As well as increasing the level of the random noisefloor, the tubes also introduce power-supplyrelated spuriae at 60Hz and 120Hz, especially in the right channel (red trace). Each of the four new pre-amplifier models: a) forks the topology of the . Pepper, and The White Album. Given they are all multi-input, multi-output, balanced line stage tube preamps, what are sonic benefits of a serious Rogue RP-7 or Prima Luna EVO 400 vs. the $899 Schiit Freya Plus? The tube gain also impacts a more holographic sound stage with height and depth while also adding some weight to the lower frequency spectrum. Says something about their customer support. Choose Saga S for an affordable solid state preamp, and Saga+ for an affordable tube preamp. However this has been resolved with the latest edition albeit with a slight delay from initial volume control press to the motorised tracking. In this configuration the power amplifier should roughly be feeding the speaker at 200 watts per channel, more than enough to properly handle the 3-way quasi-ribbon drivers held in the tall panels. The Schiit products come well packaged in a large cardboard box. Taking a closer look, we have a balanced design, with XLR inputs and outputs, a crazy accurate 128 stepped attenuator, dual single ended outputs for use with a subwoofer, and a mute button. OUCH Input options include two sets of balanced XLRs as well as three sets of unbalanced RCAs. The rhythms were slinky and funky, and seemed to flow effortlessly out of the speakers. There is an upgraded chassis, a much better remote control unit, and a redesigned tube stage which Schiit says lowers the noise floor significantly. The included remote control allows you to make adjustments to these settings. I own one and love it with some upgraded tubes. related to Fertiliser manufacture originate in Mother Russia, those imports are also sanctioned. Speaker Reviews, Measurements and Discussion, I/V conversion and opamps - sorting fact from fiction, Digital To Analog (DAC) Reviews and Discussion. It was close to 810 ohms at 1kHz and 20kHz but increased to 6900 ohms at 20Hz. Instead, Freya uses a 128-step microprocessor-controlled voltage attenuator. The stack comes with each of their respective power cords (UK, US, Australian, or Euro) as well as the factory new production Tong-sol tubes. With the tube stage operating, the unbalanced output impedance was 3267 ohms at 20Hz and 1200 ohms at 1kHz and 20kHz. One product that got the thunderdome treatment was the Freya Preamp. Pennsylvania. HiFiMAN Edition X / Fostex TH500RP/ HiFiMAN HE-400S/ Sennheiser HD558/ Sennheiser HD800, Players: iBasso DX90 DAP, Fiio X5 DAP, Fiio X7 DAP, Amps: Schiit Ragnarok/Schiit Mjolnir 2/Schiit Magni /ALO Continental Dual Mono/ Fiio K5, DACS: Schiit Modi 2/Schiit Gungnir Multibit/Schiit Yggdrasil. The Freya+ sells for $899. However, the low frequencies started to roll off below 100Hz, reaching 0.75dB at 20Hz. You are using an out of date browser. Both CJ and ARC use stepped attenuation. I first tried Freya's passive and JFET buffer modes. The Freya + establishes what the original set out to do with its involving and holographic sound as well as the convenience of controlling multiple sources from one device. We are all intended to feel the pain, it is said. Tube gain is spec'd 12dB but for me it isn't enough. You won't find any volume-control chips or other shortcuts in Freyajust uber-quality techniques like a relay-switched stepped attenuator and all-triode gain stageyou know, As with the Schiit Ragnarok, the Plus has a relay switched 128-stepped attenuator which gives near perfect channel matching and comfortably clicks with each turn. All Rights Reserved, Danacable Lazuli Reference Headphone Cable, Morrical on the Hardware: Wall Audio Opus 88 Stereo Preamplifier, Reimagining Net Neutrality: The Mola Mola Kaluga Class D Mono Power Amplifiers and Companion Makua Preamplifier (with onboard DAC and Phono Modules), Simaudio Moon 390 Network Player and Preamplifier, Classe's Sum of Preamps - the Classe Sigma SSP, Premier Review of Zesto Audio Leto 1.5 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier. Detailed but not bright. My only reservation was in the midrange, which had a tendency to sound just a little bit muddy on occasion. Please let us know which version you would like and we will charge you accordingly. Freya+ is a refinement of the original Freya, with higher performance, more features, and enhanced ease of use. Havent read the whole thread, but has anyone compared the new Saga + to OG? In a back-to-back comparison with the test track from Queen, the performance of the S landed somewhere between 75%-100% of the Freya + at times. Its not often enough that I get the chance to participate in blind auditions of hifi gear. The Tung Sol tubes were also a welcomed sight. That's a very good preamp and I was able to use one along time ago. If you don't need the remote their headphone amps (solid state and tube) can be used as preamps. So there are currently four preamps in the line up,: the Saga+, the Saga S, the Freya+, and the Freya S. To make it even more interesting, Schiit says they will only keep the models that get the most orders, so essentially paying customers are voting on what stays as an active product in the preamp line. I would love to see a review of the Saga S. I have one, and have a similar impression to KR as far as the buffer stage sound. The Freya + also incorporates a "fastenerless" chassis which provides an updated and sleeker look compared to the original. I think they provide 15db of gain. My only caution is that the high output impedance at low frequencies from all the outputs will result in a lightweight balance with power amplifiers that have an input impedance much below 10k ohms. Mode switching is instant and very convenient with no significant decibel gain when switching to the tube mode. Sometimes a preamp can do more harm than good or add an unwanted sound signature to your system. The original JRC (japan radio co.) where really good chipsets back in the early 80's. Fans of a more uniform look may prefer this but pragmatically, the screw did offer some sort of bearing for volume levels in low light settings. The 6SN7 offers a seamless, organic, and midrange rich sound that is very easy on the ears. Can you try the Mosfet plug ins? Maybe more efficient speakers might help. Too bad as I like to take things apart to see the innardsI also wonder if the tube gain jump is still to the degree it is with my Freya, as I noticed later versions had reduced the difference somehowI'm used to it of course, and also wonder why people are surprised by the volume relay click after maybe 10,416 mentions about that here and there. If your speakers are below 90 dB, your system probably wont be a stress test for preamps, and youll be wondering about others complaints of noise. My one gripe was that with the previous Freya the remote control volume did not track to the potentiometer. The guitar parts from 15 Steps translated as a smooth, euphonic sound thick with both detail and dimensionality. I would've waited for the newer model had I known. This brings us to the focus of this review, the Schiit Audio Freya+ Preamplifier. For those not familiar, Schiit recently released four new 2-channel pre amps broken out along a few simple feature sets to replace the current tube-only models. On the front of the Freya plus are 3 LEDS (the Mute, Buffer & Tube) each of which indicate the mode the Freya is on with the Tube LED indicating tube gain (SE to balanced conversion as well as a 12 dB gain). For many of us with all-digital front ends, owning a preamp has become more choice than necessity. They only list the LISST for octal 6SN7. I would not spend the extra on the + unless either 1) you really want tubes, or 2) you like the look (they do look really cool). Schiit also offers the Freya with new-old-stock Russian SN8S tubes, if those are more to your liking. ", Probably easy fix with a larger coupling output cap, and many of today's amps are some at 2kohm input impedance (no bass then from this pre into them), Russian Glass Tubes are NOW Sanctioned ! Interesting, and I'd buy one if my "original version" seemed noisy or lacking in some way, but it's interesting that Schiit seems to be listening to their critics. Speaking of tubes, what made the original Freya so interesting is the use of 6SN7 tubes, and unusual choice for preamps. I, like Tony, just wish they didn't have that name. While the distortion at lower voltages was higher than it had been with the buffered output, it was still very low. I'm interested in putting a Schiit Freya+ in its place. The best tube system I have owned to date is the ARC LS-26. The Power Switch is on the back. Freya+ is a true high-end, balanced, remote-control preamp. In solid state buffered mode with balanced input and output, the THD+noise in the Freya + reached 1%our usual definition of clippingat 6.7V (fig.3). Sticking out of the top of the chassis are four vacuum tubes surrounded by precision cut holes, which adds a bit of elegance to the design. The Freya now comes in two versions . For $299, it is an extremely clean sounding preamp with excellent build quality. The Freya S,Passive or Active Solid State Remote Balanced Preamp for $599.00 and the Freya Plus Passive or Active Solid State or Tube Remote Balanced Preamp which is $899.00. No real complaints with the unit but having the ability to shut down the tubes without pulling them out when using the jfet and passive mode would make things easier. The Saga + fell about halfway in-between the Saga S and the best performing pre, the Freya + (also the most expensive). Hey everyone! The simple design is likely what makes it a good deal more holographic and tube sounding (the good kind-bloom/decay) than the Freya+. (The noise, though, was still very low in level in absolute terms.) When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, To the right are the mute and output select buttons which respectively switch the mute function on/off and switch between output staging of passive, differential buffer and differential tube gain. As with the previous model, the passive mode offers a solid-state flavour with a more transparent and revealing sound albeit with less soundstage and harmonic bloom compared to the tube gain. It is worth noting that with the supplied 6SN7 Tung-Sol tubes, the Freya + has greater synergy for more resolving DACs such as the Schiit Yggdrasil and Audio Gd D-27 compared to more analogue sounding sources like the Rega DAC. Interesting about the LEDs being less bright after I nearly went insane trying to get them into the little holes after taking apart my original version Freyatrying to put green marker on the LEDs to dim them. The Schiit Freya + (US$899, preview here) has other ideas. Discussion in 'Preamps' started by purr1n, Jun 30, 2019. Both offer a perfectly balanced 64-step relay volume and passive output option, as well as a remote control. No such situation with the Freya+. There is an upgraded chassis, a much better remote control unit, and a redesigned tube stage which Schiit says lowers the noise floor significantly. I'm hearing that the supply of PVC for the vinyl record injection moulding is doubtful for future months. The Freya + offered extremely low noise: The wideband, unweighted signal/noise ratio, measured at the buffered balanced outputs with the unbalanced inputs shorted to ground and the volume control set to its maximum, was 98.9dB in the left channel, 102.4dB in the right, both ratios ref. #1 This is a review and detailed measurements of the Schiit Freya S balanced preamplifier. Fig.3 Schiit Freya +, balanced input/output, distortion (%) vs 1kHz output voltage into 100k ohms with unity-gain buffer. From this stock photo, it appears to be a rather large unit. With the added remote control motorized pot, the Freya Plus enters a whole new level of user convenience and feature-led experience. There is one more available on Schiit closeouts and B stock. For example, the Freya + captivates more of a warm sound with some midrange thump and smoother vocal delivery. They are different.. Technically different, but fundamentally the same. The preamp sat on Symposium Rollerblock Jr. isolation devices, with an Acoustic Zen Tsunami II power cord plugged into the back IEC inlet. The Freya+ is a nice step up. As you adjust the volume knob, relay switches physically add or remove thin film resistors to or from the signal path controlling how the output voltage (volume) is adjusted. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, Well theres only one way to find out. The original Freya was better than my Conrad Johnson ET-3SE. However, if it's tubes that you're after, Freya is uniquely positioned at its asking price out of the reputable brands I trust. Generally speaking, the tube-inspired Saga surprised with more analytical leanings, while the Freya S hinted at a more romantic side than one might expect after hearing the Saga S. It was a final plot twist that deviated from the predetermined path of price in more ways than one. Does an LED on the front of the chassis blink each time you volume up or down as well? Choosing to use passive mode adds no additional gain to the input signal and is the preamp's most basic mode. However, there are some differences between the new model and its predecessor. It seems puzzling that Schiit's designers, Restricting tube supply is another disapointment, Audio Research Reference 6SE line preamplifier, Audio Research LS5 preamplifier & BL2 input controller, Rogue Audio RH-5 preamplifier-headphone amplifier, TARA Labs Space & Time Passage preamplifier, PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium line preamplifier, Just Audio, Cambridge, Mission, Yamaha: Dj Vu All Over Again, Angel City AudioLoudspeaker Manufacturer, Brresen Loudspeaker's Major World Premiere, Spatial Audio Lab's "Other" Very Convincing Exhibit, Advance Listens from LTA (Linear Tube Audio) and Daedalus, Millercarbon, Townshend, Tekton, and Origin Live, Magnetic Attraction to Klaudio's New Magnezar Turntable, Vanatoo's Much Anticipated Transparent One Encore Plus, Multiple Premieres at PAF from JMF Audio and Ideon Audio, JVS's Best of PAF 2023: Dutch & Dutch 8c all-in-ones. It was sweeter sounding than the CJ ET-3 SE so besting a $3500 Pre-amp. Freya Noval offers exactly the same capabilities and features as Freya+, including its passive and buffer modes. BifrostMB DAC, Saga+ Pre-amp, Vidar amp 2. A flushed out, full representation of everything from bass to treble produced focused instruments that were never flimsy, vocals that drew you in and tonal beauty that both delighted and entertained the small crowd that was gathered. Tubes also put out a lot of heat. They finally have pics of the internals on the schiit.com website. Latest to be released are a selection of pre-amps including: Saga S, Saga +, Freya S & Freya + which have been touted as improved iterations of previous products. It will only be produced as long as strong consumer demand exists for it. The power switch is not remote controlled and is located on the back of the unit, making it difficult to use in a cabinet or too close to a wall. The company started out making tubed and solid state headphone amps, then added DACs, an integrated amplifier, preamps, power amplifiers, and now, even a turntable. Schiit sent me its flagship Yggdrasil DAC for review, and sent the Freya along only because the Yggdrasil lacks a volume control of its own. JavaScript is disabled. Although Ive never heard either (I did own a saga though) , I doubt there would be any audible difference. Just wondering which of these linestages have more mid bass and lower midrange to midrange. The Schiit Valhalla 2, with Russian Tubes , continues to be one of finest sounding Pre-Amps I've ever discovered, phew!!!!! Tubes, Class A. The buffered unbalanced output impedance at 1kHz and 20kHz was inconsequentially higher than the specified 75 ohms, at 90 ohms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuvDMjxhE68&list=PL6l4LFCWKu3nRwK94OFjbmA3ATSgMpSMq&index=24&t=0s. The Freya + offered extremely low noise: The wideband, unweighted signal/noise ratio, measured at the buffered balanced outputs with the unbalanced inputs shorted to ground and the volume control set to its maximum, was 98.9dB in the left channel, 102.4dB in the right, both ratios ref. With a balanced 1kHz tone at 1V into 100k ohms from the balanced, solid state buffered output and the volume control set to its maximum (fig.6), the third harmonic was the highest in level, at just 110dB (0.0003%). The control labelling seems indeciferable The chassis feels and looks incredibly sleek and with the new fasterlessness design fits well with Schiits Made in America product range. On the topic of design, the brushed aluminium chassis of both the DAC and amp are truly stunning. Tube shut down is AWESOME. I had the opportunity to spend a bit of time with one and I tube rolled. Sure. With its exceptional build quality, beautiful design, and great sounding tubes, Freya (or the new Freya +) is preamp that deserves your attention. Commendably, the THD+N doesn't change significantly with frequency, particularly with the solid state buffered output (green and gray traces). When we were wrapping up this overview, the 50th anniversary edition of the Beatles 1969 opus Abbey Road appeared in our mailbox and we were able to rip the Blu-ray 24/96 tracks to FLAC. The Schiit gear is reliable and retains an amazing 80% of it's MSRP on the used market. After the first run of Tracys ChapmansFast Carit was readily apparent that the Freya + was earning its keep as the most expensive option of the lot. The Freya S looks great paired with the Chord Dave. tomcarr I basically built an Ebtech Hum Eliminator outlet box off of a Video from youtube,It was kickin my tail and I was very frustrated. I pronounce it like SKITE if anyone asks lol. The nice part of the whole story is that with all the changes and improvements, they have only raised the price by $100, which is more than fair. All material within this site is copyrighted and can not be reprinted or used in any form without our express written permission. I wonder if this politically correct site will take this report down ? If you are shopping for a tubed preamp with the features described above, we have peaked your interest, dont take our word for it, we strongly suggest you give the Freya+ a listen and take advantage of Schiits virtually risk free purchase. This is what I've been waiting for, I bought the Saga instead of the original Freya just on the hopes that they would do this!!! frequency response graphs, CSD waterfall plots, subjective gear reviews. There is a solid construction quality that I have not seen since the ages of the old Mark Levinson preamps like the No.28 and 26. AKRMedia produces websites and digital magazines that provide reviews of two channel and personal audio components, interviews with innovators across the audio industry, as well as interviews with existing, new, and rising music makers. Freya's tube gain stage is a totally different animal. This review shall be focusing on the Freya+ preamplifier which is a welcomed addition to Schiit's already popular predecessor. affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network, and I was contemplating getting them before I ordered the Freya+ but already have a stash 6SN7 so decided not to. Freya offers three different output stages to choose from: passive mode, a solid-state JFET buffer mode, or a vacuum tube gain mode. Looks like the Freya S is discontinued now. The Schiit Freya. The new JFET buffer allows conversion of single-ended signals to balanced allowing multiple sources to be used. That's actually a good thought and thanks for the headsup. I have a Freya+ and want to love it but don't. The stack comes with each of their respective power cords (UK, US, Australian or Euro) as well as the factory new production Tong-sol tubes. has anyone compared the Freya+ to other things in the 1000 dollar range? The Freya is a fully balanced differential design preamp and, in my opinion, is Schiit's most physically beautiful product to date. Is this because I am only using one Vidar amp? The least expensive of the four options presented unfortunately didnt create the upset that budget seekers so dearly love. With its very low levels of both noise and distortion, even with the tube stage active, the Schiit Freya + preamplifier's measured performance is superb, matching or better than the specifications listed on Schiit's website. , Stoddard worries that the moderated Head-Fi will take-down his Russian Tube problem report. This is the static ad content. With a remote control set to the potentiometer and near distortion-free tuning, the Freya plus represents a newly improved pre-amplifier that would work well in any audiophile's set-up. Freya represents an interesting prospect for those either on a budget or just getting into high-end audio. It will be interesting to see if there is enough demand for this product to survive Schiits thunderdome idea. Special thanks to the entire Schiit crew for helping to set this up, especially to the gentleman who did all the blind amplifier switching. The Schiit Freya+ gets our highest recommendation. I ordered a Freya on 3.30.2019 and received it about a month later because they were backordered. For those using the Freya+ with tube amps, it might actually be a better match to use the JFET buffer mode, as sometimes we have found that tubed preamps matched with tubed power amps can be too much of a good thing on many recordings. This slight rolloff remained with the tube stage engaged, but now the right channel (fig.1, gray trace) was 0.1dB lower than the left (green trace) and the ultrasonic output started to roll off above the audioband, reaching 1dB just above 100kHz. As with the previous model, the passive mode offers a solid-state flavor with a more transparent and revealing sound albeit with less soundstage and harmonic bloom compared to the tube gain. The front and top are comprised of a single curved piece of brushed aluminum. In 2018 Schiit introduced the concept of the thunderdome. One of the best. 2oclock without. With the tube stage engaged, the maximum gain at the balanced outputs was just below the specified 12dB for both types of inputs, at 11.74dB, and 6dB lower at the single-ended outputs. The Freya+ with the design changes noted above, only commands a $100 premium over the original Freya, which . The volume pot is still available, but other parts are becoming NLA (balance). And to Freya +? The overall workmanship is absolutely superb for a component under a grand, we mean seriously clean lines. Without the tube stage but with the solid state buffer, the preamplifier's frequency response extended to 200kHz, with excellent channel matching (fig.1, blue and red traces). To add another perspective, we have also had many budget tube preamps in for audition and while all of them sounded generally good, they all seemed to do one thing well, usually a smooth midrange, or they added some harmonic richness, but along with that a flat sounding top end, and somewhat sloppy bass. for many tube preamps that means the ability to use much higher quality, lower capacitance film caps (for output coupling) within budget. The Freya + establishes what the original set out to do with its involving and holographic sound as well as the convenience of controlling multiple sources from one device. The LISST? The Schiit Freya preamp delivers excellent build quality for the price. The Wavelet is a bit of an outlier in that it acts as an active EQ to the Valors which are a 4 way design. If you are looking in the $1000 to $5500 and want to use tubes, you will be pleasantly surprised. The most notable changes in sound quality were on opposite ends of the audio spectrum. I went on Schiit's website on 5/25 and purchased the Freya. The original Freya has a great balance and bloom. Just wait for it. Not on point but relevant to Schiit. 2023 Positive-Feedback.com. The design language is identical to other Schiit product although in the widescreen format looks more attractive: Like Freya+, it's a true high-end, balanced, remote-control preamp! The kicker is that the preamp, even when matched with far more expensive components sounds wonderful. A few emails later and i realized i had been contacted via email only it was an old email i rarely use but, it was the one on record. One thing to note is that Schiit have let go of the previous screw-in volume pot in favour of a seamless design. As is always the case with passive preamplifiers, the output impedance depended on the setting of the volume control. Radioheads song15 Steps appeared as a crisp, dynamic jump from 0 to loud along with vocals that reached out just a bit more. Switching to Freya's JFET mode adds a very small amount of gain to the signal and is best suited for longer cable runs. It would be very interesting if Schiit decided to design and market a tubed power amp as impressive as the Freya+. Freya + Impressions. This stuff is very much imported and dependant on Oil imported from Sanctioned sources. These are well known, highly regarded tubes and worked extremely well in the Freya. If your source component or DAC offers this, I would advise doing listening tests with and without a preamp to know for sure if adding one is the right choice. Doubt they will do any, since the N didn't sell. The chassis feels and looks incredibly sleek and with the new fasterlessness design fits well with Schiit's 'Made in America' product range. Supposedly 14 dB of gain but a quad costs a pair of C notes so probably not. I received two replacement parts and the tool necessary within five days. I wonder if this politically correct site will take this report down? With the ability to cycle the tubes on/off, one can leave the preamp on all the time, sort of like a stand by status, and then turn on as necessary. Thats very interesting Jason thanks. What this could mean for the Freya+ is less flex during tube rolling or changing.. Can these globe fubes fit in a Freya? The buffer definitely has less gain than the tube mode, and it is very clean, low noise, and seemingly transparent. Schiit has the N available again for $599. Affiliate programs and Trying to be objective I think if you want tubes or a tube sound, I would stay with PrimaLuna. Between this an the Decware Zen triode amp any regular Joe can experience sound that is near as good as it gets and get a no BS product where you get real value for you dollar. If you want a tubey sounding preamp, shop elsewhere. The system was was balanced from DAC to preamp, to power amp, with Black Rhodium Symphony XLR cables. Nestled at the top of their price-performance curves, Schiit does not disappoint with this new amplifier which adds a delightful tuning yet flexible approach when dealing between existing source components.