New Schiit / Preamps and Power Amp (was Putting the Schiit Signal Up)

Discussion in 'Preamps' started by purr1n, Oct 6, 2016.

  1. uncola

    uncola Friend

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    Are those EI core transformers?
     
  2. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Moffat has some rather colourful words to say regarding toroids...
     
  3. Grahad

    Grahad Guest

  4. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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  5. fierce_freak

    fierce_freak Friend

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    Got freya in today. Can't remember who asked, but it's 2.5" center to center for tube spacing.
     
  6. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    I did, and thanks man!
     
  7. Rex Aeterna

    Rex Aeterna Friend

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    i'm just curious is anyone else tried the sega's active gain tube buffer and how it affects the sound? i was gonna save up for the freya but, as of now trying to split budget for upgrading my dac as well i think it'll be too much money for me since i just made a couple huge purchases already. i'm just looking at getting a good preamp and as usual i i just like it to be neutral/transparent as possible to the input signal.

    i don't mind it being single ended. i plan on getting a preamp next month since a preamp and dac/interface are the only upgrades i been planning on for my 2-ch stereo set-up that i use for my speakers and headphones. i'm just curious on how the tube buffer in the saga is. my speakers are large format altecs(EV hr9040 horns[original first models], altec 291 large format drivers, jbl 4648 bass bins and recapped altec 14's. headphones i have are my modded fostex t50rp and balanced Sennhesier hd800 with resonator mod to give an idea. i have a Bifrost Multibit on long term loan i been trying but, my own source/dac i own is an echo audiofire 2.
     
  8. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I have the Saga and I run it with the tube buffer on, since all my other gear is currently SS and I wanted some tube goodness in my chain. Frankly, the difference between the active tube and the passive is VERY subtle. The soundstage is a little deeper/wider, and that's about all I can tell. The tube is not "tubey" at all, which isn't a surprise given Schiit's other tube products. I don't really bother with the passive option at this point. The Saga sounds very transparent to my ears.
     
  9. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

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    "transparent tube" is the dream, pretty much, and hearing such implementations was what made me think tubes weren't just hooey long ago. All the extension and detail, just a little more fluid, real and three-dimensional somehow. Thanks!

    Looking at the Saga and Freya spec pages, I'm shocked at how similar they are. The Saga really doesn't seem to be giving anything up in actual measured performance. Impressive! I think I'll be getting one when it's time to overhaul my two-channel setup.
     
  10. Rex Aeterna

    Rex Aeterna Friend

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    thanks for the info! really appreciate your experience and opinion. well looks like i'll be going the schiit route again sometime next month. i would of this month but, the couple large purchases i already made last couple months and having to redo the attic as a listening space where i just moved due to my health reasons has cut good bit in my future plans for my 2-ch system but, the saga looks like a wonderful piece and was just curious on the tube buffer and seems like it'll make a wonderful preamp that does it's job as suppose to. again i really appreciate your opinion. can't wait till next month now. really excited to give it a purchase and try myself. thanks again.
     
  11. ThePianoMan

    ThePianoMan Facebook Friend

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    I also find Saga to be a great piece of gear. It sounds very transparent, nice channel balance and plenty of volume steps, remote works well, etc. I second the notion that the two stages are difficult to tell apart... when the tube is installed. I removed it and noticed a bit less noise. I'm using nearfields and a powerful amp though so you're mileage may vary. I also tend to prefer passive pre's, as I find them less colored, but you can't go wrong with the Saga in any configuration. I will also note it has a slight idiosyncrasy - the volume does not completely turn off unless you actually mute it with the remote. Turning the knob all the way down just makes it really quiet. Again, I'm in a nearfield setup so you might not notice it.
     
  12. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I appreciate Schiit's determination to bring stereo pricing down to reasonable levels. For all the features included, Schiit could charge three times the price and no one would bat an eye.
     
  13. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    So, balanced capability aside, are there any firm opinions on what's the 'better' combination for a vinyl setup right now? Looking to be able to give potential recommendations to my father who's getting back into Vinyl slowly.

    Saga+Mani ($480) or Jotunphono ($500)?
     
  14. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    I researched cheaper phono preamps heavily here and found...

    Marv answered this with comparison and said Jotunphono was better than Mani.
    I had Mani and eventually sold it after hearing TCC-TC750 modded with only SOLA PS.
    I hope this helps!
     
  15. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    Great, thanks!
     
  16. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    Missed this Vidar drawing on HF from November. Looks like no stereo mode with a balanced connection.

    [​IMG]
     
  17. murray

    murray Friend

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    Why the likes? That seems a bit lacking. Perhaps the drawing is not final and we will see stereo XLRs when the Vidar is released.
     
  18. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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  19. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    The rendering is correct. Balanced in for monoblock mode only. That's what creates the monoblock mode, in fact.
     
  20. murray

    murray Friend

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    It looks more like they are just allowing (facilitating) it to be run as a bridged pair of amplifiers. I can't see that diagram clearly on my phone: is there a stereo/mono switch on the back?
     

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