Want to upgrade my Sonic Frontiers Line2

Hi Abruce, My I suggest you try to audition a BAT VK50se in your system. You should be able to find a used one for around that price, maybe even a demo from a dealer for a little more. I don't think you'll be thinking about the money when you hear it. It really is special! Best of luck, Tom

I'm totally biased since I have one for sale, but I'd pick up a used VK-30, then upgrade it at BAT to VK-30SE. If you do so, you'd get 95% of the sound of the VK-50SE (yes I've heard both) at about 60% of the cost. And as a bonus, the VK-30 has both single-ended and balanced inputs and outputs, no adaptors necessary! The VK-50/50SE have only balanced inputs and outputs.

Take the free-trial offer on a Placette buffered pre, and you will discover resolution you never achieved with the Line 2 (it beats the Line 3 also). The BAT sound is an entirely different kettle of fish - both from the Line2 and the Placette. You may very well prefer the BAT to the Placette, but to my ears, that would only be so if you hated the Placette's ergonomics or looks (quite understandable), or if you like a preamp to add its own character to the sound. Having said that, I would probably prefer to live with the BAT's romanticisation than the Line 2's sterility. But why bother when the Placette can be had for less than either, and suffers none of their colourations.

i am partial to the melos music director - the best of tubes *and* solid-state. but, if ya like the s-f sound, why not a line-3? they're practically giving these things away now - retail $5k, for sale new from dealers for ~$2800... doug. ps - i haven't heard, but i've heard good things about the ayre k1 & k1-x - mite be worth a listen...