4 New Schiit Preamps (Saga and Freya variants)

Discussion in 'Preamps' started by rlow, May 28, 2019.

  1. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    +1 to this. Most tube preamps are higher OI, relatively speaking, and the Freya does a nice job here. Compared to something like the Rogue Audio RP-9 though, it's high.
     
  2. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    How would having, say a 5k ohms output preamp, like the Saga+ or SYS be different from one like the Freya with it's super low 75 & 600 ohms?
    That 5k is isn't to the 20:1 ratio for a 47k amp. Would the difference between them translate into sound differences or distortion?

    I also seen Khozmo preamps don't even have an option to select anything under 10k & even offers options for 200k ohms preamps. Would a higher ohm pre-amp like the 200k options color the sound or give a negative mismatch?
     
  3. murray

    murray Friend

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  4. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    Can the Freya S/+ handle the hot output of pro-DACs like the Convert 2? Right now, I use the Jensen 1:1 trafo to go from pro-balanced to consumer unbalanced (for my SE headphone amps). If that conversion is possible in the Freya, then that would be very useful.
     
  5. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    What @murray said. Check the passive preamp thread and then ask in there. Also, all the Sagas and the Freyas have both a passive mode (that have a variable output impedance) and a least 1 active mode (with a fixed, low output impedance). The Freyas have 2 active modes. SYS however is just passive.
     
  6. winterfog

    winterfog Facebook Friend

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    Indeed, I'm excited to hear some field reports about the quality of the balanced-to-SE conversion in the Freya S and the new JFET-based conversion in the Freya +. Particularly as compared to the SE outs of the Gungnir/Yggdrasil, or as compared to the various conversion boxes people sometimes report as being a step up in quality from those SE outs.
     
  7. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    It's a big ask, but in a perfect world I'd be able to read about a shootout between the OG Freya, Freya S, and Freya+ running into an Aegir or two. None of which I've yet heard but will likely end up with the S or + version. Unless the Rag2 ends up being awesome and also has a killer preamp section.

    I had a dream where some Friends had a mini-meet and felt strongly compelled to do exactly this.
     
  8. leafy

    leafy Facebook Friend

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    I heard Freya-S vs Freya+ with a single Vidar driving Maggie 1.7s at the Schittr last weekend. I ended up buying the S.
    Some personal observations:
    1. Both sound very similar on the imaging, this is perhaps a strength of the Maggie with its ultra-transparent presentation
    2. S has a bigger, firmer, punchier, more in-the-room presence from mid-bass to lower bass. The + sounded very "light" compared to the S.
    3. Overall, music from S sounds more upfront then the +
     
  9. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    What modes did you listen to them each in?Passive/Nexus/Diff buffer/Tube?
     
  10. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    This is a reasonable request!

    I thought of offering Marv the preamps for his micro-meet, but I also don't want to monopolize it.

    So, here's what we can do: the next SchittrMeet will have a preamp shootout.

    So, for those of you nearby, the next SchiitrMeet is:

    SchiitrMeet 4: Preamp Thunderdome!
    Friday, June 14, 6PM-10PM
    22508 Market Street, Newhall CA 91321

    Hopefully some Friends can come by and report back. If not, I'll see if I can get a master pack set up so preamps can go out to other meets for comparison.
     
  11. creativepart

    creativepart New

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    First post here - long time audio forum poster elsewhere - anyway...

    I received the Freya Plus today. I ordered it on Saturday. It's a nice unit and heavy. Obviously, not officially broken in yet but sounds very nice. LIstening to Tube Mode mostly, but tried the Buffer Mode and like that as well.

    For the past 8 to 10 years I've been using a Musical Fidelity A5 integrated amp for all my digital and vinyl sources. I decided to try using a separate pre-amp with the MF's "Home Theater Bypass" to utilize it's 250 watt amps. Depending on how this goes, I may spring for a Vidar or Aegir to extend the experiment further.

    But day one, hour 4 this thing sounds great. I'm noticing more separation between instruments and improved dynamics over the A5's pre-amp section.

    Sources are a Chord Qutest DAC feed by a SoTM SMS 200 network streamer and a Rega P8 (the new one) with Ania MC cart. All playing through B&W CM6 speakers.
     
  12. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

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    Is there any reason to put all 3 sagas in a battle ? I love my OG saga but use it passive mostly as I prefer it to the tung sol in tube buffer. Plus I leave it on a lot. It definitely has a character and openess to the soundstage. Nice clean noise floor in passive, any advancement in this or performance increases on saga S in particular ?
     
  13. leafy

    leafy Facebook Friend

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    I did passive, didn't like it, S-buffer was pretty good, best is Nexus gain. Mainly doing Nexus vs Tubes because I think that was the primary differentiator.
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2019
  14. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    @leafy A couple follow-up questions:
    • I assume you were comparing Nexus 4x gain to Tube gain to keep the applied gain consistent?
    • Any chance you tried a single Vidar vs. mono Aegirs with the Maggies?
     
  15. leafy

    leafy Facebook Friend

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    Yes, we mainly listened to the gain vs tube, wasn't very strict about the exact volume but I think we did enough to tell the difference.

    And no, I think the music was so enjoyable that we went on listening to songs after songs that I never even thought of listening to the Aeger :)
     
  16. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    It's a shame there's no balanced tube buffer to round out the options. Seems every other unexplored variation is now covered: single ended JFET buffer, and solid state gain stage. From the OG Saga and Freya, SE tube buffer was the option most likely to impress.
     
  17. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    Hasn't the Freya tube buffer always been differential?
     
  18. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    Freya never had a tube buffer, it was a tube gain stage. Gain very few people need, I'd bet. Balanced tube buffer is the conspicuously missing contender of the Thunderdome, the sitting Kevin Durant of the series that makes everyone wonder, what if?
     
  19. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    Gotcha. Didn't notice you said "buffer". At least its way lower gain than it used to be.
     
  20. Muse Wanderer

    Muse Wanderer Friend

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    Interesting point regarding the way better microdynamics and plankton of the Goldpoint vs Freya. It looks like the most simple approach is the best with respect to analog volume control.

    A separate thread for Goldpoint products would be of interest on SBAF as there seems to be a lack of preamps / passives that don't degrade nuance. Regarding lack of remote, Bent audio have a remote kit specifically for the Goldpoint stepped attenuators...http://www.bentaudio.com/index2.html.
     

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