Buyer Reviews/ Photos
Eric Moskal
An amazing integrated tube amplifier and an audiophile bargain
Following Hi-Fi blogger Steve Huff’s review of the Oilily 300B, I acquired the brand’s 211 integrated tube amplifier—my first domestically produced audiophile component. Remarkably, the $1,500 price tag includes a complete set of tubes (a new matched set of 211 tubes alone exceeds $2,000), offering astonishing value for money.
The double-layered packaging arrived intact, and upon unboxing, I was immediately struck by the high-quality craftsmanship: flawless lacquer finish and superb textured anodised brushed aluminium surfaces. Setup proved straightforward, allowing me to directly replace my low-power Dennis Had Inspire amplifier with its 45 tubes.
Playing familiar tracks upon power-up, its performance far exceeded expectations: precise imaging, exceptional transparency, a soundstage both wide and deep, moving midrange, ethereal highs, and tight, well-defined bass with ample extension. Its impact far surpassed the mere 2-watt output of the Inspire. Most remarkably, it remains utterly silent when idle – even pressing close to the high-sensitivity drivers reveals no background noise whatsoever, testifying to its solid design and superb tube quality.
jbwelda
OililyA88MK Chi-Fi at its finest, this rivals McIntosh amplifiers 3 - 4 X its cost.
arrived much sooner than promised. Really nice tube amplifier, I gave it to my tech to check out before I started using it, he examined it and began burning in the tubes to check to see if it would continue to operate as it should as it breaks in, all went well so he turned it back over to me. I have been playing it nonstop since, I believe tubes need a hundred hours or so of signal to really break them in enough to make a valid evaluation and so far this thing sounds and looks as good as it could, rivaling amplifiers 3X its cost. To me, at this point, this is the deal of the century. Packed in abuse-proof packaging, this baby really is good value for money. Will be seeing how it works over time but my tech assured me it looks to be made of high quality components, all clearly marked and not cheap crap, and said if any problems develop, short of losing a transformer or something, this amp is very repairable but looks to not be needing any work anytime soon. Might try tube rolling especially the first stage tubes, but for now am completely happy with the performance and looks of this beast.
Ana Mee
Superb sound quality, aesthetically pleasing appearance
This amplifier’s distinctive feature lies in delivering 14W + 14W Class A single-ended power. It affords me a smooth, rich and warm sonic character. Whether playing vinyl records or digital music, this amplifier brings my system to life with pristine clarity, preserving the original integrity of the source. It prioritises not only sonic excellence but also timeless, stylish design. The metal casing enhances durability while adding a touch of elegance to any audio setup. Whether displayed in the living room or integrated into a home cinema system, this is a masterpiece whose aesthetics match its performance. Featuring 4Ω/8Ω speaker outputs and high-fidelity audio reproduction, it is engineered for audiophiles pursuing exceptional sound quality.
pablo
Outstanding, great value, magical 300b sound. If you know, you know.
I wrote a detailed review for this but I just realized I got the new product. Upgrades include 16 ohm output, pre in input (which seems to be just max volume, it doesn’t disconnect the pre amp tubes or lower the input level, which it should if you are TRULY ELIMINATING THE PREAMPLIFIER SECTION).The remote is the nicest remote I’ve ever owned.Doesn’t do much, but handy to mute or lower volume from the couch.Drives my 91 db Focals very nicely.Prefer the sound compared to my Schiit Vidar for acoustic, jazz.
John Doe
Excellent, beautiful and sounds heavenly.
This is a truly Fantastic one source 300b amp. Had mine for several weeks and it’s silent as a mouse and sounds divine. This is a steal of a deal for a Beautiful and well made 300b amp. I also own other tube amps and some pricey solid state amps, and for the last few weeks this one has been my fave. You will need speakers that are sensitive to enjoy what this amp can do. The sound is magical with female Vocals as well. This amp brings the tube sound you’re looking for. I have been comparing it to a USA made 300B amp that has a retail price that is 4X greater than the Oilily. Honestly, they sound 99.5% the same, the Oilily is silent where the USA made amp has a slight hum. Also been experimenting with tube rolling and this can also improve the sound of the amp but it sounds amazing stock, right out of the box. A bargain is what this amp is and it delivers the true 300B sound (large soundstage, holographic, a bit airy and eery female vocal realism). This amp does well with any music I throw at it from metal to rock to jazz, bluegrass and even modern pop and ambient style music.