Audio Research vs Sonic Frontiers

Keep in mind the choice of tubes-they influence the sound and tube rolling can offer you the ability to tune your system to your liking-find a good dealer that offers tube choices i.e Upscale Audio.

Hi Guys: Thanks much for your opinions to date. To clarify: I have to go with balanced connections which is why I have arrived at these two choices. Listening would indeed be the best route however it is not practical as I am buying over the internet and local shops do not lend out gear. The main criticism of SF stuff is that it is more like transistors than transistors. It may well be that AR is the same. I do want the flexability to "dial in" the sound with NOS tubes and am seeking a lush full detailed sound with a tight bottem end (don't we all want that...er, em back to audio) and sound stage. For those who asked, the system is SFCD1, Quicksilver V4's and Martin Logan SL3's. Thanks, I look forward to hearing more.

Hi (again) Otis; IMO the only reason the SF Line 2 sounds sort of like solid state is because of the stock Sovtek tubes. I put in a mixed set of NOS tubes in mine and it became rich, lush, full etc.-- but quite frankly, too "tubey" for me, and I preferred the more neutral sound, (and yes drier) sound of the stock Sovteks. My point is that with tube rolling, you can radically change the sound of the SF. I suspect that this is true of most/all tube pre-amps. I intend to try another NOS set that should have a less dramatic change in sound character. Cheers. Craig.

Hi Craig: What tube compliment do you suggest, Kevin Deal says he can really make this unit sing but won't say unless you buy from him. Im thinking Brimar Otis

Sorry I can't make a recommendation Otis. The one NOS tube set I tried came from Kevin Deal. It consisted of 2 NOS Amperex and 4 less expensive tubes that I can't remember. I didn't care for it though. Kevin Deal does have a wealth of tube info. as I'm sure you know. Redkiwi has recommended "Bugle Boys"-- I'm not familiar with them but may try to find them. Luck. Craig