Hi Michaela; I just had my Line 2, which I've owned for nearly 4 years, up-graded to the SE level. The up-grade was $999., and was worth it to me. I've had it back less than a week now, so it's still breaking in, but my sense is that that it is smoother warmer, richer, and according to Frank P. the SF Rep., it will still "open up" some more.
SF no longer has any Seimens tubes and mine came back with all Brimar 6922s which is a warmer tube than the stock Sovteks. The Brimars are a 1970s NOS British tube that is distinctly softer/warmer tube than the more neutral and dynamic Sovteks. I strongly suspect that the main sonic change is as a result of the different tubes, but how do you tell? My Line 2 was gone 5 weeks and I used a Line 1 in the interim.
I like excellent PRaT as well as excellent vocal timbre, and with 6 Brimars, hard driving rock was just too soft/slow, so I put 4 new Sovteks in the follower positions and left 2 Brimars in the gain positions (V1 and LV1 positions)-- well, that did it for me-- sort of the best of both worlds. The Brimars provided some warmth and body and the Sovteks dynamics and a more "liveness". Now the Line 2 has excellent vocal timbre as well as PRaT.
I also own a line 1 (I use it as a back-up, but also in HT) and I consider the Line 1 and 2 to be sonically very similar. I like the Line 2 SE very much and I'm glad I had the up-grade done, but it's a small (and worthwhile, IMO) improvement over an already a very good pre-amp. But only you can decide if it's worth it to you. As I noted before, I think it is the different tubes that are responsible for much of the difference, so if you want to take the least expensive route, try some tube rolling-- especially in the gain positions. Or as I did, do both;>) Good Luck. Craig
SF no longer has any Seimens tubes and mine came back with all Brimar 6922s which is a warmer tube than the stock Sovteks. The Brimars are a 1970s NOS British tube that is distinctly softer/warmer tube than the more neutral and dynamic Sovteks. I strongly suspect that the main sonic change is as a result of the different tubes, but how do you tell? My Line 2 was gone 5 weeks and I used a Line 1 in the interim.
I like excellent PRaT as well as excellent vocal timbre, and with 6 Brimars, hard driving rock was just too soft/slow, so I put 4 new Sovteks in the follower positions and left 2 Brimars in the gain positions (V1 and LV1 positions)-- well, that did it for me-- sort of the best of both worlds. The Brimars provided some warmth and body and the Sovteks dynamics and a more "liveness". Now the Line 2 has excellent vocal timbre as well as PRaT.
I also own a line 1 (I use it as a back-up, but also in HT) and I consider the Line 1 and 2 to be sonically very similar. I like the Line 2 SE very much and I'm glad I had the up-grade done, but it's a small (and worthwhile, IMO) improvement over an already a very good pre-amp. But only you can decide if it's worth it to you. As I noted before, I think it is the different tubes that are responsible for much of the difference, so if you want to take the least expensive route, try some tube rolling-- especially in the gain positions. Or as I did, do both;>) Good Luck. Craig