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

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Nov 9, 2015.

  1. Peti

    Peti Facebook Friend

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    I have recently purchased an SFCD-1 cd played which utilizes the same dac and I can't stop listening to my current rig. Rolled some Tungsram 6922s in and I'm in the pink. This dac is truly special.
     
  2. captkirk

    captkirk Khan's BFF

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    I have a single Tungsram that I used in a Vali2 and was most impressed with it's added clarity and sparkle up top. Too much for the CTH - just gets strident and harsh.

    I might need to pick up a pair of these from brother @E_Schaaf and Upscale to try out against a pair of Teles I've got coming.
     
  3. Habano

    Habano Acquaintance

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    When it's too good to be true...
    Turns out it was a scam. I received a warning message from UK Audio Mart about it.
    Oh well. The search continues.
     
  4. Peti

    Peti Facebook Friend

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    I know this thread is about the SF dac but I'm wondering if someone could explain it to me how to switch voltage on my SFCD-1 cd player from 120V to 220? I'm told some cables need to be swapped only as this model has multi-voltage. I really appreciate any feedback as I want to use my cd player in Europe in the foreseeable future.
     
  5. Ntbm3

    Ntbm3 Friend

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    Gents,

    Just wanted to share my recently acquired SFD1-MKII experiences.

    I purchased this unit from @captkirk who purchased it from @Xecuter. This thing has been well travelled and in the SBAF family for a while.

    SFDI-MKII Setup:
    Eitr -> AES impedance adaptor Neutrik -> SFD1-MKII -> Freya S -> Mjo2 or Starlett -> LCD-X, 650, 800S

    From reading the previous impression I have only used AES in and XLR out into the freya S then into my amps.

    All comparison to:
    Gungnir A2 -> Freya S -> Mjo2 or Starlett -> LCD-X, 650, 800S

    All the previous impressions really have matched mine. My comments are what I have found most appealing or interesting to me.

    - The most obvious difference I noticed is Gungnir is more forward and an in your face. The SFD really takes a step back and surrounds you with soundstage. This is why I wanted this DAC from the impressions in this thread.

    - SFD has a tonal density that is very appealing and just sounds right. Especially string instruments. But the sense of tone carries over in all areas. The Gungnir is a hint cooler in tone.

    - I love bass and bass resolution. The SFD does this well, the bass is strong and has texture/layering that I have really enjoyed. I would say equal too the Gugnir, and has a hint more of something that I can't put my finger on... mostly layering I feel.

    - What is very hard to describe is the music has momentum, when there is a strong bass hit, kit drum, pluck of strings it feels like it is being shot out of a sling shot. It gains momentum and then hits hard.

    - The SFD expands the sound stage to a point where I feel in the music, the opposite of a wall of sound.

    What this equates to for me is a very appealing listen that makes me want to listen for hours.

    Shortly after I received the SFD my DNA Starlett arrived. This combination has a synergy that is top notch. The least fatiguing set up I have have ever spend time with with out loosing or missing anything that I can tell. I have spends long hours with the 800S with this set up no issues.

    Think I am going to hold onto this for a long time....And the gold is so bad ass!!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Peti

    Peti Facebook Friend

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    Yeah, this DAC is singular indeed. I have heard better dacs from a technical point of view, but none of them were more enjoyable than this one. It took me forever after I sold my SFD1-MK2 to find a nice SFCD-1 (which utilizes the same dac with a cd transport) but since then I'm in the pink. I bought two extra tray mechanisms before they run out of them as the transport is not the best quality regarding durability in this unit, but now I'm set for more than 10000 hours of enjoyment.

    I also prefer this cd player b/c it decodes my HDCDs and all my pre-emphasis compact discs, including TOC and sub-coded ones.

    As far as I remember Donald North used to use this cd player to demonstrate the capabilities of his amps, and man, what a great choice.

    By the bye, the stock soviet tubes are pretty mediocre. I went with a pair of NOS Tungsram tubes from Hungary.
     
  7. Ntbm3

    Ntbm3 Friend

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    yeah I also heard that Donald used the SFCD in his system which spurred me to search for this dac. I think it is a great paring, something with r2r bass that I really enjoy.

    I tossed my Bifrost 2 in my setup yesterday for fun. It is normally in my speaker rig.

    It truly is a Gungunir in a smaller form factor so all the comparisons I made in the above post apply.

    The sound stage is a little different, not better or worse just different seat position sort of thing.

    But what is clear with the SFD-1 mkii is the depth of soundstage. It separates everything, you really are in the music.

    I think it’s magic!

    Wonder how it measures.......
     
  8. Peti

    Peti Facebook Friend

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    And consider that this dac was conceived back in 1993, if I'm not mistaken. It makes one wonder about the "development" of dacs, in general, throughout the decades. I have applied dynamat on the inside of the cd player all around the chassis (alas no pics as the player is in my other home in EU) and it made a nice difference bringing down resonance thus making the whole system sound a tad cleaner.

    Two flipsides: my SACDs are lying around, unused, but that's a compromise I'm willing to accept for this quality of sound. Also, the reading laser mechanism is extremely picky, to say the least. Hybrid SACDs, written discs, even some of my Blu-spec discs cannot be played back from time to time. Tom Ishimoto at Northridge Audio said that it is time to swap the complete tray mechanism but I want to use the current one until I max it out.
     
  9. tommytakis

    tommytakis MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    Sonic Frontier owners,

    Do you guys leave the power cord plugged in even when you're not using? I noticed that on my SFD2 "turning off" the unit by clicking the operate button is not actually turning off, but switches to stand-by mode. The instruction manual says we should plug off the power cord when not using it for extensive amount of time.

    I'm asking this because when put in stand-by mode (leaving powercord on), the tubes are still lit and I see one green LED light lit on the inside. Kind of worried if this is burning my tubes unnecessarily and I should always plug off my power cord after listening?

    [​IMG][​IMG]
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Are you sure the tube filaments are lite and it isn't a LED shining on them?
     
  11. tommytakis

    tommytakis MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    yeah this is how it looks like inside when in "stand-by mode" (powercord plugged in)

    Also @purr1n are Sonic Frontier DACs NOS or Over sampling? I thought they were OS but Dan said they're NOS because of ultraanalog chips? I tried searching online but couldn't find an answer. nvm TY @ChaChaRealSmooth and @Hands
    [​IMG]
    lights all off in the front, after pressing "operate"
    [​IMG]
    tubes still glowing?[​IMG]
    and this LED
     
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2020
  12. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    I did think it was NOS, but looking at a specification sheet online, I'm wrong and it's actually OS (file attached).
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    @tommytakis Should be OS. Probably that large IC near the SPDIF receiver module that handles it.
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It's OS, but has NOS qualities in terms of tone density.

    Might want to shoot Chris Johnson at pcx an email.
     
  15. tommytakis

    tommytakis MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    This is what Chris at PCX said over email. I'll post this just in case other owners have the same question
    [​IMG]
     
  16. lehmanhill

    lehmanhill Almost "Made"

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    You guys are terrible. I don't need one of these dacs, but I just ordered one because I've got to hear what it sounds like. They were doing some pretty cutting edge things in that "chip" for 1990. And the measureed performance isn't bad, even for today. My wallet doesn't thank you, but I am looking forward to listening to it.
     
  17. dBel84

    dBel84 Friend

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    It is not uncommon for standby mode to leave the heater coils on. This is not a terrible state and allows for the tube to be optimal when the plate voltages are switched on. The filaments can burn for many thousands of hours but if you only listen once a week, I would hard power down. If you listen daily, leave it in standby. I guess you could argue that it prevents cathode oxidation too but these low currents are never going to arc.
    .. dB
     
  18. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Been looking for one for a few months. Don't look in the last several days and I miss it. Mind sharing where you got it if they have more (PM is fine).

    On the flip side at least it's going to someone else here...
     
  19. lehmanhill

    lehmanhill Almost "Made"

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    Is it normal for the SFD-1 to need more volume from the pre-amp? I am confused because the specs suggest that the output voltage is higher than normal, but seems lower by a good margin.

    Jac
     
  20. Artasia

    Artasia Friend

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    Sorry I missed this. The SFD-1 does not have this standby feature: the tubes are completely unlit upon turning the switch off without unplugging the power cords. I leave mine plugged in the wall. If I know I will be listening over the course of a few days, I may just leave the entire unit on, but I usually power it down. While it sounds better warmed up, it does not take very long to stabilize.

    At least based on my unit, no; I have slightly less room to increase the volume on my amplifiers than with other DACs I have tried. Thankfully, the SFD-1 is pleasant enough to listen to so that this does not become an immediate problem for short-term listening sessions. I wonder if something is up with your SFD-1's outputs.
     

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