Sonic improvement with Threshold FET 9 refurb?


Hi All,
In a recent post I was asking if anyone knew of an affordable ($1200 or so) sonic step up from my ARC SP14 preamp since a threshold FET 9 I had recently aquired from a fellow Agoner did not, to my ears. sound quite as transparent and holographic as the SP14. Very,very nice, yes, but not a step up. I didn't get any suggestions other than to upgrade the SP14 electronics and a comment that there was probably no affordable step up.
Anyway, after re-reviewing the glowing write-ups on the FET 9, I'm wondering if, despite its nearly pristine condition inside and out, my example might be a bit "tired". I realize that there is significant controversy about the need for capacitor replacement and or power supply upgrades and don't want to spend a lot of money trying to fix somethhing that is really working as well as it can, but am wondering if this might be sonically worthwhile. I would greatly appreciate hearing from anyone who has actual experience with this or a parallel scenario.
Thanks!
drjay

Showing 2 responses by tls49


There were 3 versions of the FET9, which one do you have?

1)Original

2)Original with “e” power supply (FET9 on unit and “e” on the supply)

3)Full FET9e (FET9e on unit and “e” on the power supply)
The “e” power supply was the most significant upgrade. Later the main unit was tweaked, with the addition of balanced input/output, and a slight cosmetic change.

Absolutely contact Jon Soderberg, he was at Threshold for many years during that time. I’m sure he could make your FET9 perform as well as any out there.