Willsenton R8 - how good?
I had a chance to listen to a Willsenton R8 (with KT88 tubes, both in 'linear' and the'other' mode) after previously extensive listening to McIntosh MC2125.
It was my first real experience with a tube amp.
In 'experts' opinion, how good is the Willsenton R8 (in relative terms, i.e. in its competive bracket of other tube amps and solid state amps).
How do experts describe its 'sound'? How does the MC2125 sound?
I am trying to improve (or better, 'get back after 40 years') my 'listening skills'.
@arafiq thanks for your write up describing the differences between the R8, CM II and Blackhawk III. It’s so hard to know how to compare these different tube amps. I have an R8 and like it a lot, but get curious. It seems like I have a solid platform with the R8 and am better off tube rolling than getting a different amp. Or save up for an Audio Research amp. 🤔 |
In its price range, the Willsenton R8 is competitive and offers considerable audio value for money. I have done some of the modifications/upgrades shown on the Youtube "Skunkie Designs Electronics" series on the web, and they do further improve the amp and make it more reliable (mostly resistor and capacitor upgrades.) it is also possible to upgrade the stock tubes which also improves the sound. For about the same money there are other China-made KT88 push-pull designs putting out the same power and which do not need upgrades at least of the resistors and caps (Muzishare X7). So, the R8 is a good value, but not the only good value model. If you are interested in exploring tube sound and don't want to commit the kind of money that tube amps made elsewhere cost, it is a good place to start. If I were to move up from there, I might look at Margules or McIntosh, or used AR or VAC. |
I think @arafiq’s comments are spot on. Fantastic value tube integrated that will compete with tube amps up into the 5k range w the right tubes. I disagree on the power tubes being rubbish, with the spike in prices for tubes, I’ve gone back to the stock power tubes so that my gold lions last longer and I haven’t noticed much of a drop off in performance. They are definitely worth using. The stock Russian preamp tubes should be replaced first, one of mine was bad right out of the gate, so I replaced all 4 leaving only the middle one which I believe doesn’t have an impact on sound quality. That seemed worthwhile and they are much less expensive than power tubes. As for the Muzishare I prefer the 6sn7 to the mini tubes in the Muzi, I also don’t like its asymmetric look but that’s just a personal preference. Oh the Muzi doesn’t have a triode/ultralinear switch on the remote. I use that almost as much as the volume control because it has a huge impact on sound and like to play around with that setting. |
I must say, Ive been a fan of high end audio, since I was just 5 years of age, im 33 now and ive experienced a whole lot of good sound, with many different types of speakers over the years, I have a 120 watts rms x4 HK harmon kardon, I have an onkyo, I once had a super beast from japan, AKAI integrated amp. Ive had a pioneer solid state, and out of all the other amps ive heard and had, I have to honestly say that the wilsonton R8 is the best sounding amp ive ever had. Just loads of raw power given from the Japanese ISO tango transformer. and quality japanese caps and resistors. Even tho this was built in china, it definetly has high quality japanese specs, and was built with barely no expense spared. . |
