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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
knghifi
1,667 posts
 
It's all relative. If you're comparing to current preamps, then it's NO contest. But for it's vintage, very competitive and probably one of few that offers the modern tube sound.

All I can say is I enjoyed my time with SF pres and Krell amps.
testpilot
233 posts
 
Test, your comment is not exactly the whole truth and certainly spun to your particular bias on and of Chris.

What exactly is not true? Where is the bias? It is well known in the industry that SF contracted out all of their designs.

All of the Parts Connexion "upgrades" are merely part swaps.
jea48
2,944 posts
 
All of the Parts Connexion "upgrades" are merely part swaps.
11-27-14: Testpilot
No kidding?

Isn't that what most upgrades are?
Better caps, better resistors, better hook up wire? Maybe a better chip? Better volume control? Better ??

Now the soldering workmanship of swapping out components can make a big difference in the finished product don't you think?

Just curious if I send my ARC power amp to ARC for an upgrade won't they just swap out older technology parts with new higher quality parts? Like caps and resistors?

I think you may be confusing upgrades with mods.
.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
4,637 posts
 
Botton line is Chris understands his designs and is in a position to tune the sound better. Pretty simple line of logic. He also understand the electronics and design principles in his units.
darkmoebius
899 posts
 
The problem with having a 3rd party tech, unfamiliar with the Line 3, make modifications is that they will likely not know which exact component positions affect sound. Not all do, so you may be paying for unnecessary experimentation or parts replacement.

Do some searches here on Audiogon and Audio Asylum, and you will find that even the tube positions that affect sound are very tricky. A few do not affect sound at all, or much less than others. How is your local tech going to know that?

My guess is that you will actually save money n the long run going with Parts Connexcion.
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