Preamps

Discussion in 'Preamps' started by sphinxvc, Sep 21, 2016.

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  1. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    Smart idea! Schiit Sys would do the job for this. But add on the Goldpoint and it's starting to get expensive.

    If only there were a company with a reputation for making excellent audio products at their price point, maybe for the sake of argument one whose name begins with S, who could be persuaded to release a passive XLR switch at a sensible price.
     
  2. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

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    I rather like the Joti feeding the Vali2 as a preamp. But anyway, your cleanest/cheapest option is to build a box with e.g. 1 SE in, 2 SE out and 1 XLR in, 2 XLR out controlled by 2 3-way switches (up-middle-down).
     
  3. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

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    Saga in the bedroom system:
    I'm running it with a Sylvania tube that I have (the triangle plates type). The amp has L/R volume controls, which were very inconvenient given the amp placement; these are set at max now.

    [​IMG]

    There is a very small difference between the tube buffer and passive modes. I will have to listen more carefully to articulate. It could also be that this setup is not sufficiently resolving to hear the difference. The volume increases very gradually and allows for clear low-level listening, which I really enjoy. I should compare the passive mode with an attenuator that I built.

    When changing the volume, the Saga goes click-click-click-double-click (repeat), or maybe there are 2 clicks between double-clicks. Anyway, the double-clicks are distracting because the sound cuts off or distorts during them.
     
  4. uncola

    uncola Friend

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    Hmm that's the first I've heard of that double click with distortion/ mute. Might be a defect? Need a second saga owner to report
     
  5. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    That's just multiple relays clicking. Sometimes there are a lot switching at once. The Saga mutes between volume steps so it doesn't pop.

    It sounds a little funny.

    Normal.
     
  6. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    Actually a bold move with relay steppers, Jason. They're the best stuff out there sound wise, but technically fiddly. If someone has DC on their DAC outs, you'll get questions why your preamp purrs on volume change.

    Keep on pushing the boundries!
     
  7. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Say Jason, how exactly does the knob disabling work? In the manual it says that when you use the remote to change volume, it disables the physical volume knob until you return the volume to minimum via the remote. However, every time I've tried, I turn the volume all the way down with the remote and the remote light remains lit and the knob is disabled. However, if I leave it at one click up from zero, the knob is enabled. I decided to test and see how many clicks I could go before the disabling kicked in. Turns out on my unit, the physical knob is only disabled at zero. If I set the volume all the way to max with the remote, the physical knob still works, even though the remote light is on.

    Is my unit defective or have I misunderstood how the volume control is supposed to work?
     
  8. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    It's working fine. Relax. Have a drink. Enjoy some music.
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    LOL, if someone has DC on their DAC outs, there might be more serious problems down the line!
     
  10. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Apologies if this was mentioned and I missed it, but is there a new ETA for the Freya?
     
  11. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    "Freya is imminent. Should be this week." (Source)
     
  12. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Cheers! I'm rarely over there these days...
     
  13. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

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    I realize the clicking is normal and that the muting is needed. I am simply observing that when mutiple relays click (which seems to happen or is at least noticeable every few steps), the muting is audible. When I hear this muting, I find it distracting. I really like the Saga but unlike a make-before-break stepped attenuator, one shouldn't expect a seamless transition during every click.
     
  14. Pyruvate

    Pyruvate Friend

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    How often are you guys playing with volume though? It shouldn't be that distracting if you're switching at most once per track.
     
  15. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Don't tell me how to use my preamp! Just for that I'm going to change the volume every 10 seconds for the next week!
     
  16. Aklegal

    Aklegal Friend

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    Every preamp I have ever owned happened to have a relay volume control similar to Schiit's. You probably get used to the clicks, but it never bothered me to begin with so I cant say for sure :p.
     
  17. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    That's a good thing. A preamp should be as transparent as possible. You should do the comparison again with extra long cables.
     
  18. fierce_freak

    fierce_freak Friend

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    Have an Yggdrasil incoming to compare with my gamma 3. I can test it out with my headphone rig, but I'd like to compare with speakers, too. Gamma 3 has digital volume control, but I'll need another way to test out the Yggdrasil with speakers.

    Anyone recommend an inexpensive but not too crappy solution? If I keep Yggdrasil I'll probably end up getting a freya or building a relay volume control, but I'd rather not put in that much effort or cash in for now.
     
  19. nedifer

    nedifer Facebook Friend

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    The Schiit SYS is very good and won't ding your wallet much. If you poke around SBAF, you will find it mentioned positively in many places.
     
  20. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    Or, if you want to run balanced out of the Yggdrasil, the Emotiva Control Freak is available in balanced as well.
     

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