Muzishare X7 vs Wilsenton R8: Testing and Objective Review 

There is nothing that would give me more pleasure, than for me to see you critically analyzing a Galion tube amplifier which is bein sold by Thomas and Stereo. From what i understand, they are being built by Doge, and though Thomas is by no means an engineer, he is foremost in the voicing of the amplifiers. So let us not be judgemental of all the reviewers that gave the Wilsenton amplifiers rave reviews. Because after all, they are only capable to judge using their ears, and you, with your technical skills for electronics. It is so fantastic to have this other assignment of these amplifiers. Who could ask for anything more. Skunkie, you are a great asset to the HiFi community! Please don't stop doing what you're doing. I wish i could afford to buy a gallion amplifier and send it to you to be assessed. I am sure it would do wonders for your channel and i hope guys like Thomas and Jay are watching your channel. I am sure it would be an eye opener for them. Or maybe, just maybe, Jay would be so quick to call you an imposter, as that's his favorite line.

You are a breath of fresh air Skunkie , you are honest and to the point , thank you 😀

Was close to buying an R8 after all the glowing reviews on RU-vid but never did. Kept hating that if you bought it through Amazon so you could buy a 3rd party extended warranty, you could not upgrade to the PSVANE tubes but had to get it with the stock tubes then buy the "upgrade" tubes separately. After seeing your review and comparison videos I'm glad I haven't bought one yet. The Muzishare X7 looks to be the "one". Just add about $400 in new tubes and be happy. This is also making me take a longer look at American made Black Ice Audio's offerings. Yes, more expensive for sure, but the old addage about "getting what you pay for..." generally applies. Thank you for your great videos.

I rarely comment on videos, but your entire series on the Muzishare has been beyond fantastic and really pushed me over the edge on this amp. Also: FINALLY someone commenting honestly on the phono stage! Time to build me an EAR834 instead!

Thank you so much for your suggestions on tubes that might suit this X7. Your recommendation comes across as genuine, knowledgeable, and without payola. Had this amp for 2 years and have been waiting for this video forever! Much appreciated!

I totally agree, shows the difference in two Chifi amplifiers. Thanks again in continuing your honest and instructive videos.

I was in china a few years ago and looked at both amps, i ended up getting the muzishare, yes i changed all the tubes and i love it.

Great video Skunkie! Really appreciate your work on this series of mods/repairs. 👍

Yup, I totally agree with your analysis of this amp. I've owned it for over 2 years now, and it sounds magical to me. Funny, I originally wanted this amp but for whatever reason I changed my mind and bought the R8. Then I read the dimensions of the R8 and realized that one wouldn't even fit on my shelf. So, I had to send the R8 back upon receiving it. What a hassle and expense! I shoulda stuck with my original choice! I also didn't like the buttons on the R8, but love the X7's toggle switches. Yup, this amp has brought me much pleasure over the past 2 years. Also, it's driving a pair of Elac Unifi Reference speakers that sound awesome. 85db sensitivity and this amp has no problem with them. I will take your advice on those tubes you mentioned when the time comes. Thanks, you made my day about this fantastic amp! Wish I could include a photo of my setup.

Great Review Skunkie! I wondered if the R8 was a superior amp to my X7 in sound and build quality. The X7 looks and sounds great! I have owned mine for 3 and 1/2 years without a problem. I will try the tubes that you suggested. Thanks for your work and reviews.

Great review and comparison Stephie and I have an R8 and loved your R8 series. Looks like an upgrade path.

I really enjoyed your series on the Willsenton R8. The R8 was my first integrated tube amp thanks to Jay, Thomas, the British Audiophile etc. I am happy with my R8 in my system as in this hobby I know there’s always something better. I will shoot for a Sun Valley 300B tube amp next from Japan. Keep doing the good things you do Stephanie👍👍

I just discovered this channel. Wow! What a great channel. I was considering buying a R8 or this X7. I was leaning towards the R8 after watching so many glowing reviews. But I'm so glad I watched this video first. This pretty much made up my mind for the X7 - though I am distressed to hear that the unit was sent with a mismatched set of tubes.

Hey Skunkie D! I enjoyed your explanation. As a novice who purchased my first amp recently, your video teaches some basics of the differences between amps. Instead of going with one of these big Willsenton's, I purchased a used PrimaLuna Dialogue 5 with Gold Lion KT 88 output tubes. It sounds good to me using 94 dB 3-way tower speakers. Maybe not as good as a low Watt 300B SET amp, but a great entry level amp with point-to-point wiring and adaptive autobiasing.

It's gonna upset a lot of R8 people .........don't be upset by that because this is aways the case when someone and you tell facts ....meaning telling the truth .........is the R8 bad ?....no but when something is better than it so be it ! Appreciate that you share YOUR experience even when every experience is personal.... By the way I use only ggod nos in all my vintage tube gear but new production in current production amplifers becvause usualynthey are generaly tuned or voiced with those new current production tubes which how it should be.... Advice to owners of tube amplifiers : If you did some tube rolling and chose tubes that work and sound good with your amplifier ..............Buy some stock NOW ! Have a great day everyone and thanks for sharing your exêrience .

Thanks for your honest opinion. I own an R8, bought it really cheap and I really like how it sounds. I am sure after the update it will sound even better. Just ordered the Shuguang tubes. A friend of mine bought the X7 , we had them side by side and honestly, kind of liked the R8 a bit more. After your review, will do a more thorough comparison, different speakers, etc. Still, your opinion is highly appreciated.

Great content! On the fence for tube amp, but I like your summary and choice of the X7. Got to love VU meters+glowing tubes.

Great series, thank you! The V3 and V4 bias switch labels are reversed compared to the adjustment pots, so ive seen a few people nearly cook their KT88s by adjusting rhe wrong pot. Noob error i know but i did it too 😄

Wow, just found your channel, and amazing honest review. thanks.

If you're not yet ready for a tube phono stage, the $150 Schiit Mani 2 sounds pretty good with MM's and MI's. I haven't tested the high gain MC setting.

Thank you so much for making this video. I bought this amp last year and I learned so much from watching this. You’re the best!

Wow, what a good day for me. I was all but ready to go for the R8, when this video was what popped up right after one I had been watching on the R8. RU-vid reviewers have in the main been most enthusiastic about the R8, yet not one had given the sort of information you do, and it's the information supplied by your good self that I wanted. I came across the Muzishare X7 on Amazon. I knew nothing about it, other than it appeared to be much like the Willsenton R8. I researched both and that led me here. So grateful for view and opinion and the R8 Vs. X7. I am not technically savvy with electronics but I enjoy music played on decent equipment. How kit is designed and put together matters to me, and it is just that information you have given me. I have subscribed, because of you giving myself and others a good insight into how well something has been designed and built. Thanks again, for a genuinely useful and informative video.

Subscribed! By far the most useful Review of a tube amp I have ever seen/read (I'm looking at you, big-name magazines).

The Muzishare X9 300B looks interesting now after hearing your review on this one. I'm tempted.

Great tips Skunkie, thanks! Just one bit I'd like to share. From my experience, rolling the rectifier does make an audible difference. I swapped a cheap 5U4G for a Cossor 274B and it wasn't subtle at all. More power to your channel Skunkie!

Another good new production tube combo I've found are Psvane Art series gold pin 12AU7s with a JJ E83CC frame grid tube in the 12AX7 slot . Haven't tried the EH gold pins yet but the above combo sounds great! My KT88s are from JJ.

I am so glad I waited and never bought the Willsenton R8. Thank you for your video!! 🙏🏼

Willing to give this amp a try . Had previously the Audio Innovations 500 & tube monoblocks from Shanling SP80c and for the moment the Magnat RV3 which is a hybrid. Line Magnetic LM210ia is also on my list as a contender.

I totally agree on new tubes sounding great! I will admit, that I am a sucker for old tube amps, because of the iron. I just love the sound of vintage output transformers

Du you have experience with the PSVANE BT KT88-Z? And if so are they comparable to the Shuguangs?

Just subscribed to your channel to get valuable updates, thanks for videos. I got my Cayin MT45mk3 runs on 4 KT88 as well and wonder if I shift to Muzishare x7 is just minor upgrade or just trade bad for worse? Mainly, I use to listen jazz in all variations, vocals, a bit a classical ones. Honestly, I shifted from solid-state Japan made Marantz pm8006 to m.a. tube Cayin and feel happy with new sound. Thanks and regards, Victor

thank you skunkie, for this great series on the Muzishare, appreciate your style very much. On the verge of buying one. Sad a bit too hear about the phono stage, only play vinyl ..:( well, will check affordable phono stage too hook up. And as a photographer loving the background :-) As a jazz fan loving the Lou Donaldson

Can't wait to see you digging in to the R300...!

I've had mine for a couple of years now and I love it. I agree with the phono stage, it'll do the job but definitely deserves better. I have Shuguang Treasure KT88-z power tubes, some RCA Clear Tops and a Mullard down the front. They sound really well together. I also tried a Gold Lion rectifier, but like you prefer the original Muzishare one. I'm looking forward to a coupling cap upgrade a little further down the line, but for now I'm more than happy I picked it over the R8

Those kt88-z black treasure are fantastic by the way. Had them a few weeks now and they are really sounding great. Thanks! Update. I got the electro harmonix gold like you said, but went with the psvane art 12ax7 for the centre. Sounds fantastic!

Hi nice to see you again. Watching your videos has taught me a lot about high end tube audio and now I realize I screwed up someone's McIntosh by recapping it with general purpose high quality caps that are used in recapping antique radios but at least it won't have DC leakage to the grids. I also realized that I could have left the di film originals in there I'm used to old TV repair and I didn't know better

Hi Skunkie, I just got the KT88-Z and on all of them there is a 30mA mark written by hand. Should they be biased according to that? Thanks! I appreciate your work very much!

Just bought the Muzishare . I haven't done any of your suggested mods although I am looking forward to it. Coming from Class D GAN, this is a revelation to me. There is sudden increase in base(without subs) and gain. I don't have to turn it up beyond the 20% mark. Although I am feeling that a lot of dynamics is lost. Even vocals seem to have lost it's body in some tracks. Perhaps this is still burning in..

Great stuff, loving your channel.🙂 Can I ask what those KT88's are, like the spelling and model so I can find as I'm in U.K please? I clicked the link, but didn't take me to the product, just the home page. Many thanks.👍🙂

heeyoo Stephe! I now have the complete set of tubes gold lion 12ax7, 12au7-EH gold pin and Shuguang KT88-Z treasure and its running since two hours now in my muzishare X7. In the beginning it was a bit smeared in the bass and heights but it already opened up and sounds great! To my surprise now UL sounds better than TR Mode. With the original tubes I only listended to TR Mode because in UL the separation wasn't that good and there wasn't that holografic imaging like in TR Mode. In UL mode with the original tubes the localization of voices was not really precise. Sure there was more bass impact in UL. Now it is completely different and I prefer now UL mode. It is really amazing after only two hours burn in!!! One question: shall I keep the 40 mA bias current like with the orignal stock tubes? Currently I adjusted them all to 40 mA. Read something in the web about driving the KT88-Z hotter with more bias current. I am not an expert in this things ... Greetings from Germany! Burki

What surprises me is how well the R8 was received by the community is spite of its design flaws. (I own one) If I had my time over, I would probably buy the Muzishare instead Thank you for a great video and series

Is it possible to gut the phono stage board out of the amp to make it a conventional line-level input?

This video is excellent. Thank you for the dedicated service you have provided to the hifi community. Just wondering, I had been just about to purchase the R8 (which I canceled upon watching this video, so thanks). When you compared the sound quality (R8 vs Muzishare x7) was this after you completed the mods on both amps? And we're you using the same tubes on both amps? Stocks tubes? Or your favourate tubes? Just wondering what your testing procedure was with both amps, Thanks again

Your practice using fusible cathode resistors with just-adequate rated power differs from Morgan Jones's practice using chassis-mounted, over-rated resistors. Your reasoning makes sense, but so does Morgan Jones's: get heat away from the sensitive cathode bypass capacitors. Comments? Great video, BTW!

Just great! Still would love to see you build an integrated amp with a tube preamp and the purifi eigentakt class-D modules, would be a nice project I think since you talked about doing some more solid state!

Stephe, I’ve recently bought the X7 amp in part because of your comments. For the tubes you recommend I understand you feel they were the best from those hours of A/B testing but what about them stood out so much better for you? Was it based on the type of music were you listening to? Thanks for your videos.

The R8 of Theseus. 😁 It is strange how the same factory can produce such varying quality products.

Thank​ you​ for​ your​ review​ and​ ways of improvement of​ the​ X7.​ You​ mentioned​ possibilty of​ El34 tube​ rolling. Is​ it​ simply adjusting the​ bias​ only?​ Or​ some​ mod needed? Thanks.

Very well explanations

Hi, I am thinking of upgrading my phono stage. There appear to be a lot of EAR 834 clones. I didn't catch your video on the EAR 834 clones. Which one do you like the best/recommend?

Great informative video. I was interested in one of those but I was wondering if it can handle 4 ohm speakers? Thanks

I own a R8 and accidentally left the power on one night and red plated a set of Upgraded tubes. Now, I have a bad cap or two causing a buzz and am having a hard time finding a local tech to replace them.

I really enjoyed your review. Do you have a better recommendation at this price point or should I go with this X&? Thanks.

Heeyoo Stephe, one question: how long were the KT88-Z burned in as you tested them in the X7?

I have seen the Muzishare X7 with XLR input. My question is it really balanced or is it fake and basically just unblanced RCA underneath?

The MuziShare sounds like a good amp, and I do prefer having tube rectification rather than solid state, but also, the Muzishare X7 is a bit more cost than the R8, so it depends on where your budget falls, especially if you plan tube rolling. Rolling all the new tubes into this ends up costing almost the price of the entire amp just for new tubes. If you are going to roll in expensive tubes, it might be worth adding up the price of the tubes, and the amplifier, put it all together and get a higher quality amplifier that already has the higher end tubes in it from the factory. If you're spending over $2000 on the amplifier, plus all the tubes (which is possible) you may be better off going with a brand name, locally made tube amp.

China-Hifi-audio is selling returned, but new muzishare x7 amps from Canada and USA at a $285 discount. Any reason why we should be careful and just buy unopened muzishare x7? Thanks

First, I dont have the R8 or the X7. I’m nust curious that in our city, there are more X7 being resell in the use market than the R8. There was even this guy who got an X7 in 3 times for the past 10 months and the last one he sell with Gold Lion KT88 just a month ago. By my observation on the online selling in our city. In 10 months time there were 8 units if X7 sell as used and sold. The R8 was only 1 unit sell as used and sold. Skunkie, I know your technical know how is excellent than other YT reviewers. And even before I watched your comparison between the R8 and X7. And with my little know how about electronics. The first time I look at the inside parts of these 2 amps, I can see that the X7 have better craftmanship and parts. I’am just in a limbo on how these amps are selling in the used market.

Is the Muzishare good with power hungry Magnepan LRS?

Line Magnetic builds this amp so no surprises here!

The content is great

What about the single big tube there (GZ34 i guess)?You did not mention that one...Does it have effect on sound?

Have you looked at the Galion TS 120 ?

Im disappointed to hear that my R8 is not all it was built up to be. But, I have all the caps and resistors to rehab the R8 and I think its going to be fun and educational. If you could Skunkie, please advise me on how to test the KT 88s for matching. I had one PSVane '88 replaced under warranty and I'm not confident that this quad set is, or ever was matched. Thank you for your honest opinions and great channel

Can you identify which KT88 tubes you used?

Great show love seeing you every time

Surprised by this video. I purchased a R8 two years ago. Sounds great to me, no problems whatsoever.

I was not aware that Muzishare seems to make better tube amps than Wilsenton, or at least based upon the two amps compared in this video.

Good revelation, thank you before I purchase Willsenton.

Howdy. Great. However. I would argue the star topology grounding is not the way. I would say the minus/ground should be a bus topology. The ground bus should be a separate wire running from stage to stage in the order of the schematic. The bus connects to the filter cap. at one end and to the input jack ground lug at the other. The input jack ground is the only conection to the chassis. And observe that the filter cap should be mounted with reinforced insulation to the mounting collar. The cap. must be floating regars the chassis. The bus should be a rather thick wire. Mandatory bus bends should be done as shallow as possible and with as large a bend radius as possible to minimize bus impedance The end tube cathodes should have dedicated wires to the filter cap. So Yes. The end tubes grounding is a star topology. Using all star topology would mean that all interstage signal returns would detour via the star point, where the strong end tube signals also reside. A recipe for hum and oscillations if I was asked. Regards.

Now do the R800i ?!?

What about KT 77

When I can muster the courage to confront myself and confess my errors ( yes I bought two willsentons) What a freaking mess I found your channel about four months ago and it’s been brutal… I believe you I just don’t know what direction to go right now

Would you trust - I asked the seller (who asked the mfr) whether KT88 are now matched, and they said: Yes Else many thanks! Think I watched this video 5 times..

Please reach out to Louis Rodmann , I think you could be Verry helpful to the right to repair movement . Simply because you’re Chanel talks to your audiences in a way that simply believes once you buy something you own it & you can do what you want with it .

Great video, except for the fact I once again want to empty my wallet. Well, I do have a good amount of Amazon credits built up, so I have that going for me 🙂 I wonder, is upgrading the phono stage worthwhile or are there phono amps within the same price to performance available. Thank you Skunkie!

Line Magnetic LM 216 will beat them all)

It looks like a Mercedes and has the guts of a Yugo Perfect… No

Love to see you swap EL 34's on one of these someday!

Will you please let me know if the Musishare X9 ? Is it decent ? For phono