Sonic Frontiers SFD-1mk2 Vintage DAC for $750 That Stomps Most Modern DACs

Hey Luckbad, did you ever make a write up between all the DAC's you tested?
I saw your post on the Gungnir Multibit thread that you were on the loaner list for it, plus you had a Audio-GD Master 11 & that you might be trying a Metrum Musette as well

How do they all perform to the Sonic Frontiers SFD mk2, especially to the Gungnir Multibit if you heard it?

 

So I got rid of the SFD-1 MKII in part because I wouldn't have been able to resist shipping to pcX for SE+ upgrades, which would've been really expensive with shipping.

They listed one yesterday. That means free shipping for upgrades. I also sold a lot of gear recently... So I have an SFD-1 MKII with SE+ mods on the way from pcX.

 

Was the SFD that you had really a huge step up from the Gungnir Multibit/Master 11?

 

Not a huge step up. I've never owned a Gungnir Multibit, but I found it a little upfront/forward sounding for my taste. If those ever come down to a reasonable price used when I have extra money, I'll probably grab one to try it in my system. That said, I don't have a balanced amp anymore and people say The Gungnir Multibit is much better balanced than single-ended.

The biggest improvement of the Sonic Frontiers DAC over the M11 is the soundstage. It has the biggest stage of any DAC I've owned, and I've been missing it a bit lately since I primarily listen to classical music at home while reading.

I've sold so much gear recently that I don't feel too bad grabbing the SFD-1 again. I sold it, I missed it, it must mean it's worth having for me.

Ultimately, it'll only be in the neighborhood of $400 beyond selling the DAC it replaces. The Atlantis+ is going to work and Canary is going to a new home. I briefly considered selling the Atlantis because it's worth more than the Canary, but it's one of a kind and would be tough to get modded like it is again.

 

And.... Let's see how long it lasts this time?

I'm still enjoying my SFD1 - Started to use the ST optical input recently. Amazing. I'm done with headphones with this. Focusing more on setting up my speakers now. Might get a Modi Multibit for travels with my Vali + HD580 combo though.

 

Tell me if you want to hear a Gungnir Multibit, I can lend you mine for a few days to compare. Hopefully, you'll be happy with your final choice. I've used it balanced and single ended on speakers, and I can't really say the sound changes, but i do use fairly neutral preamps. On headphones, that might be a different thing. A lot of differences lie in USB vs SPDIF, though.

 

You might recall my recent gear purge. I sold enough that I ended up splurging when an SFD-1 MKII showed up on pcX.

Recertified, cleaned up, warrantied for a year for $800. It came with new tubes (6N23P-EV) and soundcoat.

I decided to finish out the SE Plus mods with RCA jacks, output wire, output series resistors and output coupling caps. That ran $200.

Plugged it into the Lynx E22 via AES with no warm-up and it already sounds great. It's hard to be sure of differences but I think it's slightly cleaner.

 

It's is an exceptional DAC. I am yet to hear mine with AES. No one will sell me a 2nd hand mutec for a good price. Try roll in some teles or amperex 7308s. Really alters the sound.

Congrats mate.

 

Where did you find ST optical cable also what has ST optical out???

 

I've gotten a Bel Canto USB Lightlink to hook up my tablet to the Sonic Frontiers. The unit came with an ST optical cable.
It's no Theta/SFT, but comparatively it does sound better than the TOSLINK/coaxial inputs. Gap lessens with coaxial.

 

Interesting. My SFT-1 died. I think I will stick to the mutec 3.0 solution, I want to try the AES on this thing badly.

 

@Xecuter Died as in is unusable, needs repairs died?

 

Died as in microprocessor seems to have died, PCX says they don't die and that they don't have a replacement part for me.
So it's a fully SE+ upgraded SFT-1 gold faced door stop at the moment.

I Also have the SFL-2 pre-amp. haven't modded it as it is pretty solid as is. 8x 6922!


http://imgur.com/a/SyIkz

 

Really happy I picked one of these back up. After leaving it on for a day, the epic bass is back and the sound has thickened up. Not sure if it's power on time or burning in the new parts.

No more goodbyes to this DAC.

I know when I keep something for a few months or buy it twice, I actually need to keep it.

On the list:

Sonic Frontiers SFD-1 MKII SE Plus (bought twice, second time with mods)
ampsandsound Mogwai (kept for months)
Garage1217 Project Sunrise III (bought twice)
MHDT Labs Atlantis+ (bought thrice, mods once)
Sennheiser HD650 (had for years)
Future Sonics Spectrum G10 (had for months)
Lynx E22 (bought twice)
JVC HA-DX2000 (DX1000 twice, then found the DX2000--same sound in black)

I'm down to power and cables.

 

Really? Again? Just couldn't keep away could you. There is something great about this DAC though so not surprising.

 

Not trolling, @Luckbad , but dibs when you change your mind. In the meantime, which way do you need to go with the p ower cables? Neutral to lighter, I would think?

 

I also have SFD-1 MK2 (not SE), EU version. Pairs very well with my DNA Stratus, heard that Donald also uses SF DAC in his testing setup, so after this i don't wonder why.

Anyway, have few questions here...
I still have stock tubes (some russian 6922-s), i want to try something else, but no idea what can match well. Any suggestions?

Also, how to do this SE upgrade? How much does it costs?

 

For an idea of pricing check the last two images of a post I made along time ago after my upgrades were done and prices: http://imgur.com/a/ki08J
Some pricing may have changed.

I have tried a few different tubes. Valvo e88cc, tele e88cc, amperex e88cc, 7308 and the russian 6922s
I think a lot depends on the headphones and amp you are using. Rolling tubes does result in subtle differences.
I might type up some impressions tonight to try help you.

 

Looks like Solen output caps replaced with Mundorf Alu/Oil (and their bypass caps are removed, mine are multicap). Looks like some of the electrolytics were replaced and all film caps are made to be Wimas. Can't tell much otherwise -- do you have a list of what they did?

I am in possession of luckbad's old unit.

What's funny about the solder work.... had a few old Assemblage dac's and whomever did the boards back then did not do such a great job (though they worked). The SFD stuff does indeed look better subjectively!

 

I like the Reflektor 6N23Ps. I use the '74 Single Wire Silver Shields. Nice warm ish sound and very dynamic.