Hi Kevziek. A couple months ago when I was shopping for a used, DC'd transport, the SFT-1 was on my short list along with the Theta Data Basic II and Theta Pearl. Most SFT-1s were selling for around $1100, and the Thetas were going for $500-700 depending on model. I eventually got the Pearl, but only because I found a good deal, and a cool person to buy it from.
Although I never had the chance to audition any of these transports, I strongly considered the Sonic Frontiers even with its higher price because of what I had read here and elsewhere on the net. It's interesting that you found a review that characterizes the SFT-1 as being bright, because that is contrary to most of what I had read. Many people described it as being refined and sometimes TOO polite, especially in comparison with the Theta units. I suppose system matching is everything.
Just about all I read about the SFT-1 remarked about its superior build quality. I never figured out which mechanism it used, but it seems you have. I should also mention that Ed Deitemeier with Theta Digital informed me that the Theta Data used the discontinued Phillips mechanism, and replacement parts were very hard to come by. However, and this is one of the points that swayed me, he said the Pearl, Jade, and Miles all used the Pioneer Stable Platter mechanism which is still being manufactured. I don't know if the discontinued Phillips mechanism the Thetas used and the one you mention are the same. There have been some posts in here about the failure of a few Theta/Phillips transports and the difficulty in repairing them.
I'm sorry I don't have any first hand experience with the Sonic Frontiers unit, or was able to to do any comparisons with it. But I think you could make many more worse choices than the SFT-1. Plus it looks super cool in gold and silver. Have fun.
Although I never had the chance to audition any of these transports, I strongly considered the Sonic Frontiers even with its higher price because of what I had read here and elsewhere on the net. It's interesting that you found a review that characterizes the SFT-1 as being bright, because that is contrary to most of what I had read. Many people described it as being refined and sometimes TOO polite, especially in comparison with the Theta units. I suppose system matching is everything.
Just about all I read about the SFT-1 remarked about its superior build quality. I never figured out which mechanism it used, but it seems you have. I should also mention that Ed Deitemeier with Theta Digital informed me that the Theta Data used the discontinued Phillips mechanism, and replacement parts were very hard to come by. However, and this is one of the points that swayed me, he said the Pearl, Jade, and Miles all used the Pioneer Stable Platter mechanism which is still being manufactured. I don't know if the discontinued Phillips mechanism the Thetas used and the one you mention are the same. There have been some posts in here about the failure of a few Theta/Phillips transports and the difficulty in repairing them.
I'm sorry I don't have any first hand experience with the Sonic Frontiers unit, or was able to to do any comparisons with it. But I think you could make many more worse choices than the SFT-1. Plus it looks super cool in gold and silver. Have fun.