Apollon Audio complaints

[Apollon Audio]

Let's just say "integrity matters". You can build the ultimate amplifier but if your customer service is left wanting it won't matter how good it is or how good a value it may be, people will buy elsewhere. Enough people have reported a negative experience with your company here that your reputation has been called into question. Perhaps you should consider putting the same care and attention into your customer service and sales departments as you do your engineering.

It also bears mentioning that while it is admirable from an engineering standpoint to always strive for perfection in every detail as most every engineer will agree (myself included), the marketplace tends to reward value over perfection, thus the reason most companies have accountants to reign in those engineering instincts that always look at good enough as the enemy of perfection. While some people will undoubtedly appreciate and value the lengths you go to in your quest for perfection, most will likely see little if any audible benefit and vote with their pocketbooks, especially when integrity issues are present. Go to line 1.

You’re absolutely right that integrity matters, and I fully acknowledge that we’ve fallen short in some aspects of communication and timelines. I’m aware of the feedback shared here, and I take it seriously.

We’re a small, highly focused engineering-driven team, and at times the volume of incoming orders, emails, and live chats has exceeded our operational bandwidth, especially during periods of intense demand. That’s not an excuse, but simply the reality of a small company trying to maintain high standards across all areas of the business.

Yes, we’ve made mistakes, but we’re learning, evolving, and actively working to strengthen our customer service, internal workflow, and communication processes. In fact, this has become one of our top priorities in 2025. We’re growing our team cautiously, because just like with our amplifiers, we don’t compromise on the quality of people we bring in.

As you rightly pointed out, the market rewards value, not just perfection. But we believe value includes not just the price tag, but the engineering depth, long-term reliability, and integrity of the product itself. That said, we understand that none of that matters if the customer experience doesn’t match. We’re aware, we’re listening, and we’re working on it, sincerely.

Thank you for the honest and constructive feedback. It’s exactly the kind of input that helps us move forward.

 

[Apollon Audio]

I'm not focused on price wars. From day one I've been focused on bringing the high-end "audiophile" performance of Hypex and Purifi offerings to as many people in the AV hobby as possible without charging them extra for looks or brand name surcharges.

I'm not here to derail the thread into an us vs. you argument. I was merely commenting to correct an erroneous implication that there will be a different "taste" (audible difference) between your amps and those companies who are "fast food".

Understood. But when your website’s very first line reads “The most advanced technology at unbeatable prices,” it’s clear that pricing is a central pillar of your brand message, whether intentional or not. And that’s perfectly fine, there’s a market for price accessibility, just as there’s a market for refinement, detail, and longevity.

I never implied there was an audible difference between our amplifiers and yours, although some subjective feedback from our customers may vary. What I pointed out, and still stand by, is that the process behind the product matters, particularly when it comes to engineering tolerance, thermal headroom, mechanical integrity, and sustained load behavior. These are not aesthetic concerns, nor “brand surcharges” they are design decisions that serve the long term.

You’re doing what you set out to do: make high-performing modules more accessible. That’s commendable. But let’s not frame discussions of build discipline and engineering philosophy as elitism or “charging extra for looks.” What we’re building is different, in intent, in method, and in execution.

Two cars can have the same engine. That doesn’t mean they share the same chassis, suspension, or handling.

 

[olieb]

Understood. But when your website’s very first line reads “The most advanced technology at unbeatable prices,” it’s clear that pricing is a central pillar of your brand message, whether intentional or not.

Funnily, I just checked your webpage and the first two words that popped up, were "Spring Sale".

 

[Apollon Audio]

Funnily, I just checked your webpage and the first two words that popped up, were "Spring Sale".

Promotions like a seasonal sale don’t define our engineering philosophy, they’re simply a practical response to market demand. In fact, we’ve had countless customers actively requesting discounts, which is why we occasionally run limited-time offers like the Spring Sale.

But let’s not confuse that with positioning our brand around low pricing. Our focus remains, and has always been, on build precision, engineering integrity, and long-term reliability.

Offering a promotion isn’t the same as building around cost-cutting.
The foundation matters more than the marketing.

 

[Paffi]

Funnily, I just checked your webpage and the first two words that popped up, were "Spring Sale".

Jesus. Really?

 

[elmoe420]

I'll provide my two cents as a poster who actually owns Apollon amps.

I primarily bought from them because of the craftsmanship that goes into their cases. I paid a lot more money and waited more time because I wanted an amp that aesthetically met my personal subjective standards. My purchase choice was also influenced by the internal build pictures although I never expected the amp to sound different. I'm firmly in the camp of all correctly built amps should sound the same.

I could not DiY such a case. There were no American based companies that offered anything equivalent. VTV and Buckeye do not sell an comparable product in this regard. Not even close. That doesn't mean Dylan doesn't make a good amp and Buckeye isn't a good company. I love to see his success especially since we're both from Ohio.

I chose standard Apollon stereo amps without a custom finish. It was delivered just over the promised time from Slovenia to the west coast US. Having done my research in advance of such a purchase (the amps aren't cheap), I communicated directly with Tibor to stay abreast of my builds. I also bought my own power cables from Tripp Lite. I'd suggest other buyers do the same.

I couldn't be happier. Zero heat and the amps run constantly in our main living room. My only regret is that the entire sound system spends 99% of its time playing Disney soundtracks for my kids hah!

 

[Apollon Audio]

"Measurements" goes beyond a sinad graph. Since I know I won't be able to hear the difference between amps anyway, I pay a lot more attention to build quality, which you can see in the teardowns. Apollon wins, in that case.

Sighted bias is also a thing, so I think it's important to get an amp that looks "pretty". How it looks counts in the real world if the amp in question is sitting on the rack in your living room, because nobody listens for pleasure using ABX equipment. Might as well make that work in your favor. Again, the "measurements" (pictures in this case) show that Apollon does good work and builds an attractive product.

Finally, since most of these companies are generally smallish, you can get a feel from who you're buying from by reading through forum posts. Tibor has always been respectful, and you can see how he performs under pressure by reading through this very thread. Otoh, here's Buckeye jumping in on a pile-on against a competitor when he doesn't need to. When the Buckeye amps got shit for the loose wire (or whatever) that made them perform worse than the Purifi eval boards, I don't remember Tibor jumping in and giving Buckeye any crap. So again, especially against Buckeye in particular now that I've seen that, Apollon wins.

Thank you for your thoughtful comment, I truly appreciate you recognizing the care we put into both our products and our conduct.

You’re absolutely right: even though Buckeye is technically a competitor, I’ve always respected what he’s doing and have supported him in the past, especially when I felt the criticism was unfair. For instance, I stepped in during the NCx500 thread when his design was under fire and clarified that the issue was related to the power supply, not his implementation:

BUCKEYEAMPS Hypex NCx500 Amplifier 2channel Review

They also check your track record. Not every Labradoodle can become an OEM customer. Based on some builds I’ve seen on the market they don’t check much. Unless this is a very recent policy.

www.audiosciencereview.com

There’s room in this space for different approaches and priorities, and I believe professionalism and mutual respect matter, especially when we’re all here trying to build something worthwhile.

Again, thank you for your support. It means a lot.

 

[Buckeye Amps]

I appreciate your products, Tibor. My comments are in no way to "take away" from your approach.

 

[Apollon Audio]

I appreciate your products, Tibor. My comments are in no way to "take away" from your approach.

Thank you Dylan, I appreciate that.

We may approach things differently, but there’s space in this industry for multiple philosophies, and it’s good to keep the dialogue respectful and constructive. Wishing you continued success with your work as well.

 

[Buckeye Amps]

Thank you Dylan

And especially to clarify that the "brand name surcharge" comment was not at all directed towards you but rather more known/larger companies that have been around the business for decades. I am sure you know who these companies are as well.

 

[Paffi]

Additionally, we are currently working on a major update to our website, which will include:

New module listings, detailed manuals for each amplifier model, improved technical descriptions, expanded product lines such as integrated amplifiers, preamps, DACs, headphone amplifiers, and interconnect cables.

The full update is expected to go live by the end of July. We're excited about this next phase and believe it will provide a clearer, more transparent experience for our customers.

Now, that's the really interesting part.

Can you already share more information about the preamp? I'm the guy who is asking you since sept. 2023 (there it was expected to be finished at the end of 2023) about it, the last time (without reply - no offense) it was in July 2024

Will the DAC be also a device, manufactured by your company? With premium case?

 

[Jerry Sobel]

Hi Jerry,

I’m genuinely sorry to hear how frustrated you’re feeling, and I’d like to respond directly to your concerns.

First, let me be clear: your order has been shipped, and the tracking will be updated on Monday as confirmed. I understand the delay of 10 days feels significant, especially after receiving earlier time estimates, but this is still well within the window of high-demand production scenarios we’ve been open about.

Throughout the entire process, you’ve been in constant contact with us, both through live chat and email. I’ve personally responded to your emails, and our staff has communicated with you regularly via the chat platform. We’ve provided all the information we could, based on the real-time updates available from UPS and our shipping team.

It’s disappointing to see your message accusing us of dishonesty or game-playing, especially given that your previous two amplifiers were delivered and you’ve stated yourself that you’re happy with the products. That matters a lot to us, and it’s precisely why we’re doing everything we can to complete and deliver your third amp with the same level of quality.

We do acknowledge that delays, even short ones, can be frustrating. But please understand, there is no strategy or intent to “buy time” by generating shipping labels early. The UPS pickup delay this week was influenced by the national holiday here in Slovenia, as explained, and we have no control over when carriers update tracking statuses.

Your amplifier is on its way, and we remain committed to getting it to you as soon as possible, not just because it’s our responsibility, but because we care deeply about our reputation and your satisfaction.

Thank you again for your support of our products, and I hope once this final amp is in your hands, your system will finally be complete and as exceptional as you envisioned.

Well, it is Monday morning for me and 3 pm in Slovenia and the tracking of my package has not been updated as promised by you. It still says that the label was created on June 30 2025 and has not yet been picked up. So again please tell me what is going on with the delivery of my new amplifier?

 

[Apollon Audio]

Well, it is Monday morning for me and 3 pm in Slovenia and the tracking of my package has not been updated as promised by you. It still says that the label was created on June 30 2025 and has not yet been picked up. So again please tell me what is going on with the delivery of my new amplifier?

I have personally checked the tracking number again to ensure everything is correct. According to the latest UPS update, the package has been scanned and loaded at Brnik Airport. Based on this, it is en route and should arrive in the U.S. tomorrow.

We are currently at 42 working days since we started with the production of your order, and while the estimated lead time for this amplifier is 30 working days, I want to sincerely apologize for the delay of 12 working days. I fully understand your frustration, and I assure you we’re doing everything we can to streamline these delays as we continue to improve our workflow and internal systems.

I’ve personally contacted UPS to investigate why the tracking wasn’t updated promptly. The package was indeed picked up by the courier on the evening of Tuesday, June 24th. However, UPS confirmed that the original shipping label was damaged during processing at the first sorting facility. As a result, they had to relabel the package using a new PVC sleeve, which caused the unexpected delay in tracking updates.

Unfortunately, this added approximately two working days to the process. Additionally, Wednesday, June 25th, was a national holiday here in Slovenia, during which all services were closed. Had this issue not occurred, the delay would have been limited to 10 working days instead of the current 12.

Thank you again for your patience and understanding.

 

[Jerry Sobel]

I have personally checked the tracking number again to ensure everything is correct. According to the latest UPS update, the package has been scanned and loaded at Brnik Airport. Based on this, it is en route and should arrive in the U.S. tomorrow.


We are currently at 42 working days since we started with the production of your order, and while the estimated lead time for this amplifier is 30 working days, I want to sincerely apologize for the delay of 12 working days. I fully understand your frustration, and I assure you we’re doing everything we can to streamline these delays as we continue to improve our workflow and internal systems.

I’ve personally contacted UPS to investigate why the tracking wasn’t updated promptly. The package was indeed picked up by the courier on the evening of Tuesday, June 24th. However, UPS confirmed that the original shipping label was damaged during processing at the first sorting facility. As a result, they had to relabel the package using a new PVC sleeve, which caused the unexpected delay in tracking updates.

Unfortunately, this added approximately two working days to the process. Additionally, Wednesday, June 25th, was a national holiday here in Slovenia, during which all services were closed. Had this issue not occurred, the delay would have been limited to 10 working days instead of the current 12.

Thank you again for your patience and understanding.

Can you please remove my personal information from this post. I do not need to have others to view my information on the tracking. You could have commented to my post and then sent it in a private message as I sent to you.

 

[mags65]

@Jerry Sobel , FYI you also need to edit the quote in your reply post to remove the tracking link there.

 

[Rit]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[Chr1]

Sorry.

 

[Jerry Sobel]

I finally received my amplifier yesterday and like the other two it is beautifully crafted. I only have one problem. Like my other two it is rack mounted but the usual rack mounting screws are too short. The rack mount on the amp is so thick the standard one inch screw is too short. Any suggestions? I cannot find longer screws online

 

[Golfx]

I finally received my amplifier yesterday and like the other two it is beautifully crafted. I only have one problem. Like my other two it is rack mounted but the usual rack mounting screws are too short. The rack mount on the amp is so thick the standard one inch screw is too short. Any suggestions? I cannot find longer screws online

Call your rack manufacturer; also just google its size there almost has to be longer screws available at some hardware website.

 

[Ropeburn]

19" rack screws are standard M6 size. Just get some with the right length for your use case, they're available everywhere for cheap in 100 packs.