Willsenton R800i 300B 805 Tube Single-Ended Class A Integrated Amp

[SIY]

How do you get bass frequency distortion on a solid state amp?

Lousy circuit, no loop feedback, weedy power supply.

 

[DanielT]

How do you get bass frequency distortion on a solid state amp?

See @SIY answer above.

In any case my post was just a few different suggestions.

Creating distortion can be done via a plug in, see #39.
By the way, it delivers what it is supposed to deliver. Here the manufacturer @pkane about it; page 41, #803:

What electronic audio products you want tested most

Would like to see a new set of headphones (reasonably priced) reviewed. MEZE AUDIO 105 AER | Wired Over-The-Ear Lightweight Audiophile Open-Back Headphones Regards, Greg

audiosciencereview.com

 

[AdrianusG]

I'm seriously considering purchasing a Willsenton R800i 300B 805 Tube Single-Ended Class A Integrated Amp for my Braun L8100HE speakers. This will be a change from my Tandberg 3012. My questions are: i) Is the sound of the stock tubes good (acceptable) without tube rolling? ii) How long will the stock tubes last prior to having to purchasing new ones?
This is a want from a long lost purchase I didn't make when I heard the Dynaco ST-70 back in the 70's.
Thank you for any input...

Okay, so you have a solid state amp that works (still) just fine, and you want to replace that with tubes, why do you want to add more distortion?

Like suggested here already, look for other/better speakers instead

 

[DanielT]

More rewarding and fun is to keep the Tandberg 3012 amp and buy some used speakers and test them.Preferably a well-known speaker brand/model (to make it easier to figure out a reasonable used price).

Here are some, which I know what a reasonable used price for them is (in Sweden anyway). I deliberately choose quite different speakers. All with a used price that TS has the wallet for.

Larsen 8

Wharfdale Linton 85th including stand

Quad ESL57

HECO DIREKT

HECO DIREKT

De här högtalarna har en känslighet på 95db. Passar utmärkt till både transistor och rörförstärkare. Det finns många positiva tester att läsa. Vänligen Peter 0706371371

hifitorget.se

Old electrostats like Quad ESL57 should really be checked for condition before buying. Others, for the right price just buy and test.
Wharfdale Linton 85th is an ASR favorite and very popular even outside ASR circles.

 

[MaxxC]

I'm seriously considering purchasing a Willsenton R800i 300B 805 Tube Single-Ended Class A Integrated Amp for my Braun L8100HE speakers. This will be a change from my Tandberg 3012. My questions are: i) Is the sound of the stock tubes good (acceptable) without tube rolling? ii) How long will the stock tubes last prior to having to purchasing new ones?
This is a want from a long lost purchase I didn't make when I heard the Dynaco ST-70 back in the 70's.
Thank you for any input...

 

[MaxxC]

I'm seriously considering purchasing a Willsenton R800i 300B 805 Tube Single-Ended Class A Integrated Amp for my Braun L8100HE speakers. This will be a change from my Tandberg 3012. My questions are: i) Is the sound of the stock tubes good (acceptable) without tube rolling? ii) How long will the stock tubes last prior to having to purchasing new ones?
This is a want from a long lost purchase I didn't make when I heard the Dynaco ST-70 back in the 70's.
Thank you for any input...

I'm seriously considering purchasing a Willsenton R800i 300B 805 Tube Single-Ended Class A Integrated Amp for my Braun L8100HE speakers. This will be a change from my Tandberg 3012. My questions are: i) Is the sound of the stock tubes good (acceptable) without tube rolling? ii) How long will the stock tubes last prior to having to purchasing new ones?
This is a want from a long lost purchase I didn't make when I heard the Dynaco ST-70 back in the 70's.
Thank you for any input...

 

[MaxxC]

I'm seriously considering purchasing a Willsenton R800i 300B 805 Tube Single-Ended Class A Integrated Amp for my Braun L8100HE speakers. This will be a change from my Tandberg 3012. My questions are: i) Is the sound of the stock tubes good (acceptable) without tube rolling? ii) How long will the stock tubes last prior to having to purchasing new ones?
This is a want from a long lost purchase I didn't make when I heard the Dynaco ST-70 back in the 70's.
Thank you for any input...

Late to the party. This could be valuable to anyone considering the Willsenton R800i.

I own the Willsenton R800i with the 805A tubes. The 48 wpc version and have some experience with Tandberg receivers

My first time in high End I had it down to a Tandberg or Yamaha receiver. I chose the Yamaha which I loved but after hearing a Tandberg it was the wrong choice I Tandberg just sounded sweeter

I’ve owned a couple of Tube Amps about the same price as the Willsenton and Solid State Class A. The Willsenton is just in a different League. Jay Yagi a long time reviewer. On YouTube Said why spend 20k on an amp if you can get the same sound out of a 3k Willsenton. Probably a little hyperbole

I hesitated on the Willsenton for a while. I was looking to upgrade from a Jungson Class A solid state that puts out 80 watts per channel and has a lot of current. Turns out the 805 tubes run in Class A are brutes It matched and even slightly exceedded the solid state Class A in Dynamics, Slam and Bass. It don’t play quite as loud as the 80 watt Class A but it’s close. It had no trouble driving some 90db efficiency speakers to loud volume in a 22’x14’ room

You don’t have to roll a single tube. It’s a Rockstar right out of the box If you do roll
Just one tube do the 6SN7 After a full tube roll those made the greatest difference. As other reviewers have noted it’s wonderful with stock tubes. But responds very well to tube upgrades

It totally slams with the likes of Dire Straight, Aerosmith and even Black Sabbath. I believe anyone can greatly enjoy this amp regardless of their taste in music.

Take care

 

[MaxxC]

One more point. The better the speaker the better the sound obviously. But I’ve tried several pairs of speakers in the $300-700 price range Floorstander to minimonitor. It’s simply amazing what you can get out of pair of $300 speakers,

 

[DanielT]

Late to the party. This could be valuable to anyone considering the Willsenton R800i.

I own the Willsenton R800i with the 805A tubes. The 48 wpc version and have some experience with Tandberg receivers

My first time in high End I had it down to a Tandberg or Yamaha receiver. I chose the Yamaha which I loved but after hearing a Tandberg it was the wrong choice I Tandberg just sounded sweeter

I’ve owned a couple of Tube Amps about the same price as the Willsenton and Solid State Class A. The Willsenton is just in a different League. Jay Yagi a long time reviewer. On YouTube Said why spend 20k on an amp if you can get the same sound out of a 3k Willsenton. Probably a little hyperbole

I hesitated on the Willsenton for a while. I was looking to upgrade from a Jungson Class A solid state that puts out 80 watts per channel and has a lot of current. Turns out the 805 tubes run in Class A are brutes It matched and even slightly exceedded the solid state Class A in Dynamics, Slam and Bass. It don’t play quite as loud as the 80 watt Class A but it’s close. It had no trouble driving some 90db efficiency speakers to loud volume in a 22’x14’ room

You don’t have to roll a single tube. It’s a Rockstar right out of the box If you do roll
Just one tube do the 6SN7 After a full tube roll those made the greatest difference. As other reviewers have noted it’s wonderful with stock tubes. But responds very well to tube upgrades

It totally slams with the likes of Dire Straight, Aerosmith and even Black Sabbath. I believe anyone can greatly enjoy this amp regardless of their taste in music.

Take care

If you are happy then it is peace and joy so to speak. I am not going to get into the discussion thread about price-performance tubes vs solid. People do as they please. It is a hobby after all.

A Harman Kardon Citation II in good condition, (mentioned in #34), in good condition would have been fun to listen to.

I am keeping to a lower financial level. I am thinking of buying, not because I have any real need, but mostly because of the nice VU meters, a used Hitachi HMA- 6500.
Around $120. It is with my electronics-savvy friend now. It doesn't seem to need any recap. Completely silent transformer (I hate humming old transformers).

Some pictures of that power amp:

 

[MaxxC]

If you are happy then it is peace and joy so to speak. I am not going to get into the discussion thread about price-performance tubes vs solid. People do as they please. It is a hobby after all.

A Harman Kardon Citation II in good condition, (mentioned in #34), in good condition would have been fun to listen to.

I am keeping to a lower financial level. I am thinking of buying, not because I have any real need, but mostly because of the nice VU meters, a used Hitachi HMA- 6500.
Around $120. It is with my electronics-savvy friend now. It doesn't seem to need any recap. Completely silent transformer (I hate humming old transformers).

Some pictures of that power amp:
View attachment 531343View attachment 531344View attachment 531345View attachment 531346View attachment 531347View attachment 531348View attachment 531349

The Citation was one of the best. I’m sure it’s still sounds great.

 

[MaxxC]

The Citation was one of the best. I’m sure it’s still sounds great. I think the Sansui used some proprietary parts that can’t be replaced with new parts. Design was different and a little complicated. Some shops that do vintage repair won’t service them. But it might be Hitachi. Either way a fully functional Hitachi at $120 is an absolute steal. Some people want a new Camaro I’m Happy with my 12 year old car. We all have different priorities how we spend our money. Thank for not going there BW take care.

 

[AdrianusG]

If you are happy then it is peace and joy so to speak. I am not going to get into the discussion thread about price-performance tubes vs solid. People do as they please. It is a hobby after all.

A Harman Kardon Citation II in good condition, (mentioned in #34), in good condition would have been fun to listen to.

I am keeping to a lower financial level. I am thinking of buying, not because I have any real need, but mostly because of the nice VU meters, a used Hitachi HMA- 6500.
Around $120. It is with my electronics-savvy friend now. It doesn't seem to need any recap. Completely silent transformer (I hate humming old transformers).

Some pictures of that power amp:
View attachment 531343View attachment 531344View attachment 531345View attachment 531346View attachment 531347View attachment 531348View attachment 531349

Amps (with VU meters at that!) & Beer, always a good combination

 

[JohnnyAudio]

I don't know about the R800i but the R8 is junk. Everything that Skunkie warned about happened, it smoked in front of my eyes.