Schiit Saga Thread

The web site says both modes have zero dB gain. Jason said the same thing in the Vidar thread.

 

Due to the discussion on this thread, I tried a 6SL7 (a Tung Sol Round Plate VT-229). The sound was thin, and was off. Whereas with a 6SN7, I could barely hear the difference between passive and tube, the difference was easily discernable with the 6SL7. To make sure I'm not crazy, I put on violin and asked my wife (a violinist) to listen and tell me if she likes it. She said no, and there were parts that she felt had "distortion". (And I'm pretty sure she's not following Schiit threads online.)

 

When I did my comparison (I think it is in the Jotunheim thread) I used two 6SN7 tubes (one bright, one very warm) and could barely detect the difference. Now I want to try a 6sl7.

 

An other thing I've niticed that when I use the Saga in active mode with the Elekit Tu-8200 tube amp and turn the amp's volume pot up I have quite audible and distracting buzzing sound. Passive mode is completly silent.
I have to lower the volume to about half on the amp to make the buzz disappear in active mode. I don't have this problem if I use the Saga with Jotunheim. And its the same with all the tubes I've tried.

 

I used the Saga in passive mode and had some buzzing with 98db Tekton Lores, but only if I set the TU-8200 at a higher volume than I needed it to be.

Currently using the Saga in active mode with a ZOTL10 and can definitely hear when the tube is on. I've tried a Sophia 6SN7 and currently have a Sylvania 7N7. To my ears the tube fills things out into a more naturalistic spacial presence. It doesn't blur or anything, I guess it's more like things seem a step forward? But without feeling forward. A slight increase in body. I like the active mode.

 

I’ve upgraded some caps in the Elekit last week and the buzz disappeared from the Saga's active mode. I don’t know what caused it but it went away. Now the Saga is silent in both active and passive mode at every volume setting. (There is still some minimal noise floor from the Elekit.)

 

That's a good point. It probably would have made less of a difference into a tube amp. I'm running it into the Jotunheim, although I don't know its input impedance.

 

OK so the Saga arrived, and I have listened to it for about an hour so far with the Jotunheim. First I want to thank those who shared impressions and gave advice. Some advised against it, but with PR (or PRT as some people say) it is Sagaheim or nothing for me. Jot is too thin and MJ2 is too thicc. Don't know what else is good at this price point that can beat the sense of space of Sagaheim PR, and I am content for now until I go aficionado level, hoping the $750 T3 won't ever show up again.

But, I have couple questions if you guys can kindly help me:
1 - Music "leaks" to the Jot even when the know is at minimum on the Saga (think I read something somewhere, but doesn't seems to be in this thread).
1.5 - There is hum/noise when Jot is at max volume, and no hum after unplugging the usb from Modi Multibit (throwing it here in case it is tied to Q1 above).
2 - Is the passive/active switch instant? I don't hear much difference right after I press the button, if at all (that doesn't mean the Saga adds nothing to the Jot, in fact it makes a huge difference).

 

I can hear the difference, although it very well may be tube and setup dependent, and yes it's instant. It's very subtle but I feel like there's a part of the midrange that's a little more forward in active (again could be tube/setup dependent).

Haven't tried listening at zero, and don't have a jot, so can't help you with those

 

I have found the tube buffer setting in Saga, using the stock tube, is pretty subtle. I use Saga with speakers, but my experience engaging the stock tube is that it expands the soundstage width somewhat, but it also adds some sharpness to the upper-mids and highs - I can only use it on very good recordings, or those that have softer treble sounds.

Edit: And it does seem to switch instant for me, although it usually takes a couple of seconds for me to hear the change since its so subtle.

 

I agree as well that the mids get pushed forward a bit in tube mode.

 

I'm working on grabbing some 60s GTA Raytheons currently - best used ones i could find at the moment.

 

The stock tube is really bad, but I doubt it's terribly noticeable with the Jot, or most amps.

 

I ran a Saga and Jot together for a short period of time. Two different NOS non-stock tubes provided super-subtle differences to the sound and a touch more to the soundstage. It was more laid-back and solved how forward I felt the Jot was initially. Rolling the two tubes I had and mixing up what headphone I was using also seemed to make the Saga’s effect more or less aapparent.

I eventually got acclimatized to the Jot and it’s presentation and now run it without the Saga.

 

That's a matter of opinion, and as far as I'm concerned not true.

I'm sure Schiit tried a lot of tubes and found something that was both good, plentiful, and cost effective.

I took the Saga over to a friend who has a stockpile of different new and vintage 6SN7 tubes. After trying half a dozen (some better than others) it was a pleasant surprise to come back to the Russian stock tube. While perhaps a little more aggressive than the others (at least with speakers), it had a liveliness and punch that made music fun and engaging.

While I'd be open to listening to more tubes on the off chance I find something preferable, I don't particularly feel the need to "upgrade".