What's the scoop on Sonic Frontiers?

DAGLJAM6
DAGLJAM6 Posts: 635
edited November 2004 in Electronics
Specifically the older products. The Anthem pre1 looks like a decent tubed preamp and was wondering about build and sound quality.
Anyone have any experience with SF's products?

Thanks,
Dave
Post edited by DAGLJAM6 on
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Comments

  • tonyv1
    tonyv1 Posts: 365
    edited November 2004
    The Anthem line was the budget line of the Sonic Frontiers family. Anthem products only have single ended outputs (RCA) whereas the SF line included balanced outputs. Here's a link to the old Anthem products. I own the PRE 2L Special Edition tube preamp and an AMP 2 hybrid amp (tube front end and solid state output). I upgraded from a Parasound P/HP 850 and HCA-1500A. This all drives my modded Magnepan MG12s. I love this setup, Tubes and Maggies! The AMP 1 tube amp is also a highly regarded item.
    If you need real info, email Chris Johnson of parts conneXion, he was the President of SFI before Paradigm bought SFI.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2004
    I also own a Anthem Pre-2L, albeit the non-special edition. It is an excellent pre-amp, and a real bargain on the used market.

    Skip the SF, but an Anthem Pre-2L if your into this brand.

    This Pre on NOS Mullard or NOS JAN is outstanding. The stock Sovtek's are average.

    If you do buy one, make sure it has had the volume control upgraded or modified by Anthem/SF. The early models had a real bad potentiometer problem. If it hasn't been fixed, pass.

    BlueMDPicker also owns a Pre-2L. Three ppl on a single board must mean something eh?
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • DAGLJAM6
    DAGLJAM6 Posts: 635
    edited November 2004
    Thanks guys for the info. I'm just getting my s**t together while I
    save for the inevitable addition. The "mancave" at Polkfest really "ruined" me for anything but that tube front end/ss amplifier sound.
    The set up will end up being:
    Jolida CDP
    Kenwood M2 amp
    *****Tubed preamp (brand to be determined)
    Sda2's
    Should,on paper,sound pretty good.

    Dave
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2004
    Dave - Reeltrouble(Ted) ended up picking that Dodd Audio tube pre-amp up the other day. It is better than the Anthem, but it's as mentioned in the PM, very simple and no remote.

    I picked my Dodd up just to get by while the 2L is being repaired, and I'll be damned if it didn't establish itself pretty quickly.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • DAGLJAM6
    DAGLJAM6 Posts: 635
    edited November 2004
    I've been flipping the Dodd pre idea around and aesthetically it does grow on you and if it's a good sounding unit I'm becoming more interested.

    Dave
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,093
    edited November 2004
    Dave,

    www.tfta.com HAD a demo Pre-2L reasonable some time ago.....might be worth a look.


    Doro,

    Man, I feel bad about your pre getting dicked up at polkfest. Lemme know what the repair bill is. I'm down with a few bucks to get it fixed.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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