2. amps-preamps
  3. 1165109812

Upgrading Sonic Frontiers Line 3SE to ???

Have owned the unit a few years now, think it's time to upgrade to something better. I am happy with the midrange, top end, soundstage, transparency and all are important to me. One area I think I can use more is bass weight and dynamic, but don't want to lose any of the strength. Also like to have both SE & XLR input/output.

Have considered the following:

BAT VK-51SE
Aesthetix Calypso
ARC Ref 2 Mk II
???

Rest of my system is in flux, but what will stay is BAT VK-75SE, SF Amati Homage, VPI SSM Signature w/ Shelter 901.

I might add a solid state amp like Pass XA or X.5 series and still keep the tube amp, might upgrade my SF Phono 1SE to something else as well if I change my pre.
semi

Showing 2 responses by mitch2

mitch2
4,245 posts
 
I owned the Line 3SE for awhile, and liked it but didn't find that it did much more for me than my SS pre at the time. I also thought the bass was just a bit loose and lacking in detail. If you can put up with no remote and a clunky 23 step volume control, you might look at either of these preamps. They sound great with solid tight bass, exceptional soundstaging and dimensionality, and grainless high frequencies. These can easily drive any length balanced output cable. Linestage tubes are 12AU7 and 6SN7.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1170283497

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1170169406

The BAT and ARC models you listed are both supposed to sound great also. You would do best to try them in your own system, if possible, so you know if they really sound better to you than your Line 3SE.
mitch2
4,245 posts
 
From the discussions here regarding bass and what tubes are best in preamps, I really think you would be plesantly surprised if you were able to try one of the Atma-Sphere preamps, the MP-1 or MP-3 (6SN7 and 12AU7 in linestage), in your system - maybe if you have a friend with one to bring over. I also just thought of a couple of others you could consider - the VTL 6.5 (2x12AU7) or 7.5 (2x12AX7), which are both supposed to be quite good. I have heard the same things posted by others here about the 6H30 tubes (although never used them), and I know the 6922's in your Line 3 are getting expensive, for good NOS, and the Line 3 has a lot of them.
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