Sumo Andromeda Vintage Monster Stereo Power Amplifier (Circa 1980)
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:14705229 | Model: Andromeda |
| Brand: Sumo | Modified Item: No |
| Sold new in 1980 for $1,100.00: That's $3,433.60 in today's dollars! | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
These are a great value in a vintage power amplifier of this quality. It is one on the rare 200 watt per channel amps that is not huge and doesn't weigh a ton. Very easy to handle and still extremely powerful. ( 375 watts @ 4 ohms ) This is in outstanding sonic and cosmetic condition. Recently professionally serviced ( By: Autotune Service and Repair ) and all specs meet or exceed original specifications and sounding great. Please look very carefully at all the pictures, thi...s is nice.Description
Sumo's class AB Andromeda has a full wave, four quadrant balanced topology exercising total control over any loudspeaker connected to it, regardless of load type.
It's four independent push-pull feedback loops maintain your speakers in absolute phase with the musical signal, resulting in perfect imaging and a wide soundstage.
Andromeda achieves its astonishing accuracy through a combination of high power output - 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms and up to 350 watts into 4 ohms, and a complete lack of current limiting.
Rather than introduce invasive circuitry to protect the amplifier, which leads to restricted dynamic range and increased distortion, Sumo engineers put extremely wideband, extra high dissipation power transistors at the output.
The dynamic range and awesome deep bass response of Andromeda is unapproached by any other amplifier.
James Bongiorno, the engineer behind the Sumo Andromeda, has enjoyed a long and colorful career as an audio amplifier designer. He has cast himself at times as an enfant terrible, exploding at audio critics and running scandalous advertisements (footnote 1). His best-known amplifier is the Ampzilla, produced by Great American Sound, but he also designed the Dyna 400. Currently Jim is living on a boat and serving as part-time consultant to the Sumo Company.
When the recession hit high-end audio in 1978–80, Bongiorno designed cost-effective versions of his original Sumo amplifiers. These included the $899 class-A Model 9 and the $1100 Sumo Andromeda. These second-generation Sumo amps present a common appearance—a tall, shallow chassis attached to a rackwidth, 5mm-thick front plate with massive handles. Fortunately they do not include the noisy fan found on earlier Sumo products—a major improvement. Fans effectively diminish an amp's signal/noise ratio (unless one runs the amp in another room).
Sound Quality
How does the Sumo Andromeda sound? It produces a surprisingly smooth, transparent sonic texture. Stereo imaging is exceptional, with outstanding inner detailing. In particular, the Andromeda is capable of generating a very wide soundstage while maintaining clear delineation of instruments and voices. The unit also proved to be much less harsh or bright during overload than is my Threshold Stasis 3 (footnote 2), without showing the overly mellow sound or slight loss of detail found in the VSP Labs 150.
Conclusion
What is important to the consumer is Bongiorno's implementation of a hig-end amplifier design at a relatively low cost. Bridged output circuits clearly can be made to sound very good, and offer extra reliability for bipolar output transistors. The Sumo Andromeda's low price tag, high power, clever design, and outstanding sonics on dynamic loudspeakers makes it a real find in the present day marketplace of "me-too" basic amplifiers. It is one of my favorite amplifiers for driving Dahlquist DQ-l0, Snell Type A/III, or, with care, Spica TC-50 loudspeakers. The Sumo amplifier represents an audio "best buy" and I recommend it with enthusiasm.—Larry Greenhill Sumo Andromeda: Solid-state, class-AB stereo power amplifier. Rated power: 200Wpc into 8 ohms (23dBW) at less than 0.05% THD, 375Wpc into 4 ohms (22.8dBW) at less than 0.1% THD.
Dimensions: 19" Wby7" D by 83, 4 " H. Weight: 35 lbs.
Manufacturer: AllAmerican Audio, Inc., Westlake Village, CA, 91362. Chasrock Servicesis proud to be:( ISTA 6-FEDEX_AProtocol Certified )This is aregistered certification in electronic packaging.We are approved tosafely ship any electronics up to and including 150 lb. packages.The ISTA 6-FEDEX AProtocol is anearned certification.This is achievedby packaging and shipping electronics to the FedEx packaging laboratory, inCollierville, TennesseeThey put thatpackage through rigorous testing including the following:Shock Test: (10random drops from 30 Inches)Compression Test:The package is then tested in a press at 976.94 lbs. of pressure.Vibration Test:The package is then put on a vibration table and violently shaken for 45minutes.You must pass all three tests without any damage, cosmetically or functionality. This will be double boxed, surrounded in foam to insure safe undamaged delivery toyour home or business. Yes, the shipping cost is a little high, but electronicsare fragile and do require a lot of packaging and time to get them done right.I think it's worth a few extra bucks, because they can't be replaced. A notefor you eBay global customers: ( I will get it to your door safely andinsured.)P.S.My posted shipping price is always the total!I pride myself on extreme over protective packaging. (Please see myfeedback!)I will only ship to the 48 contiguous states and I encourage eBay globalshipping. Payment is expected in 48 hours of purchase and on the same tokenthey will ship on the next business day. If you need more time, just send amessage and we will work something out.
Sumo's class AB Andromeda has a full wave, four quadrant balanced topology exercising total control over any loudspeaker connected to it, regardless of load type.
It's four independent push-pull feedback loops maintain your speakers in absolute phase with the musical signal, resulting in perfect imaging and a wide soundstage.
Andromeda achieves its astonishing accuracy through a combination of high power output - 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms and up to 350 watts into 4 ohms, and a complete lack of current limiting.
Rather than introduce invasive circuitry to protect the amplifier, which leads to restricted dynamic range and increased distortion, Sumo engineers put extremely wideband, extra high dissipation power transistors at the output.
The dynamic range and awesome deep bass response of Andromeda is unapproached by any other amplifier.
James Bongiorno, the engineer behind the Sumo Andromeda, has enjoyed a long and colorful career as an audio amplifier designer. He has cast himself at times as an enfant terrible, exploding at audio critics and running scandalous advertisements (footnote 1). His best-known amplifier is the Ampzilla, produced by Great American Sound, but he also designed the Dyna 400. Currently Jim is living on a boat and serving as part-time consultant to the Sumo Company.
When the recession hit high-end audio in 1978–80, Bongiorno designed cost-effective versions of his original Sumo amplifiers. These included the $899 class-A Model 9 and the $1100 Sumo Andromeda. These second-generation Sumo amps present a common appearance—a tall, shallow chassis attached to a rackwidth, 5mm-thick front plate with massive handles. Fortunately they do not include the noisy fan found on earlier Sumo products—a major improvement. Fans effectively diminish an amp's signal/noise ratio (unless one runs the amp in another room).
Sound Quality
How does the Sumo Andromeda sound? It produces a surprisingly smooth, transparent sonic texture. Stereo imaging is exceptional, with outstanding inner detailing. In particular, the Andromeda is capable of generating a very wide soundstage while maintaining clear delineation of instruments and voices. The unit also proved to be much less harsh or bright during overload than is my Threshold Stasis 3 (footnote 2), without showing the overly mellow sound or slight loss of detail found in the VSP Labs 150.
Conclusion
What is important to the consumer is Bongiorno's implementation of a hig-end amplifier design at a relatively low cost. Bridged output circuits clearly can be made to sound very good, and offer extra reliability for bipolar output transistors. The Sumo Andromeda's low price tag, high power, clever design, and outstanding sonics on dynamic loudspeakers makes it a real find in the present day marketplace of "me-too" basic amplifiers. It is one of my favorite amplifiers for driving Dahlquist DQ-l0, Snell Type A/III, or, with care, Spica TC-50 loudspeakers. The Sumo amplifier represents an audio "best buy" and I recommend it with enthusiasm.—Larry Greenhill Sumo Andromeda: Solid-state, class-AB stereo power amplifier. Rated power: 200Wpc into 8 ohms (23dBW) at less than 0.05% THD, 375Wpc into 4 ohms (22.8dBW) at less than 0.1% THD.
Dimensions: 19" Wby7" D by 83, 4 " H. Weight: 35 lbs.
Manufacturer: AllAmerican Audio, Inc., Westlake Village, CA, 91362. Chasrock Servicesis proud to be:( ISTA 6-FEDEX_AProtocol Certified )This is aregistered certification in electronic packaging.We are approved tosafely ship any electronics up to and including 150 lb. packages.The ISTA 6-FEDEX AProtocol is anearned certification.This is achievedby packaging and shipping electronics to the FedEx packaging laboratory, inCollierville, TennesseeThey put thatpackage through rigorous testing including the following:Shock Test: (10random drops from 30 Inches)Compression Test:The package is then tested in a press at 976.94 lbs. of pressure.Vibration Test:The package is then put on a vibration table and violently shaken for 45minutes.You must pass all three tests without any damage, cosmetically or functionality. This will be double boxed, surrounded in foam to insure safe undamaged delivery toyour home or business. Yes, the shipping cost is a little high, but electronicsare fragile and do require a lot of packaging and time to get them done right.I think it's worth a few extra bucks, because they can't be replaced. A notefor you eBay global customers: ( I will get it to your door safely andinsured.)P.S.My posted shipping price is always the total!I pride myself on extreme over protective packaging. (Please see myfeedback!)I will only ship to the 48 contiguous states and I encourage eBay globalshipping. Payment is expected in 48 hours of purchase and on the same tokenthey will ship on the next business day. If you need more time, just send amessage and we will work something out.
