Sumo tuner, preamp, and amp combo... good buy?

violarules · 11-02-2009, 04:13 PM

There is a set of Sumo equipment for sale in my area: The Charlie, Electra and The Nine. I notice the Nine amplifier can drive a 4 ohm load to 120 watts, which would be decent for my Maggie MG 12's. I have a little extra cash and was thinking of buying a Rega P3-24, but if this equipment is thought of well and turns out to be a good deal, I think it might be a considerable step up from my vintage Kenwood. Any thoughts?

MonkeyMan · 11-02-2009, 05:30 PM

What is the asking price for the set? What equipment would they be replacing?

violarules · 11-02-2009, 05:46 PM

Oh, sorry, duh.... They are asking $700 for the set. It will be replacing a vintage Kenwood receiver, the KR 7600.

MonkeyMan · 11-02-2009, 05:56 PM

If it's all in great shape I'd go for it and offer $550 cash.

Shakey · 11-02-2009, 06:45 PM

What vintage is the Kenwood?
I used to see Sumo advertised in Stereophile many moons ago.
I think it was a smallish boutique brand. I'd suggest researching how servicable it is.
Some designs, from small outfits employ parts not easily found soon after they go under.
I don't think they're in business anymore, so I'd do some research about getting them fixed.
Then I'd make sure they mate well with the Maggies.

Here's a link or two
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/solid...power-amp.html
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/arc...p/t-32153.html

thxdave · 11-02-2009, 06:54 PM

You need to get in touch with the folks here:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/SAE_Talk/

The man who designed that gear drops in once in a while and there are some very qualified techs who are members of the group who can help you with any updates/repairs needed. The Charlie tuner is very desirable and is a very finicky unit if it needs any alignment work. These guys can help you out.
dave

reb · 11-02-2009, 07:12 PM

I owned a Sumo amp, i think it was the andromeda. Can't remember much about the way it sounded though. Their old now, be aware of that. Tune-up maybe needed at this time.

orthobiz · 11-02-2009, 07:21 PM

I had the Charlie and the Electra, running a Dynaco 410. I liked them but eventually moved on. Bongiorno was the designer. Apparently the models with the rack handles have been reported to be made when Frank Bongiorno was overseeing the company. Had the stuff made in Japan. Then the company was bought out. thxdave is right about the yahoo group. I think they know which serial numbers are best?

I spoke with Frank about five years ago. Said he could do a couple of tweaks on the tuner and the preamp, sounded like a reasonable price. I never went through with it. Loved the fact that the phono inputs were MM and MC, can't beat that!

Ed Hanlon at antennaperformance.com convinced me to get an upgraded magnum dynalab tuner and I run Van Alstine stuff now. Still kinda miss the old gear, though. 700 sounds like a decent price to me.

You can read about the Charlie on fmtunerinfo.com.

Paul

orthobiz · 11-02-2009, 07:27 PM

Oh, and am I cool, or what?

I actually have Sumo lit on my Mac website: check it out, all three pieces you mention:

http://public.me.com/orthobiz

Hope it helps,

Paul

violarules · 11-03-2009, 04:53 AM

Thanks for all the info, guys. It's good to know the designer is still around if I have any questions or problems. Also, these pieces do have the rack handles, so evidently they were made at the "right" time. If I can convince the seller to bring them buy for an audition, I might go ahead and do that.

thxdave · 11-03-2009, 07:15 AM

Actually, his name is James, but maybe he answers to Frank! ;-) Here is his current website:
http://www.ampzilla2000.com/James_Bongiorno.html

orthobiz · 11-03-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thxdave

Actually, his name is James, but maybe he answers to Frank! ;-) Here is his current website:
http://www.ampzilla2000.com/James_Bongiorno.html

I stand corrected! Thanks.

Anybody check out the literature on my website?

Paul

lpfreak1170 · 11-03-2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reb

I owned a Sumo amp, i think it was the andromeda. Can't remember much about the way it sounded though. Their old now, be aware of that. Tune-up maybe needed at this time.

Just how old is the Sumo stuff? The Nine is my amp (bought about 10 years ago), and it works perfectly and sounds great with the rest of my gear.

misterdecibel · 11-03-2009, 11:10 PM

120W into four ohms is pretty light for Magnepan MG12s. I think an amp that'll do around 200/channel into 8 and almost double that into 4 would be a better match. At 86dB/1W/1M they're not too terribly inefficient, but it takes a bit of current to really get them moving.

reb · 11-04-2009, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpfreak1170

Just how old is the Sumo stuff? The Nine is my amp (bought about 10 years ago), and it works perfectly and sounds great with the rest of my gear.

Here is a link to year of manufacture for all Sumo gear:

http://cgim.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/bb....zbaqZvfvGLDThA

violarules · 11-04-2009, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misterdecibel

120W into four ohms is pretty light for Magnepan MG12s. I think an amp that'll do around 200/channel into 8 and almost double that into 4 would be a better match. At 86dB/1W/1M they're not too terribly inefficient, but it takes a bit of current to really get them moving.

True, but my current amp is only putting out 80 wpc into 8 ohms. It has no 4 ohm rating, so it's hard to say how many watts it's really feeding the Mags. I figured the Sumo stuff would be a step up, anyway. Maybe I'll just buy the Outlaws that everyone loves with Magnepans, but then I have to get a pre-amp to go with them, unless I use the pre-out on the Kenwood.

lpfreak1170 · 11-04-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reb

Here is a link to year of manufacture for all Sumo gear:

http://cgim.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/bb....zbaqZvfvGLDThA

Thanks for the link.

1980. Wow.

11-02-2009, 04:13 PM	#1
violarules Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 871	Sumo tuner, preamp, and amp combo... good buy? There is a set of Sumo equipment for sale in my area: The Charlie, Electra and The Nine. I notice the Nine amplifier can drive a 4 ohm load to 120 watts, which would be decent for my Maggie MG 12's. I have a little extra cash and was thinking of buying a Rega P3-24, but if this equipment is thought of well and turns out to be a good deal, I think it might be a considerable step up from my vintage Kenwood. Any thoughts?

11-02-2009, 06:45 PM	#5
Shakey Formerly MARS Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 5,124	What vintage is the Kenwood? I used to see Sumo advertised in Stereophile many moons ago. I think it was a smallish boutique brand. I'd suggest researching how servicable it is. Some designs, from small outfits employ parts not easily found soon after they go under. I don't think they're in business anymore, so I'd do some research about getting them fixed. Then I'd make sure they mate well with the Maggies. Here's a link or two http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/solid...power-amp.html http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/arc...p/t-32153.html __________________ Terry "Live Music Is Better" ...

11-02-2009, 06:54 PM	#6
thxdave Forum Addict Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 1,800	You need to get in touch with the folks here: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/SAE_Talk/ The man who designed that gear drops in once in a while and there are some very qualified techs who are members of the group who can help you with any updates/repairs needed. The Charlie tuner is very desirable and is a very finicky unit if it needs any alignment work. These guys can help you out. dave __________________ My favorite 80s blog:http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/80s My YouTube music videos channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/morrisonAV http://www.morrisonphotographics.com http://www.heritagefilm.net

11-03-2009, 07:15 AM	#11
thxdave Forum Addict Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 1,800	Actually, his name is James, but maybe he answers to Frank! ;-) Here is his current website: http://www.ampzilla2000.com/James_Bongiorno.html __________________ My favorite 80s blog:http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/80s My YouTube music videos channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/morrisonAV http://www.morrisonphotographics.com http://www.heritagefilm.net

11-03-2009, 11:10 PM	#14
misterdecibel Forum Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas USA Posts: 1,960	120W into four ohms is pretty light for Magnepan MG12s. I think an amp that'll do around 200/channel into 8 and almost double that into 4 would be a better match. At 86dB/1W/1M they're not too terribly inefficient, but it takes a bit of current to really get them moving. __________________ "So this is a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood So this is a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood..."

11-02-2009, 05:30 PM	#2
MonkeyMan Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,719	What is the asking price for the set? What equipment would they be replacing?

11-02-2009, 05:46 PM	#3
violarules Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 871	Oh, sorry, duh.... They are asking $700 for the set. It will be replacing a vintage Kenwood receiver, the KR 7600.

11-02-2009, 05:56 PM	#4
MonkeyMan Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,719	If it's all in great shape I'd go for it and offer $550 cash.

11-02-2009, 07:12 PM	#7
reb LONG LIVE ROCK Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Long Island Posts: 7,551	I owned a Sumo amp, i think it was the andromeda. Can't remember much about the way it sounded though. Their old now, be aware of that. Tune-up maybe needed at this time.

11-02-2009, 07:21 PM	#8
orthobiz Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cadillac, MI, USA Posts: 297	I had the Charlie and the Electra, running a Dynaco 410. I liked them but eventually moved on. Bongiorno was the designer. Apparently the models with the rack handles have been reported to be made when Frank Bongiorno was overseeing the company. Had the stuff made in Japan. Then the company was bought out. thxdave is right about the yahoo group. I think they know which serial numbers are best? I spoke with Frank about five years ago. Said he could do a couple of tweaks on the tuner and the preamp, sounded like a reasonable price. I never went through with it. Loved the fact that the phono inputs were MM and MC, can't beat that! Ed Hanlon at antennaperformance.com convinced me to get an upgraded magnum dynalab tuner and I run Van Alstine stuff now. Still kinda miss the old gear, though. 700 sounds like a decent price to me. You can read about the Charlie on fmtunerinfo.com. Paul

11-02-2009, 07:27 PM	#9
orthobiz Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cadillac, MI, USA Posts: 297	Oh, and am I cool, or what? I actually have Sumo lit on my Mac website: check it out, all three pieces you mention: http://public.me.com/orthobiz Hope it helps, Paul

11-03-2009, 04:53 AM	#10
violarules Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 871	Thanks for all the info, guys. It's good to know the designer is still around if I have any questions or problems. Also, these pieces do have the rack handles, so evidently they were made at the "right" time. If I can convince the seller to bring them buy for an audition, I might go ahead and do that.

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