keeratikul

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $650.00 from secondhand website

Summary:
I have just have this until installed in my system recently. With the price offer and company reputation, I bought this without the second thought.

At first listen, I was very disappointed with the sound stage, and also its 'voice'. I almost returned or sell them again to the people on website. But I heard the sound from no where that I should tried to turn them up a bit with the suitable cable. All my system are connected with Furutech cable. Furutech is good cable with the gentle sound. This cable suited perfectly with my previous preamp; Forte F 40. I replaced the cable with Aerotec, the Japanese 6N cable which produce lively sound.

Woola..this combination give me the pleasant 'voice' and sound stage. I am sure this preamp will be with me for quite a number of years.

Strengths:
Company reputation. Look. Only taking a glace at them without turning them on, it already sound fantastic !

Supurb sound stage, and 'voice' with the proper cable (IMPORTANT).

Weaknesses:
Very sensitive to the cable. You might miss the good hidden sound quality.

Similar Products Used:
Mark Levinson ML 331, Forte F 40, TEAC VRDS 10, B&W 801 S 3

wessongroup

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $300.00 from eBay

Summary:
This unit has given me a number of years of solid use... bought off eBay with one channel giving hiss... got it from Colorado UPS and by the time they got the unit to me it worked just fine...

I called SF and asked what they would charge to go through the unit... nothing but the shipping.

They had it a month, added in a Mullard, and sent in back stating the unit tested "emperically sound"

Now when is the last time you saw this on a invoice and/or recipt.....

Sonund is what I like, a little sharper edge to sounds..

Running through, Ah Tejob CD, source or Mac G5 through a Sony TA9000ES to bi amp 3.3 maggies (Odyssey HT3 plus mono's for the low end) rears are through the maggie's new wall mounts driven by an old Van Alenstine Dynaco 400.. with a Velodyne CT120 sub

Strengths:
I have never had a problem with the unit, runs cool, quite and all the time

Weaknesses:
None that I have found for me...

Similar Products Used:
A bunch over the years, have gone from tube in the 50's to solid state then back to tube then back to solid and have settled with a blend... of mix and match

pangl

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $475.00 from eBay

Summary:
No need to add more to the previous reviews by other fellow members. I'd just like to add that it is very very very difficult to get a decent tube-based preamp below $1000 (or even $1500 for that matter). If you want champagne but has an beer budget, get this.

Strengths:
Superb soundstage and full sound. Not as sweet as I'd expect, but very natural and nice extension. Lacks a little detail.

Weaknesses:
No weakness in this price range.

Similar Products Used:
Sonic Frontiers LINE 3 and LINE 2; Mark Levinson #26; Kora Equinox; Classe CP60; Krell PMA-3; McIntosh C26/MX110; Audio Research LS-7; Monarchy Model 33c; Melos SHA-Gold Reference; Melos 333; plus many many more.....

HIFIVE

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
The SFL-1 is an excellent preamp. Two of the things that strikes me about the the SFL-1 is its ability to throw a huge soundstage and the dynamics it produces which are in my opinion as good as solid state preamps. Beyond the dynamics is the level of transparency & depth no doubt contributed by its one tube. I have had tube ARC preamps that might slightly edge the SFL-1 in transparecy but the SFL-1 sure beat them in dynamics. This preamp is both musically satisfying & a joy to listen to. For its used price point I easily give it 5 stars.

Strengths:
Quality build and sound quality. Only one tube to worry about & I understand this tube will last a long time.

Weaknesses:
You must be joking!

Similar Products Used:
ARC, CJ & many others.

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from Hi Fi Farm

Summary:
My SFL1 has been a wonderful product, I have never had a single problem or malfunction. The highs are clear and detailed, the midrange is superb, voices are full bodied, clear and life like. The low end is abundant and rich. The soundstage is wide, and vocalist and instruments each occupy their their own space. I am very satiisfied with this piece, and have never felt the need to replace it. Thanks Sonic Frontiers for producing such a reliable and great sounding product. Unbeatable for the price!!!

Strengths:
Great match with solid state amps, excelent build quality, reliability, clarity, life like midrange, accurate full low end.

Weaknesses:
None............at this price are you kidding

Similar Products Used:
Aragon, Bryston