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Schiit Fans ?

RVT1K said:
So the real reason I am interested in the Freya is that it is a "tube preamp". I also like the promise of "perfect channel balancing" due to the way the volume control is done. My current preamp -Adcom GFP815- sounds off at low volumes.

But I see that it has two other modes of operation for lack of a better expression: passive and differential buffer on top of the tube buffer.

So another question for the Freya owners...what differences do you hear between the three modes? Do you even use the other two much or do you just leave it in "tube mode"?
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The first thing you notice with the passive mode is the volume is much lower. Differential buffer converts single ended inputs (RCA) to balanced (XLR) but has the same volume as passive. Tube mode adds 12db of gain and is noticeably much louder, and depending on your tube selection a much better SQ (IMO) I never use passive mode, and only use differential mode when I add a new piece of equipment to the system for comparison purposes, 99% of the time I use only Tube mode. If you have the LISST tube thingies it plays even louder (14db gain) and they do sound decent, much like when using a modern Tong-Sol 6SN7 reproduction tube.
 
RVT1K said:
So the real reason I am interested in the Freya is that it is a "tube preamp". I also like the promise of "perfect channel balancing" due to the way the volume control is done. My current preamp -Adcom GFP815- sounds off at low volumes.

But I see that it has two other modes of operation for lack of a better expression: passive and differential buffer on top of the tube buffer.

So another question for the Freya owners...what differences do you hear between the three modes? Do you even use the other two much or do you just leave it in "tube mode"?
Click to expand...
After 2 plus years I nearly always use tube gain mode. I used to use passive mode for background music, but tired of waiting for the tubes to warm up before I could switch from DAC to vinyl.
 
I appreciate the input very much!

This would be a fairly significant investment for me and I'm being extra cautious before taking the plunge.
There is the additional consideration that, should I really not like it, returning it is not really an option for me. Getting stuff from the US is easy if time consuming but stuff going the other direction is expensive and difficult.
 
elcoholic said:
I would 100% disagree :biggrin:, but I just don’t hear any of these things. I wonder if the tubes changed since I bought my Freya?
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iont know if they changed. not sure what you mean.
RVT1K said:
I appreciate the input very much!

This would be a fairly significant investment for me and I'm being extra cautious before taking the plunge.
There is the additional consideration that, should I really not like it, returning it is not really an option for me. Getting stuff from the US is easy if time consuming but stuff going the other direction is expensive and difficult.
Click to expand...
check this freya tube rolling vid.
mostly agree with his evaluation of the modes. and the differences. you'll have to watch and listen a few times to hear the difference in the vid but its there.
apparently, not everyone
can tell.
this is my first tube anything and im quite pleased.
i think you'll just need to spend time with it. i will 100% say the stock tubes are ok at best.
i rolled in a matched pair of kenrad 6sn7s on the gain side. big difference from the stock tube. though youll need to let them burn in for at least 100hrs. i plan on trying some other tubes. good tube reviews will give you a good idea what a tube will sound like generally.
the kenrads are known for their bass delivery but they are sweet all over, imo.
ive had a couple rcas and a sylvania bad boy i used in my saga, along with a kenrad.
they still sounded good at the beginning. a bit dark and somewhat closed but it did not take long to improve. ive got about 200hrs on them and its about leveled out very nicely.
ive used all 3 modes enough to hear the differences. i generally use the passive in the morning where it fills out sound well with out being loud. i like the active buffer more than the passive. more note attack.
but, the tube stage is really why i bought it. and im thrilled. holographic. deep and wide.
 
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The way I A/B test audio gear is listen to A for day or two, then switch to B for the same, and repeat if necessary. (i.e. let my brain memorize one and then switch.)

For my ears, it was pretty easy to land on tube mode vs. differential with the Freya+.
 
My Wotan amp has been repaired and shipped back to me (should get it Monday 6/15/26). This is what they had to fix (appears it really blew itself up badly). Repair and return shipping cost $0.00

Replaced three transistors in the +/-50V supply for the right channel. Replaced ten resistors, eight output transistors, and one
capacitor in the negative phase of the right channel. Replaced the matched transistors and the LEDs in the Nexus circiuit.
Burned in for five days, passed testing on the APx555
 
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krautmaster said:
My first Freya+ came with the modern Tong-Sols, on the second one I ordered the LISST tube thingies, the newest one has the 6N8S tubes (which was the cheapest option).
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It doesn't look like the LISST option is available anymore or at least I couldn't find it. A non-issue for me since the whole point of this for me is to try tubes.
The Schitt website currently shows two pricing options for the Freya ,"matched 6N8S", and "premium matched 6SN7" +$200.
 
RVT1K said:
It doesn't look like the LISST option is available anymore or at least I couldn't find it. A non-issue for me since the whole point of this for me is to try tubes.
The Schitt website currently shows two pricing options for the Freya ,"matched 6N8S", and "premium matched 6SN7" +$200.
Click to expand...
the $50 6N8S are the Russian tubes I got, the $200 matched 6SN7 is either a quad of JJ's or Tong-Sols. The Tong-Sols sound OK, but the JJs are not worth that price (their small 12XXX tubes sound fine, their bigger tubes not so much).
 
krautmaster said:
the $50 6N8S are the Russian tubes I got, the $200 matched 6SN7 is either a quad of JJ's or Tong-Sols. The Tong-Sols sound OK, but the JJs are not worth that price (their small 12XXX tubes sound fine, their bigger tubes not so much).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I was going to ask for opinions on upgrading the tubes and I do believe you've answered that question.
 
My repaired Wotan arrived early this afternoon, I put it back in the office system with the new Freya+ so that all the Schiit in the office is running Forkbeard (Wotan, Freya+, Mimir, and Stjarna) and they are all very easy to control with the App. I let it play for six hours and It sounds most excellent with the Psvane CV181-TII tubes (Silver lined "Coke Bottle" 6SN7's) in the Freya. The Monitor Audio Silver 500 speakers are a bit on the bright side of neutral and these tubes "sweeten" them up just right.

I also bought a new Power filter for this stereo and put the older Furman in the bedroom system, it is a Panamax MR5100 (now know as NICE) you can see it hiding below the bottom shelf of the rack.

30004.jpg30002.jpg30003.jpg109_4880.jpg
 
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Schiit Modi 5 DAC arrived yesterday, here it is in black attached to raspberry pi.
IMG_20260618_095451.jpg
About 12 hours run time so far. Best I've ever heard, which doesn't say much because I'm not up with what's possible but have heard a few.

Compared to mimby multibit 1, better detail and separation whilst still sounding big.
Diction is absolutely resolved can hear every word and even some of the quiet background whisperings that occur on some tracks. Voices are very real and when there are multiple voices they are separate.
I can hear, the lead in barber shop voices on Sheryl Crows There goes the neighborhood, further into the track than ever.

It doesn't have the 20 second light show on power on that the mimby had, which is better it just gets on with it.
It runs slightly warm but not hot like the mimby did. Mimby melted it's feet glue and slid off its shelf once on a hot day.

Overall imho a very enjoyable dac.
 
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RVT1K said:
It doesn't look like the LISST option is available anymore or at least I couldn't find it. A non-issue for me since the whole point of this for me is to try tubes.
The Schitt website currently shows two pricing options for the Freya ,"matched 6N8S", and "premium matched 6SN7" +$200.
Click to expand...
save the 200 towards matched quad of kenrads 6sn7s, sylvania bad boy, ray tube, or psvane.
i have matched pair of kenrads on the gain stage. looking for a pair for the signal stage.
couple of good videos
 
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