Oilily 300B Tube Integrated Amp IS CRAZY Affordable.
By Steve Huff
The full video review has much more info than this quick written review!
Quick Written Review – Click here to check Stock Status at Amazon
So a few weeks ago I went in blind and ordered a 300B integrated tube amp from Amazon. It was set as “prime” and said it could be at my door within 3 days. The cost? Just $1,099 for a full blown 300B tube amp with all tubes included. Now this amp didn’t look like one of those cheap crappy models that litter Amazon (there are a few great amps on amazon, many bad) as it had an automotive quality paint job. It had a unique design and even VU meters. It looked like vintage but with class as well. It reminded me of the quality integrated amps of past and I had a feeling this one may be really good, so I jumped and purchased at full price with my own money. No one sent this to me for review. I decided if it was good I would talk about it and if not then it would end up like the few other amazon amps from China that I returned and never did review.
There was no risk here as if it was subpar or had issues, I would simply return it and get a refund from Amazon. Mine was shipped from Amazon as there was stock when I placed my order.
I spent the $1099 plus tax and shipping and hoped for the best. The last time I ordered a 300B integrated amp from Amazon it showed up with noisy tubes and a broken input selector dial, and I spent $4300 after shipping and tax as it was a “Made in USA” model, go figure. It went right back, without a review and I was refunded. I expected the Oililly to see the same fate as it seems more miss than hit with some of these lower cost Chinese made amps.
The Oilily 300B Integrated Amplifier
The amp showed up and was packaged perfectly with the tubes installed but protected with custom foam and the metal cage that ships with the amp. The amp was hefty in feel but not a back breaker in weight. I’d guess this amp comes in at around 30lbs or so but I could be off. This is an integrated amp without any digital bits inside so it is a pure Analog integrated amplifier. It only offers one source input though, so it is perfect for a streaming setup or maybe an all analog vinyl deal. Did I mention that 300B tubes and vinyl go together like peanut butter and jelly? Yea, they do.
After I unboxed and set up the amp I was ready to hear the first tunes. To be honest, all I had to do was take the foam piece out and plug it in as the tubes come installed and secure. I unplugged the tubes to see the quality of the connection and to make sure there was no loose goose parts and all was good and solid so the tubes were plugged back in.
The rest of the system was ready to go as well and consistent of the following:
- My O Audio Icon 12 Speakers
- A Fezz Equinox DAC
- A Node Icon Streamer going into the Fezz
- Nordost Valhalla Speaker cables and $39 Interconnects from Amazon.
- A Vinshine Audio Tai Heng power conditioner
I was ready to go and had just taken out a set of amps that retail for $16,000, essentially replacing them with a $1099 8 watt one source integrated. I was ready for the worst but hoped for the best.
THE FIRST LISTEN
I have heard quite a few 300B amps in my lifetime, all but one of them were integrated amps. I have reviewed only two other 300B amps here on these pages and both were more expensive than this Oilily 300B but were in no way nicer in looks or design. As for a 300B amp in general, they are always low wattage and class A in sound so speaker choice is important here. An amp such as this with only 8 watts of power will not drive big inefficient speakers. Well, it can but with lower volume output and lack of dynamics. You will want speakers that are at least 87DB efficient here, or higher. My Icon 12’s are 92 DB efficient and are 8 ohms and I can play as loud as I would ever need using this amp.
The Oililly has taps on the back for 4 or 8 ohm speakers as well so will work with either.
Right out of the box, the amp has the tubes well protected for shipping.
I fired up my Tidal Demo playlist and was enthralled, for hours, just listening and sitting in total surprise at what was happening. There was zero noise from the amp and zero noise from the speakers. Not one click, buzz, hum or issue. Wow, that’s good as I’d say half of the more affordable Chinese amps I have bought from Amazon had hum or buzz or crackling issues.
The sound quality with the 300B amp and the Icon 12 was stunning and so beautiful with more tonal colors, more life, more beauty and a human organic richness that just drew me in. It was as if this was how music is supposed to sound and while we all have varying tastes in this department I would be shocked if anyone who sat down here in my space right now would disagree. The sound is delicious, spatial as can be and super layered. Vocals are magic.
The treble is somewhat airy but slightly rolled off, so not in any way bright or harsh. This is typical for the 300B sound but this amp also does something with the sound that is remarkable. It is without question the most holographic amp I have ever reviewed. Bests the last two 300B amps I had in here for this and also bests them in the bass department, which shocked me. Yea, a 300B amp with great bass? This one has it without messing with the upper end and the midrange as one other affordable 300B I tested did.
This one even has VU meters, real ones.
The Oilily 300B, with my Icon 12’s, had big bass down below. It wasn’t sloppy or floppy like some 300B amps can be, but rather it was deep and gave a great nix between tight and loose, just right. It fleshed everything out but at the same time this amp is cable of bringing forth superb details from your music and they are painted on a huge soundstage that is wide, tall and deep but mostly DEEP. I hear layers of sounds with instruments separated brilliantly and never mushed together. This was exciting as it was delivering detail and layers like a high dollar amp but with a warmth and glow that was almost ethereal at times.
I was testing it and turning it up loud as well, and it was up to the task as my speakers are an easy drive. I ran out of steam before it did when powering the Icon 12.
Master of All?
Usually 300B amps sound good with some music like Jazz, Vocals, Strings and Acoustic music but suffer with heavy music like metal, rock or EDM. Not here, at least with the Icon 12. I was jamming Sabaton loud and it was sounding AMAZING. Big, full bodied, detailed and 3D. Yes, even metal can be 3D as the instruments are all separated so well, with some of them popping into space at times just as if I was listening to a high dollar integrated amp. Every guitar string is heard and individually.
As far as I know this is an amp that will auto bias the tubes as the manual, which is very well done never mentions bias at all. I thought that was strange but yea, no way to adjust bias on the outside of the amp so I have to assume it is auto bias. I have been running it for weeks with zero issues and all is well.
The volume and power knobs are solid and feel great vs sloppy and loose
SWITCHING SPEAKERS
I moved in the harder to drive 85-ish DB efficient speakers from Buchardt, their flagship E50’s, just to see how it would do and holy heck it sounded jaw dropping good, detailed and gorgeously full… BUT…the volume was lacking as in, they couldn’t play loud. The amp ran out of steam after mid level volume. Even so at low to mid the E50’s sounded better than I have heard them. Stunning but not really recommended if you want to listen loud. Room size also plays a part as well. Small room means a better change at fulfilling sound with a speaker such as this but in a large room you will need more power.
I then moved in some new speakers from a company out of South Korea. These are the Hyondae Sound TI755A speakers and are based on a single small 8″ vintage driver from Western Electric (The 755A) that was brought back to life by them. These are 97db efficient and are a perfect mate for this integrated amp and they also bring such a unique type of sound. These speakers do not sound like any speaker I have heard before, and I am not saying this is good or bad, it just has a way of bringing the sounds in a remarkable way, but the bass is not this speakers string suit as they tho down to 70hz. Even so, the midrange is pure gold… magic. With Jazz, Acoustics, Strings and spatial music they are incredible, some of the best I have heard in this area. With rock, well, these are not for rock or metal or any heavy music. They do excel in softer types of music and for Jazz, I haven’t heard better.
The combo was just perfect and I will not say more about this combo here, but will soon in their dedicated review .
CONCLUSION
I cannot recommend this amp enough if you are looking for a gorgeous tube amp that will not break the bank yet deliver great looks and build and performance. Also, this is one that you will not have buyers remorse over due to cost or performance as when you get it you will never want to let it go or send it back (unless yours has an issue). I cannot guarantee everyone will get a perfect specimen without issues as it is an affordable tube amp made in China after all but it is without question the best one I have ever found in this segment and of em bested much more pricey options.
Heck, I prefer the Oilily to other 300B amps up to the $5k price I have tested. This one also has charm due to its unique design. This is a 300B amp that can play it all, not just vocals and Jazz as it does well with rock and metal as well if you have speakers up to the task. With my Icon 12’s any 92DB efficient I guess I am using about 2 watts of power during mid day listening and one watt during my evening sessions. Power was not an issue here and I can sometimes listen loud.
With those 755A speakers I have been entranced at night during low volume listening as the music is so well placed and organized within the stage and each sound, instrument and voice has life to it, color to it and while this is leaning warm, it is not muddy or bloated in any way. This amp stays clean and delivers perfect details, even with the stock tubes, again, all included with the amp.
When I posted my video review (must see, much more info) they had only 2 in stock at Amazon and they sold out within minutes. It was then taken down and said “unavailable” but Oilily has been offering them on Amazon every now and again. In fact today, August 29th 2025 they had them up and available again for about an hour, then sold out again! I am sure they will bring them back so it’s easiest to check the link throughout the day and that link is below.
