It's all good.
I have seen boutique parts cause failures or unintended circuit operation.
My deal? I see a constant stream of "upgraded" equipment messed up. Normally other bad techs do this, but enough owner modified things in response to what they have read from self appointed experts. I'd like to do normal repairs and see lower service invoices to customers. Equipment in stock condition or well serviced these days is rare. Very sad. I feel many people are taken advantage of by techs offering "upgrades" and "recaps" that don't even understand what they are doing (or they wouldn't do it).
There is nothing more sad than a nice piece of equipment that can't be repaired because it will no longer be reliable. The work responsible was usually very expensive - and incorrect. That is a crime.
I have seen boutique parts cause failures or unintended circuit operation.
My deal? I see a constant stream of "upgraded" equipment messed up. Normally other bad techs do this, but enough owner modified things in response to what they have read from self appointed experts. I'd like to do normal repairs and see lower service invoices to customers. Equipment in stock condition or well serviced these days is rare. Very sad. I feel many people are taken advantage of by techs offering "upgrades" and "recaps" that don't even understand what they are doing (or they wouldn't do it).
There is nothing more sad than a nice piece of equipment that can't be repaired because it will no longer be reliable. The work responsible was usually very expensive - and incorrect. That is a crime.
The 2w Tantalums for the bias have been fine and reliable in this amplifier. Maybe used in the output signal you may of had that result. but it's all down to the design circuit at the end of the day and you will always get different results dependent of the circuit. Tantalums are fantastic when placed in the right setting. Don't disregard them just from one circuit design.
Not quite clear to me what benefit there might be to introducing 1/f current noise into a bias circuit?
Not sure about this one but I will just have to live with it. The good thing is they're a dam sight better that the original Bias Resistors. The originals were badly cracked and failing early on in the amplifiers life and the tantalums were what I had lying around at that time. Another extremely Reliable amplifier that is still used in rotation.
Sonic Frontiers is one of those brands which had it all. Great looks , impeccable engineering and very good parts but for whatever reason it didn't sound like it 🙂 This is a behind the scenes opinion circulating in audio circles. Gut it, and put in all obsolete preferably oil filled parts or the ones which were at least exposed for 50 years to elements in the shed or garage and it may become a music maker haha
Yeah!!! I Don't agree with any of those opinions at all. It's a very capable beast. maybe this could have been based on system mismatch it does have quite a high output but it's one hell of a pre amp. Also It could be because it was made in Canada and some of those Disgruntled American firms were not happy with what sonic Frontiers was producing at reasonable cost's 🙂🤣. I don't know but it's the best pre I've had and I've had quite a few.
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Actually Polish sources were saying it too 🙂 I'm afraid it's not a sleeper brand
and one which needs to be downgraded and not the other way around, BUT only your opinion matters in this regard.
and one which needs to be downgraded and not the other way around, BUT only your opinion matters in this regard.
Oh my days, that's why the front panels are yellow I've purchased another bloody lemon Why didn't I do just do some research , I'm not saying what it's linked up to as that would be shot down too. I may as well be done with it and purchase a BOSE system.
Hi bedomes,
We all make our best decisions on the information we have. Period. In no way was I being critical.
Actually, no. I was acknowledging that if we want something done, we will use whatever we feel is reasonable and at hand. That's rather than wait and expend money when we don't have to. That was all my comment was. It is a reasonable course of action.
We all make our best decisions on the information we have. Period. In no way was I being critical.
Now, on Sonic Frontiers products. They were good. I'm not boosting them as I was never part of that company. I had my own business throughout that time period. I had no knowledge of what mad them tick, I wasn't extremely interested.
Every product is built to a price point, and engineers do their best. Except sometimes in the high end audio industry where someone decides they know more than anyone and is making the best product possible. We all know those products. Sonic Frontiers used real live engineers, more than one.
So, were they the best? Maybe not, they were also not bad and didn't cost the world. I know of many products that were far worse in design and sound quality. On that basis, I'd say you could do much woprse spending more money. Since I live and work in the general area the company operated, and we didn't see very many with problems out of warranty. They are well designed.
It's funny, I probably could have had some of their stuff pretty easily. Never did for no reason at all.
Every product is built to a price point, and engineers do their best. Except sometimes in the high end audio industry where someone decides they know more than anyone and is making the best product possible. We all know those products. Sonic Frontiers used real live engineers, more than one.
So, were they the best? Maybe not, they were also not bad and didn't cost the world. I know of many products that were far worse in design and sound quality. On that basis, I'd say you could do much woprse spending more money. Since I live and work in the general area the company operated, and we didn't see very many with problems out of warranty. They are well designed.
It's funny, I probably could have had some of their stuff pretty easily. Never did for no reason at all.
They are worth every penny -looks , construction and parts involved. I think because of golden looks they are getting attention of Asian customers and prices are on the " rice ". You have made a sound decision. 🙂
Ps. Once you get completely deaf like myself there is always Naim ..Should be "chip like chips " in your necks of the timber