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sonic frontiers line 2 break in?

I need advice from anybody with experience breaking in a new sonic frontiers line 2 preamp. I just replaced my conrad johnson pfr solid state pre with this unit. All the reviews I have read regarding sfl2 describe it being clear, dynamic and with an open soundstage, well mine sounds like I am listening to the music with a head cold. Is there a possible problem with my unit or does it need more time or what? The cj sounded great but wasn't compatible with some of my components. Help
bigwavedave
bulldogger
274 posts
 
My pre-amp sounded the same way when I first got it. I was sick! Figured I had make a mistake by purchasing it. I suggest you leave it on for a few days then check back. Sonic Frontier makes great pre-amps. My pre-amp was lifeless, sterile and had a very swallow soundstage at first. But after about 50 hours, it really loosened up. After 100 hours, it was fully broken in. I do not have the same brand as you but I now what you are going thru. Thinks will get better.
1201byl
2 posts
 
Are shutting it off? It might take a week for it to recover from a total turn off. I just bought a Line 2 SE and it sounded great out of the box and gets better every day. Maybe it's your amp? I am using a Plinius SA100, which sounded great with my Plinius M16 preamp. It's sounds phenominal with the SFL2SE. Is the amp the only thing you changed in your system? SF gear is going to bring out the best and the worst in your source also. It might also be a bad tube.
bigwavedave OP
44 posts
 
I have been leaving my whole system on for two days now, I don't leave the music playing when I am not home though. My system sounded great with the demo model cj it was sad to have to return it. I am hoping this sfl2 will open up.
rmml's avatar
rmml
204 posts
 
Bigwavedave, whats the rest of your gears?
I was asking because 1201byl maybe right as SF Line 2 is very tranparent that you really can't hide anything from it.
I find the SF line series to be either you love it or hate it,due to it's ruthless nature of revealing everything.

I have a line 2SE myself that I bought a couple of months ago.I remember when I was breaking it in that it sounded like it has a head cold exactly like you described. I left it running for at 48 hrs straight (low volume)without listening to it, I was able to do it that long because I was so disapointed with my initial impression.

It was Saturday morning when I listened to it again.Oh Men,I'm saying to myself,"This is the Sonic Frontiers Line 2 SE that I was expecting" Everything just clicked.I absolutely love this preamp.

If your unit doesn't open up after 48 hrs of straight play I would suggest checking your tubes.

The rest of my gears if you're interested are
EMC 1,Line 2 SE,Krell FPB 200,Thiel 3.6,
NBS monitor series and Siltech cabling.FIM and NBS PCs.
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