Schiit Saga Thread

I use a Freya in the same fashion. Some don’t like the Freya as well, but it’s pretty transparent to my ears, and lets me use the balanced output from my Gungnir Multibit. No tubes even in the Freya. The Gungnir Multibit sits on top of it. This works well for me. I suspect the saga would be cheaper and better. Nervosa would have me using balance to se transformers though, and would end up costing me more......

 

There's a 53-54 sylvania on tube world express rn.

 

RCA 6SN7s are laid back. They’re warm and the the top end is rolled off. Priced around the same as Tung Sol 6SN7GTB that can be purchased off Schiit.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/113445874553

 

Never heard it with with out the Tung sol. Since I got the platinum amp I've been feeding it directly. I will try it through saga today. I felt the saga was transparent with the 2 other amps in passive but tube buffer never did anything worth while. Saga is still great though. I find I only have the LP at 9 o clock on some louder recordings. Hopefully one click down from max on saga can help that.

 

I got the last one tctubes had in stock. Brent Jessee has some but he is closed until Jan 14. I think the 1940's Tung Sol 6SN7GT black round plates are still considered best. I am not going to consider spending $250 on a tube unless the Saga proves to me it can really scale with a better tube.

 

Yeah Saga is cheaper overall, for a variety of reasons!

I noticed a difference rolling tubes, Sylvania vs RCA of pretty standard tubes, nothing super high end.

 

Good to know thanks but you can always use an octal socket saver from Tubemonger to raise the base of the tube up to the top of the chassis. Why take a chance with an expensive tube.

 

Those aren't bulletproof either, but maybe lesser of two evils if it does touch the chassis.

Holes in Freya seem smaller than Saga which sucks. Even modern EH gold pins barely squeeze in there.

 

Excellent thread. I'm thinking about getting a Saga and have been learning more about it. Anyone upgrade the power cord and see any benefit?

 

The Saga definitely scales with a better tube. Using the $25 Tung Sol 6SN7GTB from Schiit I preferred passive mode. I have been listening today with a Sylvania 6SN7GT / VT-231 (1951 manufacture from date code) and what a difference a better tube makes!

Active mode now sounds better than passive and the difference is not subtle. Tonal balance does not change from passive to active mode but soundstage width and depth increases, with better imaging and layering. There is more air around voices and instruments and it is easier to hear deeply into recordings. Listening to live recordings I am hearing details in active mode I miss in passive, like room echoes and reverb trails.

This is one fine preamp for $349 as long as you replace the tube. Yes it still comes with the plastic remote but you can order the Freya metal one separately for $18.

 

Just ... please don't anyone spend 300 freedom rubles on a mullard for a saga.

 

No need ... you don't have to spend over $100 for a fine tube for the Saga. Brent Jessee has the same early 1950's 3 rivet hole blackplate Sylvania I paid tctubes $114 for $70. I paid the premium because Jessee is closed until Jan 14.



There is a 6SN7 thread on HF claiming the only true Bad Boy has a 1952 date code while some say the late 1951 to early 1953 Sylvania 6SN7GT 3 rivet hole blackplates are also Bad Boys with best bass and high end. Brent Jessee says there is no difference in SQ between the years or 2 versus 3 rivet hole blackplates.

Bass using the 1951 Sylvania 6SN7GT is certainly very good. Nice extension and punch. Since getting the Saga with a good tube I found I no longer need to use a Loki to boost 20 Hz so one less piece of gear in the chain. I also found I now prefer the 32 Ohm headphone out on my Kenzie where previously I was using the 300 Ohm jack.

Edit: I lost the left channel on my Sylvania from tctubes, which has already been sent back for a refund. I got a good deal on a 1940's Tung Sol 6SN7GT and it does sound better than the Sylvania. There is a minor improvement in sound stage width and depth, but better imaging with extended clear highs and more air around instruments and vocals. I managed to get one for $180 by bargaining, asking prices on eBay are only going to go up as this is a great tube. You don't have to buy the Tung Sol I could easily live with the Sylvania which is a solid buy at $50 to $70 so get a spare if you like the tube. I tried a 5692 and did not care for it in my system: recessed highs and the midrange was too warm.

 

I've got an offer in on a Saga with the better remote, LISST, Tung Sol, and some sort of socket riser that makes tube rolling easier. Basically, I have far more gain in my current setup than I need, so I'm hoping a passive will still provide plenty of volume without really adding any other character to the sound. I'm currently using an Odyssey Candela with radiotechnique 12AU7s in it.

Beyond that, I've put in an offer on a really nice Ken Rad black glass tube. Price was less than the GE and Sylvanias on Upscale, so we'll see.

Chain would be Jay's CDT2 CD Transport > Yggdrasil Analog 2 Balanced > Jensen 1:1 transformer > RCA > Saga > Odyssey Stratos amp. I do have about a 3M cable run to the amp right now, but with Saga, I could actually shorten that quite a bit (in fact I think I could put Saga right above my amp, to get a very short cable run.

 

Saga got here today, three days early. I have the NOS tube in it to start and I quite like it but need to listen more. It seems, to me, to be pretty transparent and I have no qualms about soundstage or imaging, coming from an Odyssey Candela. Excited for the new tube to go in it later this week. And I hear a very big difference between passive and tube hybrid mode, and I think I like the former for rock/metal and passive for jazz, orchestra, and very cleanly-recorded music. But I've got quite a bit of listening to do. Seems a hell of a value though, IMO.

 

@alubis I take it you have no issue driving the active ATCs? I plan on bringing some gear down to the shop to try the active 40s but worried about potential impedance mismatching.

 

Saga out is 180 Ohm, you should have no issue.

 

So far Dangerous Music Source active preamp working better with my ATC SCM19A compare to Saga and Freya in all modes. Might be impedance matching, the active ATC has 10k input impedance. If your dealer can lend you good active preamp that would be ideal, so you can compare directly to your Saga.

I haven't try passive TVC or AVC though.

 

Just bought these for $28 shipped after redeeming some random $10 coupon I had on purchases over $30. I plan on using them for rolling the saga tube when I find one used for sale.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/223315961024

Was it a good deal/purchase?

Bought it based on what I've read hear.

 

You already bought it, just tell us your thoughts when you get it and others will chime in instead of cluttering the thread.

 

I've seen a few mentions of fake tubes I meant more along the lines of that.


But yeah betterr to ask for in the advice thread I apologize.