Schiit Freya Preamp Review (Episodic)

Discussion in 'Preamps' started by purr1n, Jan 14, 2017.

  1. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    I think not well...output impedance balanced is 600 ohm JFET and 210 Tube.
     
  2. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    By that logic, you could theoretically use any headphone amp as a preamp with a TRS-to-dual RCA (or 4-pin XLR to dual 3-pin XLR) adapter cable. Why buy a preamp? :p
     
  3. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Tube will be the only output that will really work. While the damping factor isn't great, it's no worse then a Bottlehead Crack paired with the HD600/650/800. It's worth a try. Especially since this is the only all tube balanced configuration you'll find at this price point.
     
  4. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    You just basically described the preouts on most headphone amps. All you are missing are resistors to bring up the output impedance.
     
  5. hifi01170

    hifi01170 Acquaintance

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    thanks for the clarification guys!!!
     
  6. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    Hello guys. I just ordered the Freya about an hour ago. It's been a long hard ride to decide what preamp to buy to get things with a DAC put into the mix. My current setup is using a Quinpu (China) Headphone/Integrated amp with a NuPrime STA-9 Class D Amp and an IPod on a cord from my Easy Chair. Speakers are Martin Logan ESLs and Martin Logan Dynamo 1000 Subwoofer.

    It sounds good with the Quinpu tube used as a preamp, and the NuPrime is a great amp for driving the ESLs (120w/channel). Just bought the NuPrime amp last week to upgrade from the Quinpu Integrated.

    The Quinpu only had 16 watts per channel and never really did anything good for my Martin Logans but produce tube sound at low volumes. So I buy the NuPrime and tghe sound is just perfect in timbre and soundstage. But there are just too many y-adapters and 3.5mm connections. I'm a wiring nut and it seems like state of the art in not in this house right now. And then there is no DAC, or balanaced XLR to the NuPrime Amp. I'm just not satisfied and to hell with spending some extra to get things perfect.

    I have always loved the sound of the Martin Logins when they are in the right room and you get them adjusted with a Subwoofer properly. They were a dream of mine for 20 years before I finally bought them. Having Kids always have a way of stopping you from getting electrostatic speakers for the livingroom. I've had them for 5 years now and just couldn't decide since I moved 4 years ago what the proper equipment to buy would be for my Martin Logans. Everything was looking like another 5K-6K to finish my system. I just couldn't justify doing it. I would sit on my throne (bath) with my Audio Advisor catalog for years trying to think things thru.

    Then the NuPrime STA-9 comes into the catalog. Within a week..... I buy one.

    Yesterday I buy a Schiit Modi 2 Uber DAC. Today I buy a Freya. I'm all in now guys. I said that I will kick myself if I get the Saga and not the Freya. The thought of just one tube sitting up there, and then the 128 step volume control, and 3 different settings to get the sound tailored is the clincher for the extra $350. Screw it. I'm all in for the upgrades.

    Wait....... I'm only spending $1,500 for Amp, Preamp, DAC total. Wake me up from this dream. I don't feel one bit guilty. I also just bought a Surface 4 clone from Acer that has a QHD 12" screen to have on my lap in my Easy Chair to choose the music. That completes the system.

    I will be back with impressions of the Freya and how it does with each of its settings for playback with my NuPrime Amp. The Freya looks like my gateway to the state of the art sound. Glad I waited. Dennis
     
  7. ak2angel

    ak2angel Acquaintance

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    IMHO going from Modi 2U to a Modi Multibit would be more noticeable than from Saga to Freya, especially on speakers. But even then, the Freya is still one heck of a deal at $700
     
  8. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I understand that it's a gender-fluid world these days, but that's still not going to work trying to shove a weewee into a peepee without somebody turning around.
     
  9. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    "IMHO going from Modi 2U to a Modi Multibit would be more noticeable than from Saga to Freya, especially on speakers. But even then, the Freya is still one heck of a deal at $700"

    I'm still wondering about the Modi 2 Multibit. Should have I spent the extra $100 for it instead of the Modi 2 Uber? I don't know much about inexpensive DACs. If I could be schooled on the difference, that would be very helpful. There is a 15 day return policy on the Uber..... so would it be in my best interest to go with the Modi Multi-Bit instead?
     
  10. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Yes, do it and don't look back. It's a totally different type of DAC chip, and sounds much more like their high-end DACs. You will enjoy the difference.
     
  11. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Yes, Multibit is awesome.
     
  12. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    Thanks. Like I said in my first post..... I'm all in.

    I just ordered a couple of those Vintage Tubes. Going to get some more of them in the future. I guess it's good to start collecting a few of them, eh?
    Pretty excited about the whole thing.
     
  13. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    OK...... you guys convinced me.... I went and ordered the Modi 2 Multi-Bit and I will return the Modi 2 Uber. Thanks for that advice. I have spent so much time trying to find a way to get some sound that brings me back to the days of my 20's when I used to design systems for high-end clients and was in Audio Salons all the time listening to $20k plus systems. I just lucked out when I was younger and had the time of my life back in the Audiophile world. In San Diego and the New York metro area is where I spent most of my 20's and boy did I want a set of Krell Class A Mono Amps. Never got em, but I could sell them to clients and set them up. Boy do I miss youth. Now I'm retired for 5 years and pretty much a bump on a log and a homebody. But it looks like the Schiit is going to hit the fan.... and I can't wait!!
     
  14. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    @Big D Design - try not to to go too mad buying lots of exotic tubes. Spend some time getting to know what you have, and listening to it (and probably fiddling with the room that you're in). If you do find that you have a more exotic tube itch, ask for some thoughts in the "general advice" thread, maybe. People who know their stuff are around, and will usually be generous with their advice to help you maximise your bang for buck without too many false starts.

    It's great that you're looking forward to it so much, though. Enjoy re-connecting with your music.
     
  15. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I guess you'll need female-female adapters
     
  16. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    Yea, that's why I only bought 2 of those tubes. I know nothing about tube rolling. I appreciate the advice so much. It's nice that forums exist so others can learn from their experiences. I'm pretty much done now and will setup everything and post my results. I will be able to hookup my Ipod to the system too to notice the difference in the money spent to get to the next level. Thanks again everybody. Dennis
     
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Wouldn't hurt to buy a few more tubes than necessary. Some tubes are noisy. Normally not an issue I even worry about, but for preamp duties, it can be crucial. Ordering tubes on eBay is like rolling the dice, but the lower prices can more than make up for it. There is a reason why places like Upscale Audio charge $150++ dollars for low noise 6SN7s. I like to hit eBay for $20-$35 6SN7s.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Saga vs. Freya
    1. Functionality: Freya can handle balanced inputs and outputs. It has multiple inputs and multiple outputs (XLR and RCA) that can be used at once.
    2. Sound: Saga only offers passive and a very transparent tube buffer. Freya offers passive, a very transparent JFET buffer, and a slightly bloomy tube circuit. The Saga's active buffer circuit is more transparent than the Freya's. It's the one thing extra I also wish Freya had. It probably wouldn't matter on most speaker setups, which are less resolving than headphones; the more slightly more tubey sounding Freya does work better in many instances.
    Using headphones from preouts:

    Don't. Freya is not a headphone amp. The circuits are intended to drive loads of 5,000+ ohms, not 100 or 600 ohms. It's not only source impedance that needs consideration, it's also power into X ohms.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2017
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Freya Assessment With Speakers

    Continuing on with the assessment of the Freya: finally decided to get off my ass and move everything to the family room. I didn't feel like hauling the 12" woofers and Altec horn, so the Fostex BLHs will have to do. I've heard these speakers on variety of amps, from the Mjolnir (yes), Ragnarok, EC 2A3, Studio, and my custom 4-45, so I know exactly what they can do and not do. This time around, I used the Parasound A23 (another story, let's not talk about it), and the Crest CA2 for amplification. The setup with the Crest CA2 is not as good as any of the amps I mentioned in the second sentence above, but it will serve our purposes for now.

    DSC_1730.JPG

    In this speaker system, my overall impressions of the Freya aren't all that different from the headphone setup with the Jotunheim / HD800 modded. The Crest CA2 amp is weak link in the chain, but there were certain things that I could easily make out:

    1. The Freya tube diff-gain / follower provided a much deeper soundstage than the JFET or passive modes. Instead of row 5, we are now sitting in row 20! The differences in stage location are much more pronounced here. Keep in mind that I am a retard in terms of making out headstage (with headphones), and that the Jotunheim headamp could also be limiting factor.
    2. The tube bloom and light veil of the tube circuit over the JFET was less evident. This makes sense because this setup isn't as resolving as the headphone system.
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2017
  20. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Does this mean the Freya wouldn't work well with the EC Studio? Which has a 600 ohm input impedance.
     

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