Open box Willsenton R8 KT88x4 Tube Integrated Amp Power Amplifier Headphon

I felt a little weary about purchasing an open box item from this store. After all, I could get a brand new one from Amazon for $1460. However, purchasing on this site you get it for $999 and no sales tax, no import duties, and free shipping! In fact, I had already purchased one on Amazon but it had an issue and needed to go back, so I thought why not take a chance at saving $460.00? It just seemed too good to be true but I could not resist the temptation. I took a chance and, boy, was I blown away. The open box amp arrived in one week. It was packed exactly like the new one and, once opened, a flawless amp was revealed--literally exactly like the new one. I saw no signs of use anywhere other than the tape on the plastic bags had obviously been reused. Further, it did not have the issue the new amp had (random muting). I was a little worried that perhaps I got an older unit, but in comparing the serial numbers, the open box one was only about 15 numbers prior to the new one. I basically got a brand new amp that sounds WONDERFUL for 33% off. This amp is a no-brainer at $1500. At $1,000, it is easily the greatest bargain in all of hifi and it's not even close. Keep in mind that while it sounds very good with stock tubes, be prepared to drop $400+ on new tubes because this thing gets elevated to ridiculous levels with upgraded tubes. In stock form, it competes respectably with $3k amps. After new tubes, you are in the realm of rare stuff in the $5k+ range. I could not be happier with the product and the open-box discount basically paid for new tubes. I was able to get the Gold Lion KT88 and Electro Harmonix el34 along with Tung-sol 6sl7 and vintage GE 6sn7 all for under $550. With these tubes in, this amp does all the things I have dreamed of. Ridiculously wide and deep sound stage. Recordings are not just holographic in placement, they sound "real". Literally it sounds like the band is in the room with you performing live. It's almost creepy how real it sounds. Of course the KT88 and EL34 have different presentations that favor different types of music and, while you could just get away with one set of power tubes, I wanted to have both to swap as needed. I find the EL34s preferable for everything other than music with large dynamic swings like hard rock or powerful orchestral pieces. The EL34s just try to do too much and your ears get overwhelmed with those types of tracks. Not the KT88s though. They just hit you with relentless power and punch and a detailed but more recessed midrange. Where the EL34s shine is in small acoustic arrangements and vocals. Think Jazz, folk, chamber music, less dynamic rock, r&b, etc. They feature sumptuously rich, warm yet detailed mids that are pushed to the forefront of the sound stage in a way that I have never experienced from a solid state amp. It is truly intoxicating. As an American, I take no joy in making these observations. If you want something like this that is American made, you have to drop well over $5k. It is clear the Chinese are kicking everyone's tails in manufacturing quality products for less. There are many examples of this that cover a broad range of industries, but this amp may be the best example yet. Bravo Willsenton. Bravo China Hifi. Everyone else- get your acts together. You can no longer just point fingers at Chinese products and laugh. They are for real. Maybe that's why we are tarrifing the hell out of them. We simply cannot compete. I didn't want to believe that but this ridiculous amp has made me a believer.