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Sonic Frontiers Line - 1 Volume Control

Has any owner of either a SF Line-1, 2 or 3 preamp experienced problems with the volume control? You may know that the control is in fact an optical shaft encoder.
I have had 3 failures of these units.
First pre-amp just "froze" after a few month's use, and was replaced with a brand new model (as opposed to being repaired).
The second unit also developed similar problems after 2.5 years use, though this time the fault was more severe in that the volume control would inexplicably "ramp-up" to maximum (95.5db) unassisted in any way. Took out a few KT88 tubes on one of my power amps before I get to it - and turn off. The preamp was fitted with a new shaft encoder and "logic" box (behind the fascia) under warrantee in 2000, and was fine until last month when the shaft encoder froze (yet again) after turning on from Standby. The unit will still funtion of course via the remote control, so its NOT the end of the world!Have sourced a replacement encoder and awaiting fitting by local techo.
Purpose of this question is to ask if any other owner of these series of otherwise very fine pre-amps have experienced similar problems?
(RH)
cicero42

Showing 1 response by semi

semi
649 posts
 
The volumne problem is very common on all SF Line series which use an optical encoder. Sonic Frontiers does not make that encoder, so blame it on the manufacture that makes it.

It's relatively easy to replace, I did mine in less than 2 hours and that was my first job. You can order parts from Frank in SFI or from outside source, but price is very close and Frank is a super nice guy that will guide you thru any problem you might encounter.
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