I've found the cj lp70s stages much bigger than the r800i but the focus and detail is better with the r800i. I did put in we300b linlai tubes. I would love the stage of cj and clarity of r800i.
So I bought the Willsenton R-800i
After I bought the Klipsch Cornwall IVs recently it became apparent quite quickly that to make it really shine it needs a tube amp to drive it. (For me at least.) After doing some (=endless) research, considering the options (budget, shops nearby carrying models I´m interested in, etc.) and also asking around on this very forum I decided to go for the Willsenton R-800i. None of my friends here shares my excitement for audio stuff or even has a comparable system, so what´s now in my living room is the one tube amp I know. And I´m delighted. Together with the speakers it gives the music the presence and glow that I so desired.
Of course I can tell that there´s more potential in this amp and I already exchanged some of the stock tubes. There are more on the way and I can´t wait to test them. For now my financial means are a bit limited so I´m not ordering Western Electric and Takatsuki 300Bs just for the sake of comparing them. In fact I´m waiting with those a bit and go for the others first.
Searching online I find a lot of information on English language forums. Somehow tube rolling is not discussed as much on the German forums I checked though – and out of curiosity (and because they were pretty cheap) I went for both West- and East-German ECC83s and a fairly random mix of other tubes from the US and the Soviet Union. I´m waiting for them to arrive and not being able to read about some of them it raises my curiosity how they will sound. Maybe crappy, maybe not so bad, maybe even very good. I´ll see. Tube rolling will take some time and I don´t mind. The amp is there to stay for quite a while.
There´s an exhaustive thread on the Willsenton amps and fitting tubes here but since I found people´s comments on this forum so helpful I´m looking forward to hear from you. I´m open for tube recommendations and would like to hear anyone´s experience with the Willsenton R-800i. Or maybe someone has questions?
As for the tubes:
805 – stock replaced for Cossor
300B – stock
6SN7 – stock replaced for Sylvania GTBs, waiting for Fonon NOS (Soviet, 1979, a bargain for 10€)
12AX7 – stock replaced with current Mullard model, waiting for West German ones from AEG and Telefunken, East German ones from RSD and Funkwerk Erfurt (both used) and also Sylvania JAN 5751 NOS (a military model)
5U4G – stock, waiting for RCA NOS black plate and Svetlana NOS „Coke Bottle“
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@charles1dad The Zu Audio's are staying. I'm honestly not 100% sure what is making the greatest sound improvement when being driven by the Willsenton. Is it possible for a speaker to just sound so much more relaxed but yet very detailed at the same time? I'm guessing overall I prefer the sound of the ZU towers, but I think the amp is able to display so much more detail with such an easier speaker to drive. I'm really enjoying this combination. As far as the tube rolling I will say the following. The Aqua 274 B from Sophia is a winner. I know it's just a rectifier tube but even my wife hears the difference. Playing 41 by Dave Matthews Band, the beginning of the song has a lot of cymbals and a horn coming in. It is just more lively with the Sophia. The cymbals are a little sharper and carry more realistically. This isn't a huge difference but it is noticeable going back and forth a couple times. The Acme 805A tubes for me were a wash. I really didn't notice a difference that I found better than the Linlai Gold Elite tubes I was already running. Those have already shipped back to the owner. |
@richl35 "much more relaxed but yet very detailed at the same time? " Thats the holy grail imo ! |
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