R800i 300B 845 Tube Single-Ended Class A Integrated & Power Amplifier Balanced XLR Input

As a self-professed audiophile and proud owner of some of the most revered high-end audio brands, I’ll admit—I was skeptical when I first heard about the Willsenton R-800i. I had never encountered the brand before, and despite my buddy's glowing recommendation, I remained unconvinced. But oh, how wrong I was.After several weeks with the Willsenton R-800i (featuring 845 tubes), I can confidently say this amplifier is nothing short of extraordinary. It has not only exceeded my expectations but has also earned its place among my all-time favorites, rivaling even my finest gears from McIntosh, Krell, and Manley—brands that command price tags many times higher.Let’s talk performance: the R-800i’s single-ended Class-A design delivers music with an emotional depth and tonal richness that bests nearly all of my cherished audiophile equipment. It’s not just an amplifier—it’s a musical experience that draws you in, immersing you in sound so pure and dynamic it feels alive.But for those of us who appreciate more than just sound, the R-800i is also a feast for the eyes. Beauty is a virtue, and this amplifier is a true work of art. Its craftsmanship and design are striking—elegant yet bold, it’s the kind of piece you’ll proudly display at the center of your home.The Willsenton R-800i has shattered my preconceptions and proven itself as one of the best-sounding amplifiers I’ve heard in years. For any audiophile seeking impeccable performance and timeless design without the sky-high price tag, this amplifier is an absolute revelation.Quality:The craftsmanship of the aviation-grade aluminum alloy is nothing short of extraordinary—precision-engineered, aesthetically flawless, and built to impress. This is a product of true perfection, with a substantial, premium weight that exudes durability and luxury.The inclusion of the ALPS audiophile volume control and copper RCA connectors speaks volumes about its commitment to excellence.What truly sets this product apart are the meticulously crafted German-made audiophile-grade speaker posts and CNC-machined copper RCA terminals—components typically reserved for elite brands like McIntosh and Manley. These are hallmarks of high-end, professional-grade equipment.The R-800i stands out as a masterpiece among tube designs. Its impeccable build quality, superior materials, and refined finish make it a product of enduring value and exceptional longevity—a true testament to the art of craftsmanship.Musicality and Listening:I have no instrument to measure the various parameters. My only tool is my pair of ears. I went through the same process of active listening and subjective judgments with all my other high-end gears of McIntosh, Manley and Krell. Nothing scientific. Very very personal and subjective.Listening test: As with all of my gears, I usually test drive them with some of my favorite tracks as I know what to expect and what to compare to.First, lets start with the overall impression of the soundstage: It is simply AMAZING!!!It is expansive and immersive. Its musicality extends beyond the left and right speakers. It also displays a sense of depth, front and back that I sometimes struggle to hear from many of my other high-end amps.On the track "Spanish Harlem", Rebecca Pigeon voice came through warm and sweet. In fact, the R-800i is so clean that I can hear that her voice simply breathed. I sensed the space in front and behind. She felt real. The common wisdom is that 845 tubes do not produce very deep bass. That is simply not true. In fact, the bass was robust and deep. I noticed the unambiguous placement of the percussion shaker (back in the sound stage). Each shake sounds slightly different, as evidence that the R800 resolved this fine detail. The string suite sound occupied the same acoustic space as the rest of the band. That was an impressive display of high resolution at its best. This is on par (and in some ways exceeds) some of my favorite gears like my McIntosh and Manley amps that I have owned for years.For further listening of midrange purity, I turned to my favorite track, Livingston Taylor's Grandma‘s Hands. The finger snaps made by the three soulful backup singers have that flesh and bone quality to them, just like our own's. Livingston‘s voice has a good sense of chest, very life-like, as I could hear that his body was contributing to his sound. This midrange musicality effortlessly came throught the R800i that many higher priced class A amps simply could not match.In Joe Henderson's "Ask Me Now", the R-800i made the sense of presence unambiguous. I could hear that Joe and his tenor sax appeared to the right of center between the two speakers, and it’s all there, his breath, the mechanical sounds of the keys and most important that warm burnished tone. The reflection off the back wall was noticeable. I could hear a virtual saxophone. I could almost see a man playing a sax in between those two speakers.The overall music from the R-800i, but especially the midrange, is nothing short of spectacular—vocals are rendered with striking intimacy and realism, making me feel that the singers are performing live in my home. I notice that acoustic guitars, pianos, and other midrange-focused instruments are presented with a tonal richness and detail that is quite mesmerizing. I listened to the R800i for hours and felt that its ability to balance clarity with warmth, making these long listening sessions fatigue-free, immersing me fully in the music.Power and efficiency:When paired appropriately with high efficient speakers like my B&W, the 30W per channel output is MORE THEN ENOUGH. It plays loud, very very loud.Support and LogisticsPackaging: Word class packaging. Protected the unit very well. Double boxed with adequate foam and rigid board protection. My unit was received with ZERO damage. The seller shipped the product timely and with care. Top notch.Warranty and Customer Service: I do not have any experience with their warranty as my piece is still very new and everything works perfectly. Super easy to set up and operate. I did contact their Customer Service for several follow up questions. Customer Service is super responsive and fast. They are staffed with very knowledgeable employees and are very eager to assist. If my initial rounds of interaction are any indication, I think their support department is world-class.

There is uncertainty about the best impedance set up for speakers. We are running 6ohm electrlstatic speakers on the 8ohm out. This a great tube amp. I wish there was more engineering data.Also, it would be nice to know more about passable tube configurations.

Volume control steps way to big . I use a separate pre-amp.

My right channel showed up dead. The communications from support eventually stopped so I ended up having to take the unit to a 3rd party for repairs. There a couple of nice reviews online, but I wouldn't take the risk based on the factory quality and the support.

I have owned a Willsenton R800i 845 for about 1.5 years and it has changed my audio life. I will never go back to transistor amplifiers again. There are some upgrades that could be made to this amplifier, but unless your system is pushing $25k+ I don't think you'll need to upgrade anything! When you do need to upgrade you can upgrade the fuses (made a big difference for me), the tubes (haven't tried this yet, will try a PSVane top-of-the-line), then the internal wiring and caps/resistors for the really brave.Anyhow, this is the amp to beat!

There is an authorized repair facility in Racine, WI for those who live in the states. You can verify this as well by going to the seller's/manufacturer's website. A previous "reviewer" chimed in and gave false information regarding this fact. Perhaps a bit of reading or an email to the manufacturer would have clarified this, instead of posting a misleading/false comment.

Amazing GO for it . Very happy about this item