SFD-2 vs Mark Levinson No. 36
The No. 36's signal-to-noise is 105 dB against the SFD-2's 110 dB, its thd 0.001% against 0.050%, and its weight 16 kg (35 lbs) against 12 kg (26 lbs). Both share bit depth (20-bit).
AI-generated product photo — not official manufacturer imagery.
About the SFD-2
The Sonic Frontiers SFD-2 is a high-end digital-to-analog converter (D/A processor) with a fully balanced vacuum-tube output stage using two Sovtek 6922 (6DJ8) dual triodes. It uses differential 20-bit UltraAnalog DACs with 8x oversampling digital filtering, and provides three digital inputs: coaxial S/PDIF on RCA, AES/EBU on XLR, and AT&T ST-type optical, plus one S/PDIF digital output on RCA. Analog outputs consist of one pair of single-ended RCA and one pair of balanced XLR connectors. The specified performance includes a frequency response of 5Hz to 20kHz ±0.5dB, signal-to-noise ratio greater than 110dB (A-weighted), total harmonic distortion of 0.05%, and channel separation better than 105dB at 1kHz. Output level is 3.5V single-ended and 7V balanced. The chassis measures 19" W x 4" H x 13" D (48cm x 10cm x 33cm) and weighs approximately 26.5 lbs (12kg). Introduced in the early 1990s and now discontinued, the SFD-2 is widely regarded as a classic tube-based DAC noted for its refined, musical presentation and strong build quality.
Specifications
Digital Audio
DAC capabilities and digital audio processing
- Bit Depth
- 20-bit
- Max Sample Rate
- 48 kHz
- MQA Support
- No
- DAC Chip
- UltraAnalog D20400A
Analog Output
Analog signal output specifications
- THD
- 0.050%
- SNR
- 110 dB
- Output Voltage
- 3.5V RMS
- Max Output Voltage
- 7.0V RMS
Connectivity
Input and output connections
- Bluetooth
- No
- Wi-Fi
- No
- Ethernet
- No
- Digital Inputs
- Coaxial (RCA), AES/EBU (XLR), Optical (AT&T ST-type)
- Digital Outputs
- S/PDIF (RCA)
- Analog Outputs
- Balanced XLR, Single-ended RCA
Physical Dimensions
Size, weight, and appearance
- Dimensions
- 480 × 100 × 330 mm (W × H × D)
- Weight
- 12 kg (26 lbs)
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions