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Sonic Frontiers Line 2 or 1 compared to new SE

I've used and enjoyed an SF Line 2 for near 4 years, but my dealer has never had the SE versions either as demos or in stock, and I've not heard them. Are there some out there who have had the opportunity to compare the Line 2 (or Line 1) to the SE versions? And if so what did you think?

SF is now offering factory up-grades and I'm seriously considering having it done. Any observations or thoughts on these pre-amps and/or the SE versions. I see they are now putting 2 NOS Seimens and 4 Brimars in the SE versions (they ran out of Valvos). But I tried the Valvos in my stock Line 2 and found them to be too bloomy and diffuse for my taste and went back to the stock Sovteks. Thanks. Craig
garfish
kevziek
323 posts
 
Hi, Craig. How are you? As far as the Line 3 sounding forward, bloomy and diffuse, it sounds like you had a bad unit. No one has ever characterized it sounding like that; to the contrary, almost every reviewer has characterized it as having a somewhat recessed midrange, and a "cool" rather than "bloomy" sound.

If you have the opportunity to listen to one in your system, I would do it. And don't be foolish -- if you have the upgrade done and don't like the tubes, sell the tubes and buy the Sovteks from Sonic Frontiers. You'll come out way ahead.
lneilb's avatar
lneilb
107 posts
 
I would have to concur that the Sovteks are very good tubes for SF preamps. They are damn neutral. I have settled with 2 Valvos and 4 Sovteks, which improves bass weight a bit.
garfish OP
1,840 posts
 
Lneilb; That's an excellent suggestion-- thanks. I had a full set of Valvos (six) and didn't care for the sound when all six were used-- wish I had tried it with just two as you are doing. I do think my system could use a touch of warmth. Hi Kev; yeah, I'd like to try a Line 3 again. Cheers. Craig.
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