Willsenton R8: Fixing Lead Dress and Grounding Faults #2.

[@mfr58]

Anyone not doing your mods is really missing out on a relatively cheap and significant upgrade in reliability and sound quality....great work!

[@tryintobesoquiet]

The owner should be happy you’re taking the time to do this right!

[@augustonorona9717]

Best of the best for DIY'rs & newbie audiophiles! YOU ARE THE BEST. Thank you!

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Wow, thanks!

[@kevinmonceaux2101]

The more of your videos I watch, the more adventurous I consider getting. At this point, I'm not sure if my first tube amp will be a store bought amp with the intent to modify it as needed down the road, or a DIY amp from scratch. I like the idea of starting from scratch and controlling the quality of all the parts that go into it, layout, etc. If I wire an amp from scratch, or modify the wiring layout of an store bought amp, I might be inclined to attempt cable lacing with lacing cord instead of using those new-fangled zip ties. I've watched a few lacing videos, including Sarah's video on the Connections Museum channel. I love the vintage look of laced cables.

[@moon-light1354]

Can't wait to for your final update on the mods....👍

[@bryanshaw8684]

Thanks so much for your hard work and brilliant ideas for this amp Stephe. I just finished up all your mods in the series, and it sounds fantastic and I feel good knowing how much cleaner everything is in there!

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Have fun!

[@roroseppel2077]

a really neat job ! Keep on with such series !

[@willsimpson6001]

What a great series! Thank you for your well thought out modifications to this popular amp. And thanks for your dedication to the tube amp community. You’ve really got me interested in your other projects now!

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@crimsonghost6454]

Phenomenal work as always. Love this series

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@ja8020]

Great series Stephe. Thanks for your time and insights. I've got the upgrade itch and have been checking out cap pricing :)

[@joeritota9073]

You do such awesome work!! I love watching your channel.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Thank you!

[@andrewcohen8734]

Fantastic content and much appreciated. Will you be posting the component specifications for each R8 video? This would be a great help. All the best

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

That's the plan!

[@radicalaudiodesign]

Millions thanks 🙏 looking forward for that tweaking of GFB🤓🤓

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Working on it right now!

[@radicalaudiodesign]

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics You’re the best 😍

[@cobar5342]

Great stuff, Stephe.

[@axlincasuma]

Skunkie! Thank you for these videos. Here is some info, my amp also has that hum at mid volume but not Max or min levels. I am waiting for some spares to come in so I decided to go for the re grounding first, I did most of it and the hum is still there but at a lower level. I will report back when I replace caps, choke and resistor. The re grounding was a challenge but I managed to get it done. Thanks again!

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Thanks for sharing! Did you redo the heater wiring too?

[@axlincasuma]

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics I did, the red and yellow that goes through the center, I had to figure that one out as my amp is wired differently a bit. I removed the headphone jack, the jumpers from the KT88, I did all the grounds and re wired the heater through the center, the red and yellow loop. I didn’t re wired the adaptors for the KT88 as I believe you did, that one was above my skills.

[@anhdangduc1061]

Great video as usual. Im looking forward to the measurements. Btw my R8 arrives just 2 hours ago thanks to your videos on the amp.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@anhdangduc1061]

Rest assured in a year I’ll start your 300b project. Everyone needs a 300b right 😂

[@anhdangduc1061]

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics regarding the amp, they forgot to include the “be careful high voltage” protective plate in my case haha.

[@axlincasuma]

@@anhdangduc1061 I got mine around 8 months ago and it also doesn’t have the plate, cutting corners?

[@anhdangduc1061]

@@axlincasuma ​ I think the factory just forgot about it. Mine did come with 500v power caps instead of 450v.

[@joesapereira5539]

Really enjoyed this series and looking forward to the final review and measurements. As I have mentioned before, I am pretty new to tubes and mods (been mostly playing around with Class D amps) but would like to dip my toes in tube land. Since I have no experience with these types of amps, and don't have the testing equipment you have, should I buy one of these and make the mods, or should I dive in head first and build out your 300B?

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

A lot depends on your speaker sensitivity and the size room you are listening in, which determines your power requirements.

[@joesapereira5539]

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Thanks Stephe. Speaker sensitivity is around 94db. I am building a line source with planar drivers and the amp will only run those from 200hz and up. I am still trying to find something for the lower frequencies but that will have it's own power. The room will be 15 by 30 by 9 high and it will double as my theater room.

[@sean_heisler]

This has been a great series and I don’t even own this amp. Can I ask you, what are your main speakers and how efficient are they? Thanks!

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Klipsch RP600M at 93db, some rate them closer to 91db. I also have a pair of Klipsch Chorus rated at 101db, but I honestly I like the sound from the smaller RP600M better. My listening space is too small for those Chorus speakers.

[@richm4402]

Thanks for a great series ! How about replacing the fake alps volume control lol

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Gotta draw the line somewhere. lol

[@UptownReef]

Another great video! What is the official name for the tack strip you used? Can’t find it on Mouser

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

"Terminal strip" Here is a mouser # for one that will work. I'm not sure they have the exact one I used. 534-846TS

[@Warclock07]

Great series that I have learned to apply to my other amps. After all these mods, does the sensitivity increase?

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

No and the power is the same as well.

[@TheBigfoot567]

So, is this the last vid for the R8.?? One last vid for scope results?? thx

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

2 more to come, patience please :)

[@TheBigfoot567]

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics "I've had it for a month "...if I could be so lucky. I've got an old tube Magnovox console into a shop in Abilene (hour + drive each way). I think it's been 6 months now. And I went to him, since another shop nearby had my vintage Sherwood 1959 era....for NINE months!! Jeeesh.

[@johnjackson7162]

Will you be disclosing your 8 Watt SE amp?

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

I listen mostly to the 6SN7/300b or the 6SQ7/EL34 amps I built on this channel.

[@alaingingras7224]

I hope Willsenton is watching...Cause with all the mods that are needed , who that sees this still want to buy one? As is?! I wonder what surprises are in their 211/805/845 amplifiers?

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

probably very similar ones.

[@pguttad]

can i have your site? thank you

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

www.skunkiedesigns.com/

[@GREGBT69]

When I get mines I know where I'm going to