For Sale Willsenton R8 Integrated Amplifier (Valve)

Further Information

Willsenton R8 – EL34 integrated amplifier with 14 tubes (six NOS) in addition to to the original Willsenton tube complement of 9 tubes. This comprises four Groove Tubes GT-EL34M Medium Duet Matched Power Amp Valves (8 tubes) plus three NOS NIB Sylvania 6SL7GT VT-229 Construction, Black Plate tubes plus three NOS NIB Sylvania 6SN7GTB tubes (8/18/59) in original boxes.

This Willsenton R8 purchased in August 2023 is in perfect condition and still under warranty with a total of 300 hours running time. I liked the improvement in sound compared to my more expensive solid state amplifier so much that I rushed out and purchased the NOS tubes as recommended on the SNA forum. After reading the respected Brent Jessee’s recommendation on audiotubes.com, “To date, the only current-production tube that comes close to the legendary Mullard quality and sound is the new Groove Tubes Mullard XF2 reissue, the EL34M”, I eventually tracked down two matched quads of these hard-to-find tubes.

There are many great reviews online e.g., Steve Huff, and you can read 576 pages on the Willsenton Owners and Discussion Thread, so no end of places to get an understanding of this amp.  

It truly is a great sounding amp and the Willsenton R8 was a great introduction to the world of tube amps and tube rolling. Unfortunately, I gave in to the desire to hear what a SET 300B amp sounded like and now my McChanson 300B is my “forever” amp as the synergy between it, my Klipsch horn speakers and the irregular shaped room creates the best sound I have known.

My partner has the strange idea that there is such a thing as “too many amps” and "too many tubes" for an amp that is not being used, so I am putting this complete package up for sale so someone else can enjoy the magic of tube amps with highly sensitive speakers.

Willsenton R8 Features:
• Pure hand-made, Point to point manual welding.
• Uses a square power transformer specially developed for this machine.
• The output transformer uses two high quality wideband EI output transformers.
• The preamp stage uses one 6SN7 for power supply filtering.
• The voltage amplification stage and the driver stage use two pairs of 6SL7 and 6SN7 tubes, respectively.
• The power amp stage uses four KT88/6550/EL34 tubes for class AB Push-pull power amplification.
• Triode and ultra-linear selection are available.
• External independent BIAS-ADJ current display header.
• Infrared full-featured remote control.
• Use thick silver-plated signal leads.
• With pure post-level function, it can be connected to independent preamplifier signal input.
• Power on mute delay function, soft-start feature to prolong tube life (about 30 seconds).
• Select Japanese ALPS high-end motor potentiometer.
• Easy-to-install plug-in tube cage cover.

Rated output power:
        25W+25W (RMS triode working state) (KT88, 6550EH or EL34)
        45W+45W (RMS ultra-linear working state) (KT88, 6550EH)
        40W+40W (RMS ultra-linear working state) (EL34)

One matched quad of Groove Tubes GT-EL34M Medium have 100 hours on them while the other quad is still in the original boxes and never used.

Two of the NOS Sylvania 6SL7GT and two of the NOS Sylvania 6SN7GTB tubes have 200 hours on them and the other NOS Sylvania 6SL7GT and NOS Sylvania 6SN7GTB tubes have been spares and never used.

The Willsenton EL34 tubes have 200 hours on them while the Willsenton 6SL7 and 6SN7 tubes have 100 hours on them.

All original invoices, instructions for the amp, remote control and associated paperwork are available.

The amp alone weighs 26kg so pickup from the Surf Coast, Geelong or Melbourne CBD is preferred, but shipping can be arranged at purchaser’s expense.

Any questions please ask.

Thanks