User experience from Sweden:
I have been auditioning these Sophia Electric 9101 OPTs for a little more than a week and two words that constantly come to my mind are sweet and spacious. They do really have a "magical" tone inside a "timeless" space if you so want it to be. The sound is quite seductive with nice dynamics but never sounds harsh in any way. It's nice to have the tonal balance these OPTs have that takes away a little bit of the otherwise for some people too analytical and clinical sound of the 300B. I'm using a pair of 97db speakers and there is really a lot of pressure (dynamics) and body in the music, very detailed and well articulate for sure.
Thank you and I wish you luck with your company...
Sonny/Chris from Sweden
User experience from USA:
When I purchased a pair of your Sophia Electric 9101 opts for my 2A3 amp back in March, I really didn't know what to expect. I have two other tube amps, a push pull and a SE. Being an avid stereo lover over the last thirty years, it has been my hobby to check out all the high end audio dealers regularly to keep up with the sound that I could never afford. The only downside to this hobby is going home to your own system and not be able to enjoy it for weeks until your ears readjust to your own system. When the highly recommended amp builder I chose called me to let me know that the 2A3 amp using Sophia Electric 9101 opts he had wired up for me was on its way and told me in his opinion it was a big step up quality and sound wise from the usual triode amps he builds using Hammond, MagnaQuest and Silk opts and that it was at least as good and maybe better than any he had heard using Hashimoto's opts, I wanted to get excited but knew better having been let down before! Well I am proud to say now that I have had time to go through most of my music collection I am still overwhelmed! I am hearing sounds and nuances that I have never heard on all of my old favorites. The clarity and definition in the music is amazing! It is so accurate and the sound stage is just like being there live. My modified Khorns have never sounded so amazing! I can't wait until I can replace my RCA 5Z3 rectifier with the Sophia 274 meshplate and then replace my vintage RCA 2A3's with the Sophia princess 2A3's. I am happy to say my new hobby is staying home and listening to my own stereo! THANKS So Much Sophia Electric!!! T.H. from North West Okla
Amplifier Manufacturer's review/feedback
Tube Audio Lab(TAL) in California has purchased many pairs of Sophia Electric 9103 OPTs. Here is the user experience found from TALwebsite:
Sophia Electric output transformers:
Core: vintage Western Electric core(from WE chokes) and modern core mix,
Wires: US made OFC
Natual fiber(cotton) made papers and non-magnet stainless steel screws
Hermatically potted in a metal case.
Sound: excellent high end extension, seductive mids and good bass. Magical! at least in my amps.
Very close to real Western Electric sound.
My user experience:
Sophia Electric OPTs do actually sound very nice. I mean VERY nice. I honestly can't tell if these are significantly better sounding than the Hashimotos, if at all, since I don't have an amp with Hashimoto OPTs to make the AB comparison. But I get the same goosebumps when I hear these Sophia Electric made WE-core OPTs as I did when I auditioned Paul's amps (Hashimotos OPTs, $800 per pair + $200 shipping from Japan). It's all there- excellent high end extension, seductive mids and good bass. Mostly importantly, they are very natural sounding and musical. I am spinning some Jazz records as I am typing this and I can't remember for how long the amp has been on. It's been playing music for hours, but I didn't notice it(time flying quickly) because the sound is so comfortable. Hope I remember to turn it off before going to bed! Will I recommend these for future builds? Sure. After all, shouldn't a WE91A deserve WE sounding OPTs? TAL(Tube Audio lab)