Schiit Fans ?

[Plainly]

Not familiar with the Folkvangr amp, but going by internet search, that was a field where those who die in combat go. Maybe Schiit knew something when they named it.

Seriously, if overall the Schiit trajectory has been from lower-priced to higher-priced (i.e. higher margin) items, that is a lot better than high-to-low (breaking out my business sense). Just be careful not to annoy the early adopters who got you there.

You always want the price of something to hold up after you drive it off the lot and I can understand feeling like a bagholder if you own an expensive audio item that gets discontinued even if it sounds great and you don't intend to sell it.

 

[krautmaster]

Schiit Stjarna Phono Preamp review continued:

So today I put my Freya+ preamp into Passive mode (no gain) then Differential Buffer Mode (no gain but converts single ended RCA to XLR somehow). Tube mode adds 12db of gain.

Passive mode and Differential Buffer sounded the same, maybe a bit quieter background in Differential mode. I had to up the Stjarna's gain from 40 db to 47db since my 740xML's output is only 3.2 mV, and if left at 40db I had to crank the volume knob up 3/4 of the way to the 3:00 PM position (normal listening level with tubes is straight up 12:00 o'clock). The main difference in sound from Passive/Differential to Tube mode (other than the volume) is that the sound was a bit softer and warmer with a better image (holography) when using all 8 tubes, but I think the Stjarna would sound fine with any solid state preamp- especially voices which were crystal clear in Passive and Differential modes.

There was nothing to change my previous opinions from yesterday: heavy metal and poorly recorded classical are not this machines forte, they sound the same as they do on the $399 Skoll, so headbangers save your money. If you already have a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2 or DS3b you don't need the Stjarna, there is just not enough difference to matter.

IMO, this machine was made for the Steely Dan fan (Pink Floyd and Dire Straights too) or 80's one hit wonders.

 

[DavidTT]

Nice review(s). Will the Stjarna be a long-term keeper for you?

 

[krautmaster]

Nice review(s). Will the Stjarna be a long-term keeper for you?

Yes indeed, sounds so good with the type of music I prefer and I wanted another tube phono amp as my Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2 is pulling double duty in the office and sounding wonderful (also playing through a Freya+)

 

[Gigantic]

I've owned plenty of Schiit gear and man do those guys iterate fast. Pieces come and go from their offerings seemingly by the month. Earlier on their bread and butter were pieces that didn't cost that much but they now have some pieces that are edging into the bigger-money space. What happens to the value of an amp or other Schiit piece at the top of their range when it disappears from their web site in a few months? Do those pieces retain value over time if they were only made for a short period of time, almost experimentally?

this is a weird take. My Bifrost 2, now 2/64, has been in production for at least 6 years, my Freya +, for about as long, as well. The Bifrost 2/64 was upgraded so that any one with the previous version could buy a card to upgrade it themselves to the new configuration. What other manufacturer does that? Along the way, they also produce higher end products like the Folkvanger and Stjarna, simply to see what is possible, sort of like the electronic version of throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks- many of these are remarkable, if not impractical products that are expensive to the average entry level consumer, but offer performance comparable to hand made, high-end products at a fraction of the cost. again, who else does that?
while the bulk of their product line are undergoing revisions to include their Forkbeard technology that seems to offer a ton of convenience and added value, most of their offerings fit within an industry standard cycle of at least 5-6 years, if not longer. Frankly, I'd be more concerned if they were simply resting on their laurels and not improving products. Instead, they're continuously finding better ways to build a better mousetrap, while their legacy products, particularly their power amplifiers, still continue to provide excellent performance. Frankly, I don't understand your complaint. My Marantz AVR which was introduced in 2012, has gone through significantly more iterations than any Schiit product that I can recall.

 

[DavidTT]

this is a weird take. My Bifrost 2, now 2/64, has been in production for at least 6 years, my Freya +, for about as long, as well. The Bifrost 2/64 was upgraded so that any one with the previous version could buy a card to upgrade it themselves to the new configuration. What other manufacturer does that? Along the way, they also produce higher end products like the Folkvanger and Stjarna, simply to see what is possible, sort of like the electronic version of throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks- many of these are remarkable, if not impractical products that are expensive to the average entry level consumer, but offer performance comparable to hand made, high-end products at a fraction of the cost. again, who else does that?
while the bulk of their product line are undergoing revisions to include their Forkbeard technology that seems to offer a tone of convenience and added value, most of their offerings fit within an industry standard cycle of at least 5-6 years, if not longer. Frankly, I'd be more concerned if they were simply resting on their laurels and not improving products. Instead, they're continuously finding better ways to build a better mousetrap, while their legacy products, particularly their power amplifiers, still continue to provide excellent performance. Frankly, I don't understand your complaint. My Marantz AVR which was introduced in 2012, has gone through significantly more iterations than any Schiit product that I can recall.

I would call it a question, not a complaint. I've owned Schiit gear and know of what I speak. Lighten up Francis.

 

[Gigantic]

Finally starting to see reviews on the Schiit Mimir. lengthy review, but the gist of it is that the Mimir is very close to being as good as the Bifrost 2/64, never mind his butchering of Schiit's model names.

I'm not even remotely in the market for a new DAC, but that does make ma a little excited for what might be coming in a future, forked Bifrost 3

 

[krautmaster]

I’m hoping that one and a half sides before it opens up thing goes away with break in.

I now turn the preamps (Freya+ and Stjarna) on five minutes before using them, and they are good to go: Starnja's 6N1P tubes are broken in now- very very quiet for a tube, and zero microphonics. I don't have the need/urge to Tube Roll with these.

 

[Dr Morbius]

Love the Schiit Vali 3 and especially the tube rolling which is easy peasy

 

[fredgarvin]

I now turn the preamps (Freya+ and Stjarna) on five minutes before using them, and they are good to go: Starnja's 6N1P tubes are broken in now- very very quiet for a tube, and zero microphonics. I don't have the need/urge to Tube Roll with these.

With my Freya N i replaced the 6n1p's with Raytheon 6cg7's in the input and liked them better. Rolling has gotten expensive enough that I'm not really doing it much now.

 

[SWL3600]

Wow, it's good to see this thread is still going strong. It's been awhile since I've used any of my Schiit gear. Until today.....

I was pleasantly surprised to find that my Saga preamp (with 6SN7 tube) pairs really well with my Fosi ZA3's and V3's. Warm, full, rich and smooth sound. Very listenable.

 

[elcoholic]

Wow, it's good to see this thread is still going strong. It's been awhile since I've used any of my Schiit gear. Until today.....

I was pleasantly surprised to find that my Saga preamp (with 6SN7 tube) pairs really well with my Fosi ZA3's and V3's. Warm, full, rich and smooth sound. Very listenable.

Going strong yes, like my original Lyr and it's original tubes which are used everyday!

 

[jetstream]

Pretty significant changes to the Skoll's circuit board between the original 1.0 version and the "forkbeard" 1.5 version, they moved a lot of stuff around

Do you know if they added subsonic filter to the rca output?

 

[krautmaster]

Do you know if they added subsonic filter to the rca output?

Excerpts from their website:

Select LF filter: choose no LF filter, or engage the 2-pole/15 Hz passive network

...it is ... a single 12dB/octave passive filter with a shallower roll-off than a typical active filters. This was the best trade-off, we believe, between an active subsonic filter or no filter at all. And you can bypass the LF filter entirely, in any case.

 

[krautmaster]

Pretty significant changes to the Skoll's circuit board between the original 1.0 version and the "forkbeard" 1.5 version, they moved a lot of stuff around:
View attachment 3563367View attachment 3563368

So on the new Skoll with Forkbeard, they moved the inputs to the side opposite the power switch and cord. The inputs were right next to the power switch on the original Skoll. They must have moved it because some of the original Skolls had a low level hum in the left channel (the left channel input was right next to the power switch) but neither of my Skolls have this issue.

 

[fredgarvin]

Yes indeed, sounds so good with the type of music I prefer and I wanted another tube phono amp as my Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2 is pulling double duty in the office and sounding wonderful (also playing through a Freya+)
View attachment 3563823

The Stereophile review of the Stjarna is online now. *spoiler* he likes it a lot.

Gramophone Dreams #99: Schiit Audio Stjarna phono preamplifier | Stereophile.com

I'd been building and repairing tube amplifiers for a few years when my first Altec A5 Voice of the Theater speakers arrived. I bought them to help me evaluate the sound of low-powered triode amps—but whoa! The moment I turned that VOT system on, I heard from 30' away the sound of either a...

www.stereophile.com

 

[krautmaster]

The Stereophile review of the Stjarna is online now. *spoiler* he likes it a lot.

Gramophone Dreams #99: Schiit Audio Stjarna phono preamplifier | Stereophile.com

I'd been building and repairing tube amplifiers for a few years when my first Altec A5 Voice of the Theater speakers arrived. I bought them to help me evaluate the sound of low-powered triode amps—but whoa! The moment I turned that VOT system on, I heard from 30' away the sound of either a...

www.stereophile.com

Well, he sure used a lot of high faulting words to say "it's damn good!"

 

[elcoholic]

Does Forkbeard duplicate the status LEDs of the Freya+ with feedback? Schiit Talker isn’t sure. My Freya+ is concealed. It would be nice to really know if those tubes are off.

 

[krautmaster]

Does Forkbeard duplicate the status LEDs of the Freya+ with feedback? Schiit Talker isn’t sure. My Freya+ is concealed. It would be nice to really know if those tubes are off.

I played mine today in "Differential Buffer" mode: the tubes were cold (78F, not 145F like when they are on), and the left side of the case over the transformers was also cool (it is usually 110F when tubes are on), so yeah they are definitely OFF.
I'm pretty sure Forkbeard will tell you if they are on or off.

 

[krautmaster]

So today my buddy came over and we played music from 8AM until 4PM trying different modes on the Freya+... turns out we liked the sound of the Stjarna best with the Freya+ in Differential Buffer mode (tubes off and the RCA converted to XLR) and the gain set to 47db (MM cart). When we had the tubes in the Freya+ turned on and the gain at 40db the sound was great (very full and wide) a bit warmer in the mids & and an ever so slight fuzz on some vocals. With the Freya+ tubes turned off the mids were neutral and voices crystal clear.

This could be due to the design of the Uni-Q mid range driver in the KEF R7 Meta speakers... anyway we played albums in differential buffer/47db and then CD/Streamer/FM radio with the tubes turned on which sounded the best with these inputs. He brought over Bush's new album "I Beat Loneliness" 45 rpm edition...damn that album was mastered perfectly--layer upon layer upon layer over top of each other, each instrument was so distinct in placement... I've got to get a copy of that album ! (we're talking an AJA & Goucho quality of recording here).

Around 11:45AM my IsoAcoustics Gaia II feet arrived, I had ordered them last week before the tariff on Canada took effect (today they are $50 more a set). We shut everything down and installed the feet per the instructions (logo facing directly to the front or back- and it does make a difference: the lower portion is slotted into the upper portion so that the speaker can move a little bit forward and backward). We immediately noticed less pronounced but much tighter bass and the mids became crisp... these feet did not make the proverbial "night and day difference" people like to claim about some products, but the sound was just better overall. The change could just be that the Uni-Q driver is about 1" higher up than before with the taller feet, closer to my seated ear level... there are so damn many variables to consider !

On Monday I will repeat the test with the Freya+ with the tubes on then off with the Stjarna and the new feet to see if there is any difference- also going to try it with the LISST solid state tube replacements (my wife is off work on Fri-Sat-Sun, so my audio is confined to the office stereo until she goes back to work on Monday).