Great service and attention to detail demonstrated by Sheldon at Champlifier Audio. He serviced a high-end CD transport which I thought I had more problems initially but after his "diagnosis", he revealed the issue stemmed from a blown fuse--much less of an issue than I had feared! Sheldon is a professional who takes great pride and passion in his work, and though his rates seem high, he is worth every penny as he will honestly try to understand the problem and tell you what needs to be done (or not). He also seems to profoundly enjoy music and knowing the importance of it to you, will do his utmost so you can enjoy it too. Highest rating. read more

Sheldon and the team at Champlifier are outstanding. I came to him with an old Sansui 9090 that had been salvaged from a friend of a friend's grandmother's garage. The unit needed work--there was a mystery buzz out of both channels that was driving me crazy. Sheldon is very honest, and will only do the work necessary to address the problem at hand. The unit was recapped, cleaned out, and a ground loop identified and fixed. This unit now sounds so good that I have designated it as my main HiFi audio system at home--the NAD amp and associated components are now in the closet..... Thanks Champlifier!!! read more

My journey started with a busted receiver that I had bought on the open market. I was hesitant to go down the same path, so I spent a good amount of time doing research and came across Sheldon at Champlifier. I initially reached out as I saw a photo of the receiver I was interested on his website. He called me the next day and we had a lengthy conversation about what I was looking for, and more specifically the dimensions, as I had space constraints. He essentially talked me out of the receiver I was initially looking at due to my setup, and he was absolutely right. He recommended three units that he had in his shop and the pro/cons of each. He was up front on the costs and the labor involved to make sure they were in perfect working order before leaving his shop. We had multiple conversations as I made up my mind on which unit I wanted, and he was extremely helpful each time. When I made up my mind on the Kenwood KA-305, he gave me a lead time of two weeks, which he completed a week early and on budget. When I went to pick up the unit he hooked it up and we tested it out while he walked me through the dials. We gave it the "reggae test" as he put it, and everything sounded amazing. I went on my way with a beautiful unit and some speaker wire (which he makes in different gauges). My set up is on a new level due to Sheldon, and to top it off he called me a couple days later to make sure everything sounded good. His consultation from the beginning to the end was top notch. If you are looking for a used unit or to get one repaired, Champlifier is the place to go. read more

Sheldon repaired and tuned up a vintage Sansui quad receiver for me. He was very communicative throughout the repair process, offering both options and recommendations. Since I got it home (sounding great!) he's even called to check on it a couple times. Highly recommend. read more

While I didn't have any work done by Sheldon, his advice on vintage record players was incredible and helped me decide what to do with my turntables. read more

This is basically a one-man operation. Sheldon is that man and he does outstanding work! To those who gave him one star and poor reviews, I would recommend admitting that the audiophile life is not for you. Go buy a Bluetooth speaker from Target and call it a day. The reason why he charges $70 to look at your gear is because unlike your creative clients, he's not working for "exposure." He is an absolute professional in his trade. And as I mentioned, he's currently a one-man operation. So try not to be upset if your phone call gets interrupted by another phone call. If you're smart enough to check your privilege at the door, you could be walking out with a system that sounds as incredible as mine does! Thanks, Sheldon! read more

Champlifier Audio Services - Electronics Repair Near Me - Alameda, California

I have owned my SX-1010 since new in 1974. I took it to Sheldon when it developed problems with the right channel. Sheldon went through it and I got back a powerhouse that I cannot remember ever sounding so crisp and clean. It is truly impressive how much improved the sound quality is and, like many things that gradually degrade, I had no idea what I was missing. If you have a vintage receiver that means something to you, don't mess around with anyone else--take it to Sheldon. He exceeded my expectations and he will exceed yours. read more

Sheldon took the time to talk to me about my vintage Adcom amplifier, and had some great thoughts on how I should proceed. He was very knowledgeable and thorough in helping me with my issue. I would highly recommend him to anyone needing help with valuable or valued stereo equipment! read more

Sheldon is one of those people who is incapable of putting something down until he has wheedled out every single issue. His patience and attention to detail is truly incredible. If you have a vintage unit that you want to play like new? This is your man, period. My pioneer is singing like she hasn't done since I was small. No, he isn't cheap, and yes, some issues will take longer than others. But if you're new to this, I'm sorry to tell you that you aren't in a fast paced or low cost game, and that Sheldon's service? Is the best in the Bay Area bar none. And to boot he, his wife, and family are friendly and adorable. Can't say the last time I felt so good about supporting a local business. read more

Champlifier Audio Services - Electronics Repair Near Me - Alameda, California

High-end service for vintage, high-end gear. He's more of a doctor than a technician. My 30 year-old Carver separates sound as sharp and clear as when they were knew. It took Sheldon ten days. He plugged in the units one more time before I left, and then sent photos of the work he did and components he replaced along with the receipt. Highest recommendation. read more

this place is impossible to find and the guy running it can't even answer the phone professionally. If the name of the business is "champlifier" i would expect that the person answering the phone would say "champlifier" etc. The location sux, and is not well marked. After walking around and around the building and finally finding the single stair case that would get me to the unmarked office in this industrial complex i found 2 other customers who were bitching the owner out about how hard it was to find. Then, the owner totally walked away from all of us to go wait on ANOTHER customer and didn't have the courtesey to say "I'll be right with you but these people were here first". Nothing. So i took my business elsewhere. I suggest you do the same. read more

Talked to the owner on the phone, the said to bring my equipment in and he will tell me quickly wether he should work on it. So I pack up my turntable , drive there and I stand in the office for some time while they are having a conversation amongst them selves. No "hello", no "we will be with you in a minute", nothing. Then a woman hands me a clipboard abruptly and I notice a $70 charge on the sheet. I don't mind paying for someone's time, I think that is fair but I ask the owner about the charge because he said on the phone he was going to tell me wether it was worth fixing or not when I brought it in. But never said it would be $70. I then tell him I don't really want to spend $70 if it's not worth fixing... And remind him that he had told me on the phone that we were going to see if it was He asks what is wrong with it, and despite having had this conversation already, I start to describe what js happening and he just cuts me off and says then I should just buy another one. At this point I just give up day tank you and leave. What a waste of time read more

I've used Sheldon for two projects; Mcintosh MC2105 (with LED's!) and a pioneer SX-680 as a gift to my step son. He isn't cheap but you're paying for quality work. A very decent and honest gentleman that radiates good energy read more

I brought my Rotel RA-1062 to Sheldon because the right channel had stopped working. I brought it in on a Thursday, and got it back the following Tuesday. He did a super job, was very Covid-19 careful, explained everything he did. He's great, patiently answered questions about my amp that were unrelated to the repair, plus spent time talking to me on the phone before I brought it in. He tracked down the problem to the capacitor, and also changed them on the left channel because that was the prudent thing to do. Great service. read more

We are so fortunate to have found Sheldon and the Champlifier Company. His knowledge and experience helped us to update and improve our stereo system. We have some very special and vintage components that he gave new life to. We cannot praise his company enough!! Thank you to the Champlifier Family!! read more

If you've got a beautiful old 70s or 60s piece you want to bring back to life, this is the place. Sheldon did an incredibly thorough clean and repair of my vintage 1977 Yamaha CR-620 receiver, then spent half an hour with me testing it and relaying best practices to keep it in tip-top shape. I liken Sheldon's approach to a car repair place that tests and repairs every part of the car to assure that its running at its best rather than one that just addresses the symptom. Fair price, good work and - to judge by the work bench - experience with just about every kind of DJ and vintage home stereo piece worth restoring. read more

Champlifier Audio Services offers highly professional audio component repairs and services with a smile and lots of free expert advice--and all at very reasonable prices. Sheldon had me convinced of his exemplary competence and credibility in just a few minutes, and everything he has done since our first encounter has confirmed this. Our 1989-vintage stereo system (speaker cables, CD player, and tuner-amp) needed maintenance and repairs to restore its full capabilities. All of them are now fully functional for far less than the cost of one replacement component of comparable quality. On my latest visit--to pick up our repaired tuner--I met one of Champlifier's commercial customers, who works for a chain of local Bay Area movie theaters. He had just driven two hours to pick up the huge (1300-2000 watt) amps Sheldon had repaired for their theaters. (These are amps that are far more expensive and complex than anything I would buy, of course.) I like that kind of "endorsement." Champlifier accepts and makes repairs by appointment only: call 510-434-4444 to make an appointment with Sheldon: you will be glad you did! read more

Sheldon and his wife run a quality business and do everything they can to keep your equipment top notch without the gimmicks. Prices and fair and Sheldon is honest! Highly recommend! read more

I am super impressed with the speediness and great customer service overall provided by Sheldon at Champlifier. I had a portable 3-speed record player with a bad cartridge that I was dying to play for my NYE party, only problem was I didn't find Champlifier until two days before the event. Since he didn't want to make any promises he couldn't keep, he told me he would try, but normal wait time was 2 weeks out. Low and behold, at 6pm two days later, he called to tell me my record player was in working condition and ready to get picked up. Just in time for the party! The man knows his stuff and delivers solid results. I will definitely come back for any other audio problems I encounter. read more

First Yelp review I've ever written and no business deserves a better first review than Champlifier. They fixed my 40 year old Pioneer turn table with a level of care and attention to detail that's hard to find. Their pricing seems fair and "market" appropriate. Especially since they fix it right the first time. Great communication and personal customer service. 5 stars! read more

"You can't hurry art" is what Sheldon told me from the beginning when I took my Marantz 140 amp to him for much needed repair/restoration. Yes, it took a long while, techs this good have quite a backlog of work. I was not in a hurry and never felt anxious about the wait. Once he got to the unit, Sheldon called and gave me two options: repair the actual problem or completely restore the unit innards (the exterior was "pristine"). I opted for the full restoration ("it will be good for another 50 years"). A couple of days later the unit was ready. When I arrived he had it playing. It not only sounded fantastic but also looked even better. Worth the wait and the price. Thank you Sheldon! read more

My Triad Silver subwoofer (circa 2003) stopped working and Sheldon fixed the amplifier which had damage from heat due to the closed design. He replaced damaged components and upgraded others to higher quality in January. The subwoofer worked for a couple of months and then failed again in March. He repaired it this second time for no charge for labor. It has been working fine ever since. read more

I have always wanted to have one of the greatest integrated amplifiers from the golden age of Hi-Fi finally I came to find a nice unit in a small farm out of Madera Ca. The unit still power on but the sound was bad, it was noisy, it had some transistor parts broken inside and after 35 years living on the country it had a lot of dust but still a great system. Bought it real cheap and looking for someone to make it sound like it was mean to be. I knew was going to be difficult. The unit is rated at the best that Pioneer ever build SA9800 from 1980 silver face fluoroscan receiver. It did took a bit over 3 weeks and it cost me around 600 dlls but the unit now sounds amazing. Done several sessions of listening to Sinatra, Beatles, Dire Straits and is amazing how wonderful sounds and how quiet it is. Sheldon is a professional of this trade and is not cheap by any means but this is a hobby were you know you are gonna spend some greenbacks to get the quality you lust for. The unit was repaired and restored to Pioneer specs and now it's worth 3 times what it cost me to buy and repair. Great job. Highly recommended but be patient. Good job takes time. read more

Champlifier Audio Services - Pioneer SA9800 1980 - Electronics Repair Near Me - Alameda, California

I came here for a repair on my technics turntable and actually bought a receiver from them! Sheldon is super nice and helpful! Best in the bay all the way. It's expensive but Sheldon has helped me out even after he did the repair. Today I just took my receiver that I thought had problems but really didn't. I think I had a bad wire connection. Point is Sheldon wanted to see it at not cost so I could have good music. Such great people!!!! read more

Sheldon and his team are the real deal. I believe they are the best in the Bay Area in terms of knowledge and customer service. Sheldon went above and beyond to help me fix my father's turntable, and he also hooked me up w a receiver. He took his time to explain to me exactly what needed to be repaired and walked me through his process. The time he takes on each project is remarkable. I highly recommend Champlifier for all your audio repairs. read more

Sheldon is THE MAN. I have a 1967 Magnavox portable suitcase style record player that one day just stopped turning on. SADDEST DAY EVER. I was referred to Champlifier by Gene (of Gene's Sound Service) because he couldn't see me for a couple months. Sheldon said it might take up to 2 weeks so I was obviously ECSTATIC when he called me 5 days later saying it was fixed! When I went to pick it up he took the time to explain the issue to me as well as give me a crash course in stereo electronics. He also showed me how to replace my record needle and emailed me links to buy new needle. What makes Champlifier awesome is you can tell Sheldon is honest and sincere, and actually enjoys his work. He is definitely a very busy man, so if your issue is a little more complicated than mine was, it may take a few weeks, like he says. However, if you love your sound equipment (like I do) then Champlifier is definitely worth the time and money! read more

Had a complex piece of integrated McIntosh hardware. Sheldon got it singing again, plus gave me a diagram to illustrate the role of the failed capacitor. The man has a real passion for his work, and the work is beautiful. read more

Sheldon is very informative and complete in his descriptions of his business procedures and policies. No problem there. I am aware that he is the lead technician AND runs the business end of his shop, indeed a time-consuming occupation in addition to doing the actual repairs. I believe he may have a part-time technician working with him. With that in mind, I knew not to expect my repair back within less than a month. No problem, I have another 3 speakers identical to the one he was repairing. He did a great job repairing my speaker and was very informative along the way, disclosing all that he found out about my malfunctioning speaker. I'm really pleased to find such a competent technician less than a mile from my location. Thank you, Sheldon! read more

I was totally impressed Sheldon's quick service and communicativeness! More importantly, he was generous with information about the problem. He took time to explain things to my 13-year-old son. Plus, the price was right! read more

Sheldon is an expert, is personal, honest and intuitive. I had a hidden buzz in my amp which others could not fix. In fact, Champlifier was recommended by a pro who could not fix it! Sheldon was on it, fixed it completely at a fair price. what more can one ask for? read more

I have a Yamaha P2200 stereo power amplifier from 1976 that needed a bit of work. I first took it to my previous repair guy over in Walnut Creek, but after he kept it for a month, he called me and said that he didn't know how to fix it. When I picked the amplifier up, I found out that he had even removed some pieces, and had not put them back (but at least he gave them to me in a little bag lol). After having several people recommend Sheldon at Champlifier, I decided to take my amp there. I brought him my P2200, as well as the bag of parts from the previous tech. He was optimistic about being able to fix it. He estimated 3 weeks for the repair. 3 weeks later, like clockwork, he called me saying that it was done. I was amazed that he was not only able to fix the original issues that the amp had, but also the mess that my previous tech caused, and get it all done perfectly on-time. Since bringing the amplifier home, I have stressed it considerably, and really pushed it to its limits. It has worked flawlessly, and performed far above my expectations. I am very happy that I've finally found a tech that I can feel confident bringing my gear to, someone who I know is honest and who has the knowledge necessary to actually get the gear fixed correctly. read more

After another business attempted to work on my Marantz receiver but didn't know what they were doing, I followed the trail of the other great reviews and went to Champlifier. Hands down, Sheldon is THE BEST. His experience and knowledge went well beyond what I expected and I am absolutely thrilled with the work he did. They were responsive, friendly, straight-forward and hospitable. Sheldon not only got my ancient unit back to running like it was new, he took the time to explain in great detail what had to be done to get it there and how to continue to care for it. This is top-shelf service, so yes, expect to pay for it. But, you get what you pay for and I was more than happy to support their business. Worth. Every. Penny. On top of that, they're great people! I'd give them six stars if I could! read more

I knew my subwoofer was out and the "bonk-bonk" noise was annoying. Checked Yelp and was happy with the reviews. Called and took it in and due to minimal labor Sheldon was able to expedite same-day repair, otherwise it would have been a 10 day wait for drop off. He's knowledgeable, kind, courteous, and fair. GPS was wrong on address, but it's located in the 2 story business park across the street from the building marking the top of the Posey / Webster Tube. read more

Thank you so much Sheldon for all your work on my Marantz 4400 Stereo 2 + Quadradial 4 Receiver. It sounds amazing! To everyone out there, I highly recommend Sheldon to do the work. He is friendly, honest, extremely knowledgeable, and he really cares about doing things the right way. My Marantz quadraphonic receiver is over 40 years old, complicated, and needed to be rebuilt, and fully restored. I chose Sheldon to do the restoration and sure am glad I did. He has brought my vintage Marantz back to life, back to its glory days. Sheldon performed a full restoration. Each PC board was removed and checked. He gave special attention to the power supply and the phono preamp board. Over 100 capacitors were replaced, as well as many other components. Components not replaced were checked and verified. Lamps were upgraded to LED's. Weak or old solder joints were re-done. Components were cleaned and de-oxidized. This is just a sampling of what was done. Not only sounds great, the Marantz looks great. The metal faceplate and knobs were cleaned and polished. The glass is clean and bright with the new lights. And finally, the wood cabinet was sanded and refinished read more

Great service, came here with a friend because she had a Physics project due in 2 weeks. This place is a bit hidden on the 2nd floor, and is family owned. She was doing something with audio ports, but man was the owner extremely generous. He educated us and walked us through on every part needed. He drew parts and instructions on the board and my friend just snapped a picture of it. In the end when my friend had piles of small parts, he did not charge her. He told us when he was little, he had to do the same project as her in his country and was greatly reminded of it. I love this guy and his family! read more

I was looking for an audio repair shop and found Sheldon at Champlifier. Soon as I walked into his shop I knew he's the real deal. I had some speakers with a built in amp that had shorted out. He fixed them within a reasonable time and I've put them back into use. His shop is filled with all sorts of audio equipment. No job too large or small. He also mentioned he's looking for an apprentice that wants to learn the audio repair business. If you have a favorite amp, tuner or speakers that you've been meaning to get fixed check out Champlifer, you'll be glad you did. By appointment only. read more

I found Sheldon and this company through the very positive Yelp reviews, so wanted to reinforce others' views with my experience. My Kenwood multiple CD player, circa 1995, has not worked since the beginning of this pandemic; very frustrating as I love music and my CD collection. I called Sheldon last week and he talked me through his likely diagnosis: a failed laser assembly. Knowing that I wanted to use it for the holidays, he offered to do some research on both replacement parts as well as alternative CD players. As promised, he called me yesterday (on a Sunday!) about a good deal on a comparable Sony player, which I picked up last night. Outstanding customer service which did not end there! His Covid precautions are excellent; I felt very safe; he took the time to let me listen to the Sony machine and gave me some tips on using it. He also sent me a PDF of the operating manual. Priceless response and support; you just cannot find it much anymore. I highly recommend Champlifier and would definitely use them again. read more

I would like to thank Sheldon for his work on my Kenwood 600 amplifier with very difficult, intermittent issues. He put in the time it took to get it right with the kind of technical intensity I really respect. And he was able to tackle aspects of the amplifier other technicians wouldn't have the confidence to dig into. And he spends time with his customers, which is VERY rare these days. In addition, he is a deep trove of information on anything electronic. In the high busy season, I waited a long time until he could schedule my repair, but it was well worth it. Thank you again. read more

My 40+ year old Pioneer receiver is restored to its original glory, many thanks to Sheldon and Champlifier! I highly recommend their work: the attention to detail and high quality of their work is evidence that they love what they do. Do your ears a solid and go to Champlifier! read more

Sheldon was really helpful when I brought in my malfunctioning Columbia GP-3, which was skipping and playing only at a very low volume with a tinny sound. He gave great advice about upgrading from a portable player to a larger home speaker setup (for better sound quality), and suggested that alternatively I could replace the needle on my player, drawing diagrams and doing demonstrations to make sure I understood the mechanics behind my player's broken sound. Thank you, Sheldon! read more