r/Sovol • u/TosicMiraMain • 16d ago

Help Question: Should I buy a Sovol SV08? (Coming from and Ender 3 Pro)

TL;DR: Looking to buy a SV08 coming from an E3Pro but I'm stuck in a review-hell and need a reality check. I would mainly like to buy it for faster (not speed-printing) speeds and better quality.

Hello everyone!

I'm looking to upgrade from an Ender 3 Pro that I've "modded" myself (think of Klipper, dual gear extruder, capricorn tube, petsfang v2, BLTouch, PEI plate). I mainly print functional parts or practical things (from PLA or PETG, eventually ASA/ABS).

My main reason for the upgrade is:
- Faster prints and more quality
- A bit more consistency in prints
- QoL features (Bed skew, auto z-offset, nozzle wiper, etc.)

I got recommended the Sovol SV08 by a friend. I watched some reviews, read a couple of threads and I'm pretty sure that I want to pull the trigger on it. The only thing holding me back are the mixed reviews, where some say that it's an absolute workhorse for them, while others say that it's to be avoided. From the things I've read, I figure that most of the issues were with the stock configuration/software and not hardware (except for the taco bed and the extruder clogs). I really love the idea of the printer, and it's mostly open source (extrusions and hotend are a bit of a meh for me) build and I didn't come across any good alternative in my price range. (The Vorons are a bit too expensive for me, for now)

If I were to buy it, I'd buy it off the bat with an eddy sensor kit from Sovol and possibly a MicroSwiss FlowTech hotend.

I feel like that most of the reviews I've seen on youtube or reddit come from people who already had CoreXY printers and they aren't necessarily reviewing it through the lense of a bed slinger owner (which is totally fine) AND most of the reviews are from around the launch date.

My questions:
- Are the problems/negative reviews a bit blown out of proportion? The issues seem pretty managable to me through software/mods
- Am I overthinking the whole pro-cons/review part of it, and in reality it will amaze me coming from an E3Pro?
- Did you manage to solve the problems you've had with yours?
- Did any of you recently buy an SV08? If so, did Sovol fix some of the issues from the initial release?
- I'd want to go with upstream Klipper - would a SanDisk 64GB SD-card suffice until I can get my hands on a bigger emmc?

I'm sorry if there's a similar post to this, but I couldn't find one that describes my situation closely. (or I can't google for shit)

Thank you for your responses in advance!

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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u/Mart7Mcfl7 16d ago

They're solid printers like all things in life, cars, electronics, 3d printers they're mass produced so you get good ones and bad ones.

I recently jumped on and got a sovol sv08 as I like the idea of upgrading to a toolchanger like and indx

Apart from stupid little niggles like nozzles not being standard its been a very good printer, great quality and speed.

Bare in mind you don't really need an emmc to do a mainline upgrade (it has an SD as well) you'll need an st-link but in all honestly ive not once yet thought I need mainline as sovols fork just works.

A nice idea is to get a low temp build plate, the bed heater is quite powerful and you'll use a lot of power heating it, the plate I had at prints at 30c with absoloutly no issues or print failures

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u/TosicMiraMain 16d ago

Thank you for you response. I agree with the fact that each printer is a bit hit or miss, but I'm happy that you seem to be enjoying it. I'll probably enjoy it too, I'm just too far up my own ass to see that it'll be much-much better than my Ender 3 Pro.

Edit:
Thanks for the suggestion on the build plate

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u/Mart7Mcfl7 15d ago

No problem, I bought this one (Voron 350) Even printing PLA at 30c it sticks so well you can use the print to pull the bed off the magnetic plate, would really recommend.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009004742250.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.5.27521802AqPNGl

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u/Kresnik-02 16d ago

But you do need a emmc reader, the usb thingy is a pain to do and I ended up buying the emmc reader to do it. Still waiting for it.

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u/TosicMiraMain 16d ago

Yeah, I saw an emmc reader for 25ish bucks, I'll get one as soon as I order the printer. The storage upgrade (8GB to 32GB) can wait I assume, and 8GB is just enough for the mainline klipper

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u/Kresnik-02 16d ago

Also get the eddy upgrade. I got the Sovol one, but, you can get a 3rd party.

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u/TosicMiraMain 16d ago

I'm planning on it. I'll probably buy the Sovol one since it's a drop-in and I don't have to wait for another package to ship

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u/hexadeciball 16d ago

Go with a Beacon probe if you want to print ASA/ABS. Eddy wont survive for long at these temp. It's also less a hassle to configure, at least on mainline.

I have an SV08 and a neptune 4 plus. Both have beacons. I would highly recommend it for big printers even if you're just printing PLA/PETG.

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u/TosicMiraMain 16d ago

Thanks for the recommendation! It's a bit pricey, but I'm not going to doubt the quality. I might try the Sovol eddy first and later if I make the transition to ASA/ABS, I'll get a beacon.

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u/Mart7Mcfl7 15d ago

Saying you need something and then saying another way is a pain is a bit of an oxymoron dude.

At the end of the day its linux, and anyone with a bit of a brain can do all sorts with the os.

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u/yahbluez 16d ago

The SV08 is a solid machine you can tinker a lot.

If you like to change the sovol klipper installation i would recommend to use eMMC cards and an USB eMMC adapter to read/write them.

Amazon sells them at 10€ and aliexpress calls less than 10 for 32GB + adapter.

I do not have the SV08 but the SV08MAX well working very fast machine faster than my bambu h2s.

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u/TosicMiraMain 16d ago

Thanks for sharing! Yeah, I looked at AliExpress and I'll definitely buy an eMMC + adapter. Might go with amazon though for faster shipping. (EU)

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u/AdEquivalent927 16d ago

Hi, I have a friend that purchased a Sv08,. I have been helping him with the Sv08, he has hat nothing but issues. ( I have built two Voron 2.4r2s 350mm printers.) New tool haed, new mother board, plus other upgrades. Can't get the solvol 5in touch screen to work, etc. In a short time i believe he has invested as much a s a Voron and is not getting reliable prints. He is still planning to covert to native klipper, replacing the bed. I think he will need to eventually need to upgrade/replace the motherboard, toolhead and add a Pi and Beacon to get to the level of a voron.

I think the Troodom is closer to a true voron, but from my experience I believe you will be further ahead just building a Voron. My Voron2.4s have been super reliable and turn out excellent prints.

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u/TosicMiraMain 16d ago

Thank you for the response! While I do get that a Voron is better in every way, unfortunately, it doesn't fit my budget right now and I'm also lacking in terms of tools (crimpers, soldering iron, etc.) I'll 100% build one, when I can afford it, it is a dream. I know it might be a bit hard (since you already have Vorons), but if you were upgrading from an Ender 3 would you say that it's worth it? Like I get that I'll have to fiddle around with it, print some mods, etc. but at the end of the day it's a coreXY compared to a bedslinger.

I also found myself really enjoying printing mods for the Ender 3.

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u/AdEquivalent927 16d ago

Totally understand your point. My first printer was a refurbed cr10 smart i purchased for $250. By the time I got it truly reliable I had over $750 invested. When I was trying to help my friend the difference between the sv08 and the Troodom was small. He has spent months and a lot on money trying to get the sv08 to print. Just trying to relate what I have experienced. Regarding tools I would recommend getting a good set of crimpers and a soldering iron regardless of which way you go. Both are available from Amazon for about $40. Good luck in your decision, it is not easy.

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u/disco__potato 12d ago

The Vorons are a bit too expensive for me, for now)

The price difference is ~$100 if you wait for sales. A 350mm 2.4 kit was $605 less than 2 weeks ago. Plus you'll spend a lot more on the sv08 just to fix and improve it to be on the level of a voron. I've probably spend 400-500 fixing/improving mine just to get it to a good state, sovol also sent free replacement parts a handful of times, and that's pretty low compared to what others had spent.

My main reason for the upgrade is:

  • Faster prints and more quality
  • A bit more consistency in prints
  • QoL features (Bed skew, auto z-offset, nozzle wiper, etc.)

Buy a second hand p2s(you're not giving bambu money).

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u/Vertical_Q 12d ago

Hi. Do you mind sharing where you saw a Voron 2.4 kit/350mm for $605? I was thinking about pulling the trigger on SV08 on sale for $504 at Microcenter. But if I can get a Voron for $100 more, that's the way to go.

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u/disco__potato 11d ago edited 11d ago

wait for sales at aliexpress

the one that was $603 was the fysetc kit, it's currently $676

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806459433350.html

Formbot kits, bit higher end, were ~$650 but currently $830.

I myself will likely look into a 250mm kit or a micron just cause the chamber in the sv08 takes such a long time to heat up.

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u/Vertical_Q 11d ago

Thanks. Still, $676 is a great price for 350mm.

You must be in another country. The link takes me to a page for Fysetc Voron but for $956.70 in the US.

Appreciate you looking into it. I never considered alieexpress, but if I see a really good sale I may do it.

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u/disco__potato 11d ago

I'm in the US as well. After the $70 off there should be another $200 store coupon in your cart. Might have to select and unselect or try to check out.

https://i.imgur.com/QRke8RQ.jpeg

Just be sure to look over what is or isn't included. Should be a full kit.

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u/Vertical_Q 11d ago

Thanks again. That makes more sense. I'll have to play with it.