Comments on Profile Post by Merrick

Theoretically, the Freya S chain. The question is which will sound better.

In terms of measurements, Freya S in X1 mode is freaky transparent. It looks almost exactly like the passive path. Transformers, especially 10k:10k input transformers, will always have some bandwidth limitations (non-ideal phase in the bass, amplitude rolloff in the highs). Also, 10k input transformers have a highish output impedance which isn't ideal.

Usually 1:1 600 ohm output transformers will have better specs (wider bandwidth, lower output impedance). BUT you need to be sure your DAC has a super beefy output stage that can happily drive 600 ohm loads. For Jensen, PI-2XR uses input transformers (10k), PO-2XR uses output transformers (600 ohm).

As I suspected, thanks. Guess a Freya S is the next thing I’m saving up for.

I would argue that the subjective side is equally important though. What is the best in theory might be different from what you like to listen to. Balanced audio can be kind of a rabbit hole. I kept it simple and ordered Freya S.

Depending on the DAC, the delta between balanced and SE outputs is overblown. Don't discount running SE out of the DAC into the rest of your chain.

Well I could either get a Jensen ISO (not the 600 ohm one because we know the Gungnir Multibit can’t output that) and then later get a Freya S and have spent more than I needed to, or I can live with the SE outputs on the Gungnir for now until a Freya S is in my budget. Might as well do the latter because the price of the ISO can be applied to the Freya.

Schiit stuff does benefit going to XLR, but it's still not like night and day. If you were going the trafo route, I'd say it depends on whether you care more about the mids or the bass, because they usually have better mids than SE at the cost of bass clarity.

Transparency is the term I'd avoid. Less harmonics introduced via active gains on measurement, but I found sonic changes greater with Freya than with 1:1 transformer. Good direction to me (although I am less against passive gains), but can't generalize too much.

My 2 cents: try SE for yourself to find our if you really bother balanced transmissions. If you want to commit more seriously, go for Freya(S). If not that much, then transformer may work more conservatively.

Question: The Freya S uses Nexus in 1:1 (or 1:4) to convert Bal to SE (so no consertion in passive mode) correct? I wonder how this is different (objectively and subjectively) to the summing used in the Gun MB A2's SE output...

@Merrick, after reading the Freya S thread I went with the Iso Max PI-2xr (the 10k consumer gear model) to go from Gun MB A2 Bal out to my amp (currently Asgard 3, soon to be Starlet). Subjectively I like it and don't hear any distortion/change in the bass, and I am probably too old to hear rolloff in the top octave.

@crenca Nexus doesn't simply sum. You may want to read again the chapters of Jotunheim (in the 'Schiit Happened") as nexus extended from the pivot(tm).

FWIW I found going Gungnir Multibit → SE out → Goldpoint passive → SE amp to have an edge in transparency to Gungnir Multibit → Bal out → Freya S Nexus → SE amp. A small lvl 37 audiophile edge, but there.

Interesting, I hadn't considered a Goldpoint for the SE out. I already have the Saga, so for SE out straight from the Gungnir I'll just use that.

According to schiit GM A2's JFET section is "the same as Yggdrasil" and YA2 can drive 600ohm loads. I took that to mean GM A2 can drive 600ohm loads and was planning on building balanced-to-se 1:1 using WE111c's I have. Should I not do that?

BTW, in speaker system, I have YA2 >balanced> Freya S >SE> amp, and love it.

For clarity’s sake, my GM is A1. Source was Mac laptop via Gen5 USB

@batriq My understanding is that Gungnir MB A1 could not drive 600 ohm loads. And Schiit doesn't mention that capability in the Gungnir MB A2 marketing info. I would ping Schiit support to confirm

@batriq I was referring to the A1 but I thought someone in the Gungnir thread confirmed it didn’t output 600 ohms on the A2? Definitely check with Schiit.

Thanks! Shot schiit an email. Will report back.

Response: "The gungnir has two SE outputs. This should be fine if you do, it just seems unnecessary." This, refers to 600ohm transformer load.

@batriq Sounds like a proper Schitty answer. Still, another reason for me to get the A2 upgrade down the line.