Thoughts / Suggestions on Pre-amps

I pulled the Freya out of storage and hooked up to test with some new speakers. I prefer the tube mode. I find it more neutral than typical "tube" sound, so not surprised it meshed well with your SETs Randy. A bit too much syrup can be a bad thing IMO. YMMV.

p.s. Randy, you still didn't say whether you're going to Fl Expo ;)
 
The more I use the Freya the more I like it. I am very impressed with its features; 2x XLR, 3x RCA inputs, 1 XLR and 2x RCA outputs. Switching between Passive, FET buffer, and Tube output stages. I hooked it up to the T+A amp yesterday. I really heard the difference in the Passive and FET buffer versus with the other amps. Passive was very nice. With the SET amps I thought Passive was quite thin but FET was better. But with the SET amps the tube stage was definitely my favorite.

This is impressive to me in that the preamp with its various modes can really show a difference with different amps. On the tube side rolling seems to works very well! I like that the volume is 128 step relays, the remote feels very nice and does everything I need in a remote. I also like that it is fully balanced!

Over all I am enjoying the Freya, probably as much as any preamp I have owned. Amazing when you consider that it sells for only $699! As a comparison the most expensive preamp I have owned sold for $5500.
 
That’s pretty awesome Randy. My brother bought one and loves it too. I’ll have to go listen to it.
 
Yea Joe, I think you might be surprised. It certainly has shocked the hell out of me. Plan and simple, it is a very good, flexible, straight forward preamp for an insanely good price. If it continues breaking in and improving as I expect I cannot imagine not being totally happy with the Freya!
 
Well decision day is upon us. Tomorrow is the last day to return the Freya. Even if it was not only $699; if it was three times the price or maybe even a lot more I would think it is a impressive. I know I have not had any of the very top end preamps but from all those that I have owned I belief Freya maybe my favorite. I love the flexibility, I love the feel of the controls and remote, and I love how it works well with tube rolling, but most of all I love how good it sounds... yes the Schiit Freya is a keeper, and considering what Schiit charges for it I would call it a shocker!
 
Randy so which tubes do what in the Freya? I know you are using different ones for the different stages.
 
nc42acc said:
Randy so which tubes do what in the Freya? I know you are using different ones for the different stages.
Click to expand...

Their manual states that the right tubes are for Voltage Gain. I can only assume they mean the right tubes when looking at the pre-amp. The left tubes are for the Tube Output Stage.

From the Schiit manual:
"The right tubes are for the differential voltage gain stage. The left tubes are for the cathode follower output stage. All tubes are of the same type on Freya."

I am using the Sylvania Bad Boys on the right side. I am using the CBS Brown Base on the left side.

I read that in the voltage gain stage you want quite tubes and for sound quality you want your best sounding tube in the Output Stage. Hence the CBS to the left!
 
Randy I use a ml no 26 pre it has a se and bal output and mine has the bal input option too.
buying the no 25 phono preamp. I feel most all of us need an active preamp
and if we use a preamp it must be able to drive our amps and interconnects too.
 
I agree about being able to drive our amplifiers. The Schiit has 2 Bal inputs and 3 SE inputs, 1 Bal output and 2 SE outputs. Not only can it run fully passive, it can also run FET buffer output (SS), and Tube output.... it is also 100% balanced and comes with a nice functional metal remote. It pretty much checks all the boxes and it is VERY reasonably priced. And most important, it sounds very good with each of my three amplifiers.
 
Hi Marty,

i also have a Terminator DAC, going into a Wells Audio Innamorata Signature amp... i was wondering what you think of your Hattor passive??
I need to introduce my system to the gang around here —my new speakers that this forum assisted with and an interesting new preamp...but I’m also very interested in owning a passive along side, for a certain type of music and type of listening I do..
 
jriggy said:
Hi Marty,

i also have a Terminator DAC, going into a Wells Audio Innamorata Signature amp... i was wondering what you think of your Hattor passive??
I need to introduce my system to the gang around here —my new speakers that this forum assisted with and an interesting new preamp...but I’m also very interested in owning a passive along side, for a certain type of music and type of listening I do..
Click to expand...

I was wondering what speakers you ended up going with?

I was also considering the Hattor preamplifier. It looks like a very nice piece. Obviously, from this thread you know that I ended up going with the Schiit Freya. While the Hattor looked good I decided on the additional flexibility of the Schiit, and I did have a little hesitation about a pure passive preamp.

What I have come to realize is that the passive mode on the Freya works very well, but it does not seem to match up with every amplifier. I am in the unique position of having three distinctly different amplifiers in my system. The passive mode seemed to work very well with the T+A amplifier but it does not do nearly as well with the Audio Mirror SET amplifiers. However the tube stage works perfectly with the SET.

I also believe the the FET solid state buffer works well and in most situations is preferred to the pure passive. Only with the T+A amp did the passive mode shine. Of course, as always, your millage may vary.
 
Hi Randy,
id like to tell in the proper thread...but it rhymes with Smarbeth ;)

im not surprised that your passive does not sound best with all amps you have on hand. As I’m sure you know, it’s an impedance machine thing.

I hope ti hear what Marty thinks of his Hattor. It’s the Hattor or Tortuga for me, I suppose.
 
Nice, and I do not believe there is any issues discussing off topic things in a thread so long as it is not taken over :)...

I hope the passive works out well for you. I wish I had the opportunity of being able to directly compare various units, but having no dealers around it becomes pretty much impossible. I would love to try out a Hattor; it just seems like a good unit!
 
I am very impressed with the tubes. I think a bit more neutral sounding then the CBS and Sylvania's that I have compared them against (both of which I really like). Certainly more robust, especially in the bottom end. A very inviting sounding tube which I feel has opened up the SET amps even more. It is like another layer of a veil has been lifted and definitely more air around the instruments. I certainly understand why Vlad recommended them for his Audio Mirror amplifiers!

Be aware that they are a bit larger. The ceramic base is a bit over sized and does not allow the tube to seat flush on the amplifier (case bolts get slightly in the way). Vlad told me this is not an issue at all. The tubes plug in plenty far enough :). Also, because of the size they cannot be inserted into the Freya. The case housing is too small for the Black Treasures ceramic base to fit through.
 
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