SONCOZ SGP1 Stereo Amplifier Review

[CleanSound]

Long term reliability for one. SMPS are difficult to repair. I'm wondering what quality of capacitors are used in this amp? SMPS are hard on capacitors.

Based on my experience, SMPS aren't as reliable, but those experiences are with cheap SMPS. I think the jury is still out on the newer and higher end SMPS, such as the ones from Hypex, Purifi and Benchmark. But they all do have great warranty, so one can only assume the reliability is decent.

I have a dual mono Hypex now (and bunch of Class A/B), it seems to hold up well thus far. . .so I would be ok with any combination of SMPS, LPS, Class A/B or Class D.

But on the other hand, I have not had good experiences with some of the Chinese brands, mostly reliability issues. Although my Topping D90SE has zero issues thus far, the only beef I have with it is that if the power goes out and comes back in, the Topping stays on until I shut it off, if it has an auto power off feature, that would be awesome. And if it was the full 430mm wide.

 

[Deleted member 48726]

I have read that article some time ago, that article is specific to Benchmark's SMPS. It is not encompassing of all SMSP. Hence I said: "recent breakthroughs."

My understanding (and an EE who specializes in power supply design can also chime in on this) linear power supply is still overall more reliable and does better with high current peaks (some power supply expert, please fact check me). The other benefit of linear power supply is that it does not regurgitate noise back into your line. Generally speaking that is not an issue today, but there are some very sensitive electronics that does not do well when there are too much noise in the power.

SMPS are everywhere! -They are also in your remote controlled integrated power amp even if it has a large toroidal. It is in your TV. In your subwoofer. In your PC. PC SMPS are high power devices which often are 700 W and up to 1400 W. I have a PC with a 700 W SMPS that have been in use daily for over 10 years. There are regulations IR to how much electrical noise they can make. Some newer amps with SMPS even have power factor correction circuits.

 

[Mart68]

I think it looks pretty good, they are nearly there with the cosmetics.

Needs to be full width case and stop putting the feet too close together. That just looks wrong.

I like the meters, I don't think they look any tackier than the late 70s early 80s Japanese amps which I love. Maybe I just like tacky?

LEDs seem to be the correct colours too.

Already have too many power amps but if I needed one I would seriously consider this.

 

[CleanSound]

SMPS are everywhere! -They are also in your remote controlled integrated power amp even if it has a large toroidal. It is in your TV. In your subwoofer. In your PC. PC SMPS are high power devices which often are 700 W and up to 1400 W. I have a PC with a 700 W SMPS that have been in use daily for over 10 years. There are regulations IR to how much electrical noise they can make. Some newer amps with SMPS even have power factor correction circuits.

They are everywhere, but generally speaking, they affect mostly other equipments on the same circuit. I have measured this (long story why). And again, like I said, generally it's not an issue anyway, but it can be.

But reliability, is generally not as good, although the reliability so far from Hypex and Purifi seems to be pretty good.

Then there is a question of current peaks, but I will step aside and let an power supply expert tackle this one.

 

[Hello Fidelity]

Really good performance from the SGP1, at a fair price. But I have to agree with many others that the aesthetics of the front panel seem to "cheapen" the amplifier. There are too many fonts being used, and too much text. Simple, clean, and understated usually works best.

I feel like Yamaha really did an excellent job with the VU meters in the CA-2010 (and other amplifiers in that series). They look great, and are responsive.

I couldn't find a good close-up of the VU meters in the CA-2010, so I filmed mine with some music:

 

[ocinn]

The SGP1 is similar to a bridged LA90:

View attachment 309137View attachment 309138

The SGP1 has slightly more power, the LA90 lower distortion and noise.

I'm currently running three fully active 3- and 4-way systems and am always on the lookout for 'nice' amps at reasonable prices. The low-powered LA90s are perfect for high-sensitivity horns. I can see myself ending up with a pair of SGP1s to add to the mix at some point, probably for upper-bass drivers.

Mani.

$1600 and two huge power bricks you need to hide, not to mention two separate amplifiers.

Or,

$1100 one box.

Also noise performance on both is so good your listening room would need to be an anechoic chamber to even have the chance to notice.

 

[amirm]

Could I ask please if Topping have to wait 5/6 months for their reviews? It feels as though they are synchronized with the actual release date. Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere.

It varies. For a while we got into this painful situation of releasing reviews when they went public. We (I) have moved on to the previous system of reviewing when I get a chance. Current wait time is about 1 to 2 months. Not much sits here for 5 to 6 months but occasionally it happens and such was the case with this amp. From memory, there has been I think a couple of Topping products that sat here so long that I thought it wasn't worth reviewing then.

As a general rule, I am in constant pressure to review this or that product that is here. At any one time, at least 3 to 4 people have been anxiously waiting to have their gear reviewed. I do my best to deal with these priorities but it is not remotely a perfect system.

 

[daniboun]

EDIT: Before I get called xenophobic, because this is the internet after all, I am Asian-American.

so it's not a myth. Before being black, white or yellow, we are above all American) If the French reasoned in the same way there would be fewer idiots....in a certain way I have a lot of admiration for US patriotism

 

[CleanSound]

so it's not a myth. Before being black, white or yellow, we are above all American) If the French reasoned in the same way there would be fewer idiots....in a certain way I have a lot of admiration for US patriotism

Private message you since I don't want to start a discussion on non-HiFi related matters on a HiFi forum and it can get very political.

 

[JRG]

I agree with most of the comments.
While the specs are objectively VERY good, it fails (like most Chinese devices) in the aesthetic design section.
For some reason, they often make baroque decisions, lacking elegance and sobriety.

In this case the glass of the VU Meters has a pitiful design. The serigraphy seems to be green colour?, with that absurd scaling, and it is topped off by that meaningless phrase in orange!!, with an inappropriate typography,... a little more and they put Comic Sans on it.

But it's not just a matter of this device. I often see that for displays Chinese brands choose baroque inelegant bold serif typefaces, when the best thing is always straight and simple letters, an Helvetica light would be perfect in 99% of the cases.

Maybe it's just a cultural problem, as I have the impression that they like more baroque and ornate designs there. Many Chinese tube amps have that problem too, mixing materials in a questionable way, which makes them look like cheap bazaar products.

 

[AltoVariago]

Being an Italian and working in the field of design, I think Chinese lack any specific skill in this field. They always use the infamous simsun font and I do not understand why they simply don’t imitate Dieter Rams style,simple to reproduce. Good for Europeans they will need to buy from us to look cool.

 

[amirm]

I agree with most of the comments.
While the specs are objectively VERY good, it fails (like most Chinese devices) in the aesthetic design section.
For some reason, they often make baroque decisions, lacking elegance and sobriety.

What on earth you all are talking about? This is one gorgeous looking amplifier with exquisite attention to detail from machining to the lighting of the VU meter. I put it way ahead of many vintage Japanese gear. Different fonts? That is super common. Here is Benchmark AHB2:

That is three different styles. Here is $8,000 Yamaha amp:

I count three there.

For a company this small and an amp with such low cost, they have done a superb job on mechanicals and industrial design.

So they have a tag line they are proud of. Sit back a bit and you won't see it. If you are going to have a heart attack on that, what are you going to do when buying an LG product with their line of "Life is Good?" That has meaning to you and SONCOZ line doesn't?

We have a superbly executed amplifier and you all can't think of anything else to do than scold them?

 

[TimF]

I cannot imagine anyone coming to your house and looking closely at the VU meters on your amplifier and subsequently drawing any conclusions about the text and fonts displayed there. That would be as likely as someone coming to your house and asking you what brand, type and quality toilet paper you have in the bathroom. Or to assess the design qualities of the label on your beer bottles. What universe (of particularities and peculiarities) do you guys live in? That is like expecting someone to examine the writing and titles on your golf balls.

 

[restorer-john]

Amir, the amp tests well, is built well and is great value.

The front panel nomenclature and meter aesthetics are abominable. With lit up meters, it's designed to be on display, not stuck in a cupboard. If the 'designers' listen to what we've all said, they will have a much better product that will sell much better to audiophiles who are generally perfectionists and fantatics to visual detail.

 

[restorer-john]

I cannot imagine anyone coming to your house and looking closely at the VU meters on your amplifier and subsequently drawing any conclusions about the text and fonts displayed there. That would be as likely as someone coming to your house and asking you what brand, type and quality toilet paper you have in the bathroom. Or to assess the design qualities of the label on your beer bottles. What universe (of particularities and peculiarities) do you guys live in? That is like expecting someone to examine the writing and titles on your golf balls.

You have no idea what people look at and what determinations they make when they come to your house. Right or wrong.

 

[CleanSound]

Maybe it's just a cultural problem, as I have the impression that they like more baroque and ornate designs there. Many Chinese tube amps have that problem too, mixing materials in a questionable way, which makes them look like cheap bazaar products.

Being an Italian and working in the field of design, I think Chinese lack any specific skill in this field. They always use the infamous simsun font and I do not understand why they simply don’t imitate Dieter Rams style,simple to reproduce.

Man, this product got a recommend by ASR, a glowing review in fact. The manufacturer was very pleased with the review and even came here to thank Amir for taking time out to do the review and then they got a smack down by the members

Man. . .we are a tough crowd for sure!

I'm pretty sure, the issue with these terrible and distasteful aesthetic design choices with Chinese brands, has to do with regional/cultural tastes AND their experience or lack of.

Remember, ALL of these Chinese brands got started from OEM/ODM, aesthetic/industrial designs was always handed to them by their customers, so they have virtual zero industrial design expertise and experience. There's also a culture of copying/infringement that was rampant in the last 30-40 years (has gotten so much better because they want to move higher on th value chain), patent/copyright laws in China is lax, so they will and do copy and change things, but the change they make is just so gaudy because of their lack of experience in industrial design.

Then the question is why don't they just invest in proper industrial design, possibly hire the Italians? Some do (not sure if it's specifically hiring Italians) such as Matrix Audio and some of the new SMSL products, they look pretty damn good. But don't forget, hiring a good industrial design firm cost $$$, but I think many of us are willing to pay a little extra for that.

So, Chinese brands, if you are serious and are listening, spend more money and time on understanding international markets, good industrial design and QA on product reliability. If you do these 3 things, you will do very well.

 

[amirm]

Being an Italian and working in the field of design, I think Chinese lack any specific skill in this field. They always use the infamous simsun font and I do not understand why they simply don’t imitate Dieter Rams style,simple to reproduce. Good for Europeans they will need to buy from us to look cool.

I doubt it when it comes to audio. Here are some products from your home country:

You call this pretty? How about them fonts?

More fonts to entertain. How about this one?

That's a $5000 product with stamped sheet metal on top.

The problem is not the nationality. The problem is that these are small companies and the design engineer attempts at some kind of industrial design with or without external help.

 

[JRG]

For better or worse, the world of hifi is as much or more about aesthetics than pure specifications.
No doubt this amp is fantastic in terms of specs. Extraordinary for the price it has.

But in my opinion (and it's just my opinion) the Vu meter looks ugly to me. Each one can give it the importance that he/she deems appropriate to that. The font chosen for the epic phrase "The Power of Original Sound" is, in my opinion, unfortunate. And having the brand name appear twice underneath each other doesn't look good either.

Otherwise, yes, a fantastic amp. There is no doubt about that.

 

[amirm]

Then the question is why don't they just invest in proper industrial design, possibly hire the Italians?

I have hired such companies. It is no panacea. They usually don't have domain experience so produce all kinds of odd designs. And they are expensive to hire.

 

[Sokel]

Even amongst Italians they are the talented ones and the not so much,as everywhere with the former being expensive and rightly so.
And not so much in electronics but when it comes to wood...

As in everything you have to invest when you expect to earn,and an elegant design helps a lot (and for the superficials like me it's the 50% even if some don't even admit it to themselves) .

What is a pity with these companies abroad is that they are top in machining aluminum,all they need is the right pattern.