Schiit Freya + and S Impressions - Stream of Consciousness

Discussion in 'Preamps' started by purr1n, Jun 30, 2019.

  1. SpeedSmith

    SpeedSmith New

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    Figured I'd report back with an update. I ended up ordering a matched pair of RCA 6SN7GTBs for the gain stage and a matched pair of GE 6SN7GTBs for the follower from Brent Jessee. He mentioned the RCAs would be on the warmer side of neutral compared to the GEs and that's what I'm hearing when I flip them back n' forth between the stages. To be clear both are warmer than neutral, the RCAs are slightly more so. For now I'm quite happy with this combo. Better bass rendering than the PSVane, more depth, weight, punch, and texture. Im still getting all the air and sweetness that the Freya+ provides. Going back, the PSvane's shimmer up top leans too close to glare. The top end of the NOS tubes is presented more naturally, less forced or showy. I find myself just listening verses analyzing. Best of all, these tubes were not super spendy (coming in less than the PSvane).

    I also picked up a matched quad of Tung-Sols, mostly because they were on sale at Viva but also because lots of folks seem quite happy with them (and Freya used to ship with them). I'll give those run soon and report back.
     
  2. dericchan1

    dericchan1 Facebook Friend

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    Hi everyone, this is surely a complicated question I have been thinking in my head as I plan on adding a Schiit Freya + to my system. both my 2.1 system and my 11.1 anthem avr will be sharing the same preamp, power amp, and L R main speakers and sub. I would like to seek your expert advice!! My question is related to how to connect to a subwoofer and an active crossover.

    I would like to be connecting an anthem avr receiver pre-out main L and R channels to the Freya + SE input. I would then xlr out to the power amp to speakers and use the passive mode and max volume for ht bypass. I would connect LFE sub out of the anthem receiver to my subwoofer LFE in port. I don’t see a problem with that.

    As for my 2.1 system (sharing the same sub and power amp, speakers) I would like to know if this arrangement would work?
    Dac xlr out to Freya + xlr in, then from Freya + xlr out to the active crossover to low pass 80hz to subwoofer non LFE port then high pass mid and high through xlr to power amp to speakers.

    Would there be any conflict when I use the HT bypass mode with my anthem receiver as potentially both the anthem LFE port and the Freya + might be passing low frequency to my subwoofer through the LFE and non LFE ports at the same time?

    Would I be better to go from dac xlr out to active crossover to low pass 80hz to subwoofer non LFE port and high pass only mid and high to Freya + then to power amp to speakers

    Thanks

    Deric
     
  3. nishan99

    nishan99 Friend

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    Freya S (4x) in house paired with Kinki Studio M7 and Triangle Cello fed by SMSL SU9 - USB from my laptop playing lossless from Deezer with mild PEQ applied.

    Early impressions from day one after some hours of unintended warmp up.

    Tonally speaking the match is great, richer and fuller sound exactly what I needed.

    Bass is A LOT tighter and also punch'ier, really impressive the spark difference here.

    The upper mids and lower treble now has some low-fi glare to it, and no it's not from the ESS DAC, I used to feed the amp directly from the DAC with no issues here at all.

    Soundstage still small but I blame the SMSL ESS here.
    Resolution and details are a definite step down but not by mutch (except maybe the treble). And the overall macrodynamics are improved.

    My biggest issue here is the hiss… my speakers is a horny 91dB sensitive and the amp has crazy gain (max 70v out). The hiss is very audible from my listening chair but it's not loud enough to disturb me when listening to music except quiet tracks like violins, pianos or vocal tracks.
    Credits to Schiit it's been mentioned in the FAQ section in the Freya manual but I did not check :|

    I tried every combination from inputs and outputs and the x1 gain and x4 and nothing changed.
    So is there a solution to this? Maybe I shoud put some resistors in the chain?
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2022
  4. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    Line level attenuators could work but might cause an impedance mismatch. So try them between dac and pre and pre and power and see what you like most. Can also DIY them if you're half decent with a soldering iron.
     
  5. nishan99

    nishan99 Friend

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    How is that different from feeding the preamp SE and balanced inputs or feeding the power amp x1 and x4 nexus gain? I tried all of those combination and the hiss remained the same regardless of the ins or outs or the level of my volume control.

    I am thinking about putting some resistors in the speaker binding posts but I'am not sure if that would help.
     
  6. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    If you didn’t have the hiss before adding in the Freya then it’s the likely culprit. Adding the attenuation after the preamp could reduce some internal noise caused by the preamp. So forget my comment about adding it before it.
     
  7. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    Maybe your Freya is defective? I've used my S as a preamp for headphone amps (with headphones being way more efficient than pretty much any speaker) and never any hiss in any mode.
     
  8. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    @nishan99 did you try the two switches on the back of the M7 amp for DC filtering and ground? Also what about the preamp mode of the SU-9?
     
  9. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

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    Using Freya S and vidar I get mad hiss on either gain setting.
     
  10. nishan99

    nishan99 Friend

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    I doubt it being defective if it's been mentioned in the user manual, and I will try using it with my headphone rig later, for now I will search the internet for hiss lifehacks :D .

    I tried it and it didn't work. I also tried doubling the preamp function from both the DAC and the Freya lowering the pots from both devices and it did not change a thing, kinda expected it when I switched between the Freya x1 and x4 gain and nothing changes regarding the hiss loudness. SMSL SU9 directly to the power amp = no hiss at all (thanks lord Amir).
     
  11. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    @nishan99, does the system still hiss if the Freya S is in passive mode? My uneducated guess would be that if so, the Freya is defective, and if not, then you simply have too much gain, too hot of outputs, and too low input sensitivity on the power amp.
     
  12. nishan99

    nishan99 Friend

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    No hiss on passive mode, equal hiss loudness (to my ears) on both x1 and x4 gain.

    I think you're right it's too much gain thanks to the power amp 70v output and its low input sensitivity↓

    Input / Output

    • Input Sensitivity: 1.45Vrms

    • Input Impedance: 51kΩ
     
  13. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

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    The Freya S in 1x and 4x modes always hissed for me. I couldn't hear it from listening position, but I heard it 2-3 feet away from the speakers.
     
  14. econaut

    econaut Almost "Made"

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    Two questions about the new LISST "tubes":

    Has anyone heard them yet and can share their thoughts?

    Is Schiit going to sell them separately? Right now you can only order them with a new Freya +...
     
  15. RestoredSparda

    RestoredSparda Friend

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    Jason mentioned they would be listed for sale separately at a later date. Not sure when.
     
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  16. econaut

    econaut Almost "Made"

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    They are for sale now. Really interested in first impressions!

    https://www.schiit.com/products/lisst
     
  17. monacelli

    monacelli Friend

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    Thanks for pointing this out. My SW51+ => HD600 rig has been sounding sort of dull recently. I couldn't put my finger on it, but just was not super motivated to listen to it. I figured it was just because my 2-channel rig had advanced to the point that headphones weren't as interesting to me anymore (kind of true). This comment reminded me that I rearranged things a few months back with the Freya S (passive) in between my source and the SW51+ for convenience. Well I changed it back, and voila, the old magic returned. SW51+ into HD600 is a stellar pairing after all. Too bad about the passive mode because the remote is so convenient. I don't care for the passive sound in my speaker rig either, I think in part because my system benefits from the additional gain.
     
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  18. oldtexasdog

    oldtexasdog New

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    Folks I am a Newble with a question Please. I did read the whole thread and still remain confused.
    I am looking at up-grading my Carver C1 pre and have been looking at the Freya+ and Freya S.
    I have only a Turn Table set up for this application in a small cabinet that I have had tube amps in the past so I am aware of air circulation needs and have a special temp controlled audio fan I installed in the back along with leaving the door open on the front when in use as everything is stacked and tight inside. XLR to RCA unbalanced
    I am using a dbx DriveRack PA2 in the chain along with Roon for room correction.
    The chain:
    Technics SL-1600 RCA out to:
    Musical Surroundings Nova II phono pre with RCA out to:
    Preamplifier ( currently RCA out on the C1 but with a Freya I could use the XLR out)
    To:
    dbx DriveRack PA2 with XLR to RCA unbalandes to:
    Carver M-1.ot MK II opt.2 amp ( impedance 100k ohms) to
    B&W 705's
    and
    Sunfire True Sub powered.
    Would either of the Freya pre's be more suited to my application?
    I am a old fart and like my music maybe a little less strident and I do not play loud.

    Thank you soooo much for your time, help, and suggestions.
     
  19. oldtexasdog

    oldtexasdog New

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    Ohh the dbx is because I have a room with bad acoustics that I cannot for esthetic (WAF) reasons cannot do room corrections on.
     
  20. avguytx

    avguytx New

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