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Any other Sophia Amplifier Experiences???

Sophia Amplifiers
I’ve been having a lot of problems with my Sophia 845 91-05 amplifiers. They are the top of the line units that Sophia makes that retail for 20K USD. I got them used from Jay at audio revelation for a reasonable deal. I had them for about 2 months and they blew an AC transformer. I sent them to a local tech who has a very good reputation who diagnosed them and ended up fixing them. Sophia did not help out with the repair at all, Jay was quite upset when they charged 400USD for a simple transformer. 2 months later and I blow the same transformer. Again the same tech does the diagnosis and Sophia says that I should get 2 transformers as the new ones are slightly different. Richard at Sophia says he will give me half off if I buy 2. I agree and my tech installs 2 of the trannies. Another couple of months go by and another one of them blows. It has been the same tranny every time but alternating between amps, the AC1 tranny which supplies the 5Z3PAT tube filaments at 5 volts/3amps and the plates on the 6au4 half wave rectifiers. This time I am worried that maybe there is something wrong with my supply so I buy a regenerator. I still have one of the old working trannies and I install that one. Everything works fine for a little over a month and now I have blown another one! The last remaining new one just went, not the old one that I just put in. Richard at Sophia has been very difficult to deal with, he won’t even entertain the idea that there is something wrong with the transformers. I’m not a wealthy individual and this has been a huge strain financially and emotionally. I have numerous other amps that I run including a pair of 300B’s that I built and they all work fine, I have never blown another transformer on one of the other amps. The thing is my speakers work the best with these 845 amps and I love the way they sound. I just want them to work. I’m at a bit of a loss of what to do next….thinking about trying another brand of transformer in there. I sent Richard a message about 4 days ago requesting the specs and he has not responded. Apparently he is out of the country at trade shows according to the response from Sue at Sophia. I can’t imagine he isn’t checking his email!!! Has anybody else had problems with Sophia amps? Any ideas on what I should do? Does anyone know what the spec would be to the plate of a 6au4?
analogluvr
analogluvr OP
859 posts
 
Thank you almarg, some good ideas there. I like the idea if trying to focus in on what part is failing on the trannies.
Mt10425 what's your problem?? Did I say my experience was indicative of how it is across the board? Noooo. I'm merely detailing my experience. I guess because you own a Sophia you can't stand any negative postings about it. If you don't like the thread, don't read it! I think I'm being balanced, I'm saying it sounds great and I want to keep it. I have had problems with reliability and am looking for help with one I'm having currently.
Almarg I have corresponded with the original owner and the tubes are original. Fwiw he had an issue with it as well and wasn't totally happy with the way things were dealt with. When he got it the filaments died as the transformers for that were underspeced. So Richard redesigned one of the transformers and added windings for those filaments. Seems like a common theme.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Analogluvr- My bad (sort of)! There were some problems with the 300b mono-blocks that JA measured but not (apparently) w the OPTs. Check out the measurement section and you will see that there is something unusual going on w those amps. And if you read carefully (not even having to go between the lines) you can see that S-phile was less than pleased with the way Sophia responded to their initial concern...by sending them back different amps after Sophia's testing indicated no problem.
tjassoc
258 posts
 
May I humbly suggest you send the amplifiers back to the manufacturer to have them checked and repaired?

The manufacturer can completely checked out the amplifiers. Provide the manufacturer ALL the information about your system: front end components, speakers, wires, power line, power conditioner, stand and configuration, etc. I'd include photos.

This way, the manufacturer can inform you if there's something wrong with your set up.

If the manufacturer repairs the amplifiers and they continue to have the same problem, the manufacturer should provide you support to ensure the issue gets resolved. If there's the same repeating problem with the amplifiers after they're fixed, and the manufacturer confirmed your system set up, they should fix the amplifiers without charge.

This is the level of support I expect from a reputable manufacturer, and as a person with multiple businesses (none of which I'm referring to are in our industry) - it's the level of support I provide my customers.

If the manufacturer does not provide you this support, you'll have to realize you are on your own.

Personally, if I purchased any product - new or used, and I went to the manufacturer for support and was not supported properly, I wouldn't use that product.

If you do not allow the manufacturer to inspect, test and repair the amplifiers - and to confirm your system, then it's possible this issue will continue. And the manufacturer is not at fault because you are not asking / allowing them to support their product.

While it may be more expensive to allow the manufacturer to inspect, test and repair your amplifiers - it will be cheaper to get them fixed properly and eliminate this repeated problem. It will also allow you the ability to go back to the manufacturer for help should repeated failures occur.

If they do not offer you comprehensive support, then I personally wouldn't use their product.
mt10425
1,138 posts
 
'I think people should know what kind of service they can expect if they choose to buy Sophia.'
Do you even read what you write? I'm not a Sophia apologist. I do own and like my amp(s) from Sophia and have not had any issues with reliability. I hope you get yours fixed.
1. It was purchased used.
2. People other than Sophia have worked on it.
3. Take tjassoc post seriously.
People here always get spun when threads ask for experienced responses and get folks who no knowledge of the equipment.
lse
83 posts
 
What's this about blowing trannies? Risky behavior.
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