Hmm interesting. Cause yeah, I normally do these "live" and talk through what I am doing and what I am thinking. It's not as much of an instructional video but more educational if that makes sense?

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics yeah I get it. But this will be a way to monitize the series even more with parts kits and video ads. Example, video 1-2 could be the "Must do mods" and have a parts list for each video. videos 3-4 could be optional with parts kits as well. Then you can sell each parts bag for each video since some people may not want to do the optional upgrade. That way you can easily ship out parts kits too because you can have them premade up. I would personally lay the kit out, take a picture of it, then when using the part in the kit, circle it in red from the picture and then show you installing it.

If you did this I am a very likely customer.

I would buy your parts kits in a heartbeat, along with written assistance so I don't have to be watching all your great videos while I'm working on the amp. Thanks, again for a really great series. I appreciate all your hard work!!

Hi Skunkie, I made the first upgrade to my R8, the bias boards.I put the Mundorfs and Audio notes.As you said it is an audible change in sound.It is more clarity and precision.I am happy.I will do step by step the other modifications. It is an interesting fact with my Willsenton R8.I bought it last year in May from China hi-fi... and guess what? It has no headphone output! It is like they anticipated your opinion that in a tube amplifier like this the output headphone is not necessary ! I am sure the next R8's will be changed according to your ideas. Thank you again

Honestly, from the design flaws I have seen with other Wilsenton amps, I would not buy one of those assuming it was done right.

I'm so glad!

I would wear a Skunkie tube tee shirt. Just saying...

Glad you enjoy it! And I've honestly been tempted to buy one for myself.

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics if you have thought of buying one then I call that a hell of an endorsement.

It really is simple.

Yeah that's no issue, likely the power transformer was made for a higher voltage than you are using? Hard to say but enjoy!

Hold tight, their newer ones may have most of my upgrades! They shipped me a new version, I plan to do a video on it soon.

Have you reviewed the new version? What upgrades are done or missing?​​⁠@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics

Much appreciated!

Glad you like them!

Yep, very weird.

Did you replace the output transformers? I'm looking to but would like to know which part you bought and from where. A link to the output transformers online would be awesome.

I didn't but I too am curious if any other OT fit this amp.

No i didnt but contacted Lundahl in Sweden and very helpful guys… they want some 200 euros (each) for upgrading them.. not sure if i wanna spend more money on this amp atm.. if i do i let you guys know.

Thanks so much!

I'm doing one right now, the biggest issue is shipping these things is $$$$$

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics perhaps contact Willsenton and see if they would simply think to incorporate these mods, assuming they wouldn't add too much to their price. That would be the key. At under $2000, they have sort of hit the sweet spot many are willing to pay for a tube integrated amp.

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics I hear you ! Shipping would be at the owner's expense. Seems like a VERY HIGH VALUE service you can provide to your fans... Glad to hear you are able to do it.

No, several people have offered to send me broken ones to fix/review. The crazy high voltage scared me in a China made amp. I honestly draw the line at 550-600VDC

I seriously would think about at least adding those four 100K bias board resistors.

www.skunkiedesigns.com/r8-mods In the future this is something I could use some support from a viewer doing, as it's not something I am good at and I end up spending 5+ hours creating these BOMs (and they still end up with errors!)

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Thanks for your answer. Including errors on any list is my strong point, so I could help with that. Looks like I will have to figure that out myself, then.

Most likely

If this is the case could it be said that the stock resistor values found are suited to el34 tubes and that the upgrades you made are to better accommodate the "hotter" kt88s? I own an R8 and have replaced the stock kt88s with NOS SED "Winged C" el34s and the stock 6sl7 tubes with NOS milspec Sylvanias ($280 total spent). There is no question that this has made a significant improvement in SQ. I wonder if the reason for this is twofold, 1 being the superior tubes and 2 being more headroom or better suited values in the circuitry parts. BTW my amp is dead quiet, no hum to be heard on any input selected. Many R8 owners or prospective buyers may be turned off by your tests and while I do not doubt your expertise I still think the R8 represents great value and great sound for those who aren't blessed with unlimited funds. Cheers and thanks for your significant efforts!

Yeah I have no idea!

Go measure one like I did. I didn't calculate these, I measured them in the running amp.

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Please do some reading on LTP's (Long Tail Phase Inverters). The voltages at the two grid of a LTP are equal. For dc there is no current flowing through the resistor connecting the two grids so there can't be a voltage drop over it. And please take a look at the curves in a datasheet for the 6SN7. My guess is that the resistance of the voltage meter you used caused the measuring mistake. If the resistance of the meter is not extremely high, the current that starts to flow to ground through the 470K resistor connecting the two grids and through the meter will cause a voltage drop over the 470K resistor. I advise you to measure the voltage between the two pins of the LTP. You then will see that the voltage difference between them is zero.

Hit me up via my website, I might be up for it in a couple of months.

the only difference would be the way the primary side of the power transformer is wired, the windings would be in series instead of parallel. everything else is identical.

Unfortunately not. If someone wanted a built version but didn't trust their skills, I'd be happy to build one for them for the channel.

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics I can't swing it right now, but maybe someday...

No, it's just using the "front end" of your receiver as a pre-amp. The output wattage is whatever the tube amp has.

I was wondering who would be the first to notice. Yamaha KT100a open class kart racing engine from decades ago when we used to kart race .

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics A friend of mine used to race at Barnesville and was a protege' of Lynn Haddock.

Probably some Hashimoto would make sense.

Honestly, I don't and I never measured what was in the amp now, so can't make a recommendation other than I have personally used Hashimoto OT and they are excellent.

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics do you think you'll end up measuring what's in there when you take delivery of the unit that someone sent you recently?

A cleaner power supply is never a bad thing. Given when folks spend on audio gear, spending $30 for a choke seems like money well spent.

There already is a voltage drain on these caps via the voltage divider for the heaters.

no

I don't think they even make these in low enough voltage to be an issue, and value % isn't critical here.

Where and how to do the GNFB mods pls. Sorry im new to this.

I wouldn't. They are easy enough to remove,

No I can't. The problem is these parts come in and out of stock under slightly different part numbers, so then I get endless emails about "Will this one letter different part number with the same specs work?" Or "Can I use this brand of capacitor or resistor instead". Yes, this means you have to do a little bit of this work yourself.

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gqphY7WnzbGygGg.html

This isn't my amp. :)

Highly likely