Sonic Frontiers- Quality and Reliability?

There are just praises for SF line 2 and 3's so I'll just chime in as a line 1 user. Sonically very good given its price point used, and haven't encountered any reliability problems so far despite some claims by others.

Yes, I have owned a Line 2 for over 4 years now, wow has it been that long? Reliability has been excellent, the power supply is completely overbuilt, construction is heavy duty, all connectors are high quality. The only issue I have had is that somehow I blew a fuse in the power supply and completely wrecked the fuseholder trying to get the fuse out...and I am an EE who knows how to do this. Maybe I'm an idiot. Anyway, I emailed SF (actually Anthem) and they sent replacement fuses, then a replacement fuse and holder, which I soldered in. The point is that these are reliable, sound great, and customer service is still good even after SF went bye bye. I would not worry about reliablity if I were you; have constantly used it for years, many power cycles, much movement, travel, relocation, though I strive to be careful.

Here are the issues: Careful on your tubes, I have found that bad tubes which "hiss" will be audible on sensitive speakers (I have WP5.1, 90 dB sens.) If your tubes are good, I highly recommend the Line 2. Also, the remote was pitted, I had to send it back and get one with a nice smooth aluminum suface.

I've owned my Line 1 for a couple of years and very happy with it. But after an hour or so of playing the volume knob on it does not operate. The volume control on the remote works fine. I have it in a cabinet with only 1 1/2" clearance. Is there something overheating that causes this? The top of the chassis does get hot. Has anyone have this same problem?

Thanks so much guys for your responses!

I'm enjoying my Line 2- it's a great piece of work.

Now, any suggestions for retubing :) ?

Thanks again, Dan

Anyone want to comment on the necessity/value of tube matching on these units, especially the Line-3?

Kal