1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 1416746778

SONIC FRONTIERS LINE 3...TUBES & CAPS upgrade

Hi guys
I have my first tube preamp in my room and was wondering what tubes (crucial area only) and caps you have tried...also where you got them from..
I have been in touch with Chris Johnson of Parts Express on his super duper upgrade as he is a hour away from work but im in Canada and he wants to charge $60/hr and taxes in USD... Not gonna fly in my house.. besides I have my own tech.
He uses V caps ($$$$) but was curious about Mundorf maybe or????
Also what tubes you found that were smooth..
Not sure all the sources for these items.
I use Mark levinson ml series amps with my awesome ATC super mids and SS 7100 tweeter and have a fully recapped KRELL FPB 600 running all my lows..
Any experiences and help appreciated. ...
Thanks
mclsound
jea48
2,944 posts
 

+1 Brf's post. I have always been more impressed with Sonic Frontiers build design than their sound qualities. Their tube amps and preamps sound very 'solid state' like to me.
11-24-14: Jmcgrogan2
I can only speak for the Line One preamp. If current stock tubes are used the preamp does sound like SS. Not so with early to mid 1960s Amperex PQ white label 6922 or 7308 tubes. Same for Siemens early 1960s all grey plate CCa or E188CC tubes.

The OP will find the same thing with the Line Three. LOL, though it might cost him a few thousand dollars to find out at today’s prices of old 1960s vintage tubes.
Jim
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
Stick to you position! You have a local tech, so why let the original designer and the developer of the best mods touch your amp? It would be like sending it back to the original manufacturer. Instead you could have a local guy open it up and try to figure out what to do from scratch. A fresh set of eyes so to speak. If he's smart, he won't even ask the original designer for the schematics, after all, he is a smart local tech.
mclsound OP
159 posts
 
Onhyw61...your words are sneaky. ..but you answer no questions I asked..only your own. .
I was asking about tube and capacitor experience. .and for your information 61....why would I pay a man $149usd for one of four caps when I can buy one of 4 for $89usd...thats just on one cap...
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
I'm not going to tell you how to spend your money, but if I were you, I'd send it to the guy at Parts Express. To not do so would be penny wise and pound foolish. It's real close to a no-brainer type decision. Best of luck!
brf
1,699 posts
 
Fully loaded Upgraded Parts Connexion SF L3 comes on the market quite frequently and the asking price is not too much more than a stock L3, albeit you won't have the option of customizing the unit with the parts you covet.

Use the stock L3 in your system for the time being and if you decide you like the sound, keep an eye out for a SE+ L3 and sell your stock L3. You will never recoup your upgrade investment should you go down that route only to learn you don't like the unit.

Good luck.
More to discover