FYI There is no "Upgraded" or "V2" Willsenton R8

@chenry what web modders are you referring to? It’s seems like there is only one YT personality focused on modding this amp, she also seems to be the only one saying there were major revisions and referencing a mk2 version. Has Willsenton been selling flawed amps and then quietly fixed all these issues without any formal notice? Is it possible a YouTuber is trying to make a name for herself and boost sales for her business? Like I said, if they made obvious changes like changing cap values it should be simple to confirm exactly what they did. I haven’t sat through her entire r8 video catalog, but I didn’t come across any before or after segments or sound demos when I skimmed through.

Ok before anyone jumps down my throat, it appears skunky designs isn’t a business, and she isn’t doing content for financial gain beyond donations that I can see.  She also doesn’t list any electrical engineering qualifications or certification licenses of any kind.  It just says she’s a hobbyist.  I guess that’s good news in that may lesson her liability if she ever got sued.  She may also be on the hook for libel if the guys at Willsenton feel their reputation has been damaged by her content.  If a kind lawyer out there reads this please drop her an email and provide some helpful guidance.  I’d hate to see her get sued when it appears she is just trying to be helpful to the diy community.  Maybe she could add a few disclosures to the videos and website.  

Good luck with that claim. She pretty much did a Cook’s Tour of the amplifier showing the things that weren’t good quality and the components that were below spec. She has nothing to worry about on the issue of "libel," not least because her attention was drawn to the device when she was consulted on a remedy for a major failure of one unit which she identified the defect in design and created a solution to fix it, which then Willsenton implemented ("please tell the jury why, if it was OK already, as you say it was".) Willsenton then also improved the quality of the resistors and capacitors, some of which were under spec, and a choke, also under spec. She compared it to a Muzishare amp at the same price point, which is totally fair game for consumer review.

She isn’t offering engineering consulting services, so the point about professional credentials is moot. She is a skilled hobbyist AFAIK.

YT isn’t the only web venue where R8 modders are active, they are on AK, Reddit and probably other places I have not seen. I have seen other mods different from hers on YT as well.

Willsenton made improvements in component quality and resistor placement. The overall design as a KT88/EL34 push-pull octal tube design didn't change. The amp has been a successful product in its original production and will presumably continue with its un-announced improvements.

Companies are not required to create named editions of products, which should be obvious.

I just confirmed my R8 has a 180ma choke which I could see without removing the bottom plate. My resisters look the same as the ones in the video, so I’m thinking willsenton implemented these mods over time. But I can confirm there are revisions with at least some of the parts changing over time. Not sure if these result in sonic benefits but I’m more inclined to believe skunky in thinking the revisions should at least make the r8 a little more robust. ChinaHiFi is being a bit careful in their wording and should have acknowledged these changes regardless of whether or not they result in sonic benefits.