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REVIEW: Sophia Sophia Electric 126S Integrated Amplifier (Tube)


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Model: Sophia Electric 126S
Category: Integrated Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price: $5000
Description: Auto biasing EL34/6CA7/KT66/KT77 integrated amplifier
Manufacturer URL: Sophia
Model Picture: View

Review by vangstr on January 03, 2014 at 23:43:55
IP Address: 76.112.62.63
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for the Sophia Electric 126S


This amplifier is finally getting my thumbs up review after nearly a year of ownership. I don't like to give reviews on equipment especially if I haven't really spent a good amount of time with it to fully understand its' good and bad. Only through a fair amount of ownership time then either the product gets a thumbs up or thumbs down.

This unit is the re-designed EL34 integrated amp from amp builder Richard WuGang of Sophia Electric. You may have already heard of their excellent tubes especially their 300B etc. So there's no need for further introduction on my part for the company itself. You can simply visit the company's website at www.sophiaelectric.com

New in 2012 is this Sophia Electric 126S. It has three levels of build pending the buyer's taste for upscale modification by Richard. The one I bought from Richard is simply the US version (120V) level 3 (basic). The upper two levels are level 5 (with upgraded transformers) and top of the line level statement series which incorporates a slightly different circuit to accommodate JBL/horn sized speaker applications. I opted for level 3.

The amplifier came to me delivered in an medium to large sturdy box with the amplifier fully encapsulated with a custom styrofoam container holding the amplifier. I found the tubes included boxed and wrapped separately inside this styrofoam container with this delivery.

The amplifier looks very modern and is built 100% out of an aluminum chassis. There is no steel sheets to be found on the unit which is pretty impressive. From the top transformer cases to the bottom of the amplifier plate - all aluminum. The sockets where the tubes plug into are nicely selected and doesn't look or feel cheap. The speaker connections are the newer WBT alongside 5 rca inputs. On the front of the amp you'll find the volume knob and selector switch. The volume pot is by Alps and is a 100k. I felt that the knobs could be better selected for a more quality feel. They just feel a bit on the flimsy side for me. 3 months into owning the unit, I found that the selector switch was catching the nearby input channels as well. Although this problem went away after a few weeks, it never came back. So I really don't know what could have caused that problem to come and go. A few phone calls to Sue at Sophia Electric too I'd like to add. The bottom feet, I felt, were really cheesy. It came with felt pads stuck on them too which made the amplifier smooth to slide and scratch free for your amp stand of choice. I am into aftermarket accessories so I opted to use my own isolation footers.

Opening the top plates of the transformers and power transformer show 2 completely enclosed/potted output transformers from Sophia Electric in black. The power transformer which sits in the middle is open and you can literally see the wires coming out down into the underside of the amp circuitry. The OPT's are cool to the touch even after long listening sessions but the power transformer can get pretty hot. My listening sessions are about 5-8 nonstop daily. The all aluminum chassis does absorb much of that heat and acts as a big heatsink to dissipate it off. Which I guess is pretty nice. Touching the chassis won't burn you like touching the output tubes!

Looking under the bottom plate reveals only 2 small circuit boards for the 2 input tubes (6U8) and a small circuit relay board for the "ON" switch. This relay switch delays the startup of this amp at start up. Otherwise the rest of the circuitry is all point to point soldering of resistors etc. I recognize the Allen-Bradley resistors but couldn't decipher the other smaller metalized resistors as to what brand/make. There is no use of coupling capacitors so I gather this circuitry is rectified differently. You would have to ask Richard. Overall, don't expect Leben or Shindo - like soldering quality. I think this is definitely one area that Sophia Electric should improve on is the layout of the resistors and how they are soldered together in a neater fashion to better reflect its price.

Well if you can forgive and forget the engine compartment and listen to the sound of this machine, you will be amazed. It is simply magic - hence the name Magic 126S. This amplifier will require 2 matched 6U8 input signal tubes. As for the output tubes, as long as you have matched pairs to form a quad you'll be ok because its all auto biased. I've rolled KT66, 6L6GC (do not use 6L6), KT77, EL34, 6CA7 all run fine with this amplifier - no sweat! As for the input tubes, I've rolled 6U8, 6GH8, 6EA8, 6JW8, ECF82, ECF802 - they all work fine. My favorites are the Seimens and Mazda/RT.

Back to the sound…lush galore! This amps signature is lush and warmer than my friends Leben CS600. The Leben is very transparent but lacks the nice lush warm sound of this 126S. I rate this Sophia 126S to the likes of Shindo. It seeks to find a neutral/transparent speaker and you will not be disappointed! After trying, Harbeth, Sonus Faber, Reference 3A, Joseph Audio, Verity, Devore Fidelity, ProAc, Totem, Von Schweikert…I've finally settled on the new Merlin TSM MMM BME (black magic edition). The 126S is lush but still very detailed. The highs seemed more rolled off compared to the Leben CS600. But very romantic and true like the Shindo. Apples and oranges as one of my friend always says..so whats your taste? Think of 300B sound but with 25W instead of 9W. I love the RCA 6L6GC black plates in this amplifier because it gives the amp better headroom for stretching.

Overall, the amplifier is very musical. It is super quiet even with the 92dB speakers I hooked up to. Internal circuitry build is not like the Japanese boutique amp builds but I gather the company is trying to improve. Aesthetically, Sophia Electric looks very nice and modern. The previous generation of their amps looked horrible but now their amps look way better. Soundwise, it'll give the Shindo and Leben a run for their money. Many audiophiles will pass over Sophia Electric as simply a tube company but take heed, they now build some serious amp gear to rival even the best out there. I could've spent $5-10k on a Shindo, but decided to save my money and go for this Sophia instead. The extra $5k I saved, I'll go on a trip to Japan instead.


Product Weakness: Internal wiring/soldering needs better presentation to match price point.
Product Strengths: Very sweet warm romantic sound. Easy tube rolling feature for the output tubes.


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Sophia Electric 126S
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Well Tempered Record Player
Speakers: Merlin TSM MMM BME (black magic edition)
Cables/Interconnects: Grover Huffman ZX
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz/Pop/Electronic
Room Size (LxWxH): 22 x 23 x 12
Room Comments/Treatments: ASI resonators and sugar cubes
Time Period/Length of Audition: owner
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Shunyata
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): owner



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