SONIC FRONTIERS LINE 3...TUBES & CAPS upgrade

Here's another option that may work for you. I would call The Cable Company and see what they think. I bought my SF preamp from them and they offered different upgrade packages, along with stock units. You'll get good advice and they have one of the best reputations in the industry. They always sell you what's in your best interest.

And check the relays, they are usually the ones that will create problems with the SF units from that era.

I second BrF's comments but in regards to the SF Power 2 amp. The amp was not involving and definitely did not have that magical 'tube' sound I've heard through many other tube amps, VTL, Counterpoint...... I've read that the SF preamps and amps were voiced in similar fashion. At $5000 retail I had higher expectations from the amp. It seemed darn close to solid state sound but with rolled frequencies at both ends and lack of bass definition and control. I actually went in a different direction and purchased a pair of Monarchy Audio SE-100 Delux MkII amps as factory refurbs for < $1000. These are not perfect amps either but they easily outperformed the SF amp across the board and for considerably less money.
Try the SF preamp in stock form and roll tubes. I suspect you'll end up with something different in the long run - Joule, VAC.....
Happy listening!!!!!

SF SFL-1 was my 1st tube pre. Upgraded to SFL-2 and finally Line 3 then mod to Line 3SE+ by Chris Johnson @ Parts Connexion. Also had Power 3 and then mod to Power 3SE+ by Chris. Coincidentally all pre drove Krell amps. KSA100s, FPB300 and FPB600. SF pre is an excellent match with Krells.

With stock Sovtek or EH 6922, it was hard, flat and SS sounding so did lots of tube rolling. My favorite were Philip Holland or Amperex e88cc/6922. For the 6U8A position, Ediswan CV5065 was my favorite.

I remember Chris offered mod packages so I would contact him for his latest. In my SE+ mods, all caps were Audio Note copper and silver, rewired with silver ... lot of stuff.

PCX bills in US$. With US stop printing $ and the world printing Yens, Euros, Yuans ... US$ has risen so good for US consumers.

Funny story, I was dealing with a Canada Audio company. When CAN$ was higher than US$, his PayPal invoices were in CAN$. Now it has reversed, he tried to bill me in US$ so I asked him to be consistent and change it to CAN$. He refused so out of principle, I canceled the order.

If you think Chris Johnson is an audio designer or a qualified electronics technician, you know nothing about the history of Sonic Frontiers. Chris Johnson is a marketer and a boutique parts supplier who just swaps parts for high cost flavour of the month expensive parts.

Factor in the cost of a used Line 3, plus $$ upgrades, plus $$ 12 NOS tubes, and you have a lot invested that could go towards a much better, and reliable, preamp.