Cayin, Line Magnetic, and Willsenton with 805 Feedback

@bannon

I am happy with the R8, but it is not the amp I bought (AMZ). I did about 3/4 of the Skunkie mods, upgrading the signal path capacitors and resistors and swapping out the stock choke. I left the mains voltage switch stock and same for the headphone jack, all of which Skunkie deleted, and I didn't bother rerouting the tube heater wiring. I swapped out all of the tubes for PSVane matched power tubes (KT88), higher-grade PSVane for the 6SN7 drivers and voltage regulator and NOS RCA 5691s for the stock 6SL7s in the preamp. The sound was never bad, but there was a noticeable improvement in detail with the better tubes. The power output with the R8 makes the use of the amplifier possible with several of my less sensitive speakers, something a SET amp would not do as well. For the money, it is a very good tube amp. I have not heard the Muzishare X7 which I have heard is very good and not needing mods.Since the Skunkie vids, Willsenton has made unannounced upgrades  to the bias boards and offers tube upgrades on order (upcharge).  Skunkie has gone further to swap out the output transformers for high-grade Japanese transformers. To me, the R8 is a great budget tube amp, and remains so as long as you keep the upgrades in check, but if you are going to buy the amp then do all the mods and change out the transformers, you are 3/4ths the way to a clean used Audio Research i/50 which is a much better amp.

It seems many people in this hobby are skilled in electronics either by profession or hobbyist experience so doing the Skunkie mods is well within their capabilities. Unfortunately, I wouldn't trust myself with a soldering iron anywhere near any of these rigs. Nonetheless, I enjoy reading about your experiences and thank you for the information.

I own the Willsenton R800i (805) and all I can say is that I can’t imagine going back to solid state. It’s my first tube amp and apart from this one I have basically zero listening experience regarding other tube amps. I’d love to A/B it with others to really know how the Willsenton performs, but that has not happened yet.
When it came out reviewers said that it is performing well above its price, but you know how to take excited youtubers’ opinions.
And whenever I had to go back to my entry-level Rotel and also when a friend left me his 15K SS-amp for a while I found myself pining for the sound of my amp. 
My speakers are Cornwall IVs.
Not sure if that helps, but if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.

Line Magnetics has a good reputation

+1 on Line Magnetics brand of Amps