say... for tubes don’t cheap out if you want upgrades
👏👏🏻👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾👏🏿👏👏🏻👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾👏🏿 wonderful clarity on the R800i review.
Will this drive the Magnepans?
If you have hum at the start, it is not likely to go away with "break in". Check all your cables and if it is still an issue, please don't accept that. If you have hum, get in touch with China HiFi who make the amplifier straight away. They are very helpful and will assist you. Do not wait and hope it may go away with "break in" as the valves/tubes used are not really needing break in as they are factory burn tested. Basically hum equals an issue. Also note that the R8 is a completely different topology and different amplifier to this one. Just like running the R8 in Triode mode is different to Ultra-Linear mode Also note the R8 is roughly half the price of the R800i. You can't compare. It's like apples to oranges.
Very very nice review Jay! What about power and heat. Heard people just love lm219ia but just can not stand the heat. Do you have any heat related issue？ Thanks
Tx for the channel Jay. Please could you help me. Would the Willsenton 800i 300B 805 be a good fit with my speakers. The Kef R3? Thanks ahead for your response.
Fantastic review Jay. Many thanks. I've been using only SS amps so far but after watching your video I am in urge to try tube gear, maybe R800i. Keep up good work.
Thanks Jay for this nice video. Great review! I am going to buy it. I am living in Toronto, Canada. Do you know how much the import duties need to be paid? Thanks!
Looks like ar51 12ax7 6l6 300b and 805 ?
I'm looking for a tube amp to power the top side of my B&W 801 speakers. I have a high power class-A solidstate amp for the bottom side (Krell 750X2) with ballanced inputs. My tube preamp is a Macintosh C2500. Is this Willsenton amp powerful and dynamic enough to bi-amp my B&W 801's???
Can a Subwoofer be added to a Willsenton R800i ?
A high gain conection in paralel with tue output of your
..of your speakers? ...ask REL subwoofer
@@renatogonzalezmora4191 thanks
Wow! I didn't know that Changpeng Zhao is that good in audio also! 😁
Where did you get the Psvave tubes from?
Hi Jay, I was going to purchase the r8 but after.your review decided to take it up a notch and buy the r800i.
Mr Lee was very helpful, waiting on my shipping date! I’ll let you know what I think. Thanks again really enjoy the Chanel
Jay how would the R8 and R800i pair with the KLH model 5. I am seriously considering either amp if they have good synergy.
Very informative review. I am shopping for a new Directly heated triode amplifier(s). My Tekton Double Impact floor standing speakers' sensitivity is rated by the manufacturer at over 98 db. I am currently bi-amping (with Meixing 3008 monoblocks on top and a Parasound A21 on the bottom. The Meixing uses 2A3 driving 805. I am bi-amping because my previous speakers were not as sensitive and I wanted tighter bass. So far I am looking at the Muzishare R100, the Willsenton R800i, the Raphaelite monoblocks. The Raphaelite uses much more iron, uses the Sovtek 2A3 as a driver, but has no preamp bypass. I believe it also uses DC filament (I think), so perhaps lower hum on my sensitive speakers. It is offered only as an 845 version. The R100 has that and even has a MM phono stage. Looking at the pictures of the circuits, the two stereo amps look like different circuits. By the way, your description of the bass correlates exactly with my experience with the 805 Meixing MC3008 (older version) monoblocks. At almost 99db should I be concerned with the hum of the Willsenton?
Further to my comments of the R8 and R800I (805 version), these are the tubes I am using now, and all I can say is WOW!
Mullard M8162 (military spec 12AT7 - yes I know the R800i uses 12AX7's, but you can use high output 12AT7's as well).
Sophia Electric 6SN7 standard blue/coke bottle style or NOS Sylvania straight-plate (circa early 1960s).
Takatsuki 300B - after hearing these, definitely the best 300B ever made and yes, even better than the legendary NOS WE 300B.
PSVane Acme series 805
NOS Svetlana 5U4G rectifier tube.
The sound produced by this combination is absolutely endgame, although I would only recommend this amp (and most tubes amps for use in a small/medium sized room), unless you have speakers which have a sensitivity of 90dB or greater. Larger rooms require at least greater than 93dB, although ideally greater than 95dB. BTW, my room is medium and my speakers are the excellent Q Acoustics Concept 500 (90dB 6 ohms - in 4Ohm tap). If you want to make these speakers sing and have the R800i, then make these changes.
PS: Takatsuki tubes are very expensive, but worth every single cent.
You have to get the New Doge MK3-B !!
Jay trust me please man you will keep the Integrated amp !!!
Ohh i got the Brimar Pre/ tubes from
1962 BVA 12ax7 ohhh my Godddd Jay !
the Brimars sound so Velvety and creamy smooth n lush ! 😃
Tubes matter!
I own a paiir of Sonus faber lumina V, what is the right integrated amp for me?
Sure there is a difference between tubes and solid state, both have advantages (PrimaLuna / Accuphase experiences)
Could you show the under chassis photo of all components.
You can find the photos of the bottom of the amp and it's wiring on the china hifi web page.