Schiit Freya 2 - too quiet

[duckpin76]

Hi all,

Finally got around to hooking up my new Schiit Freya 2. I am finding it is very quiet no matter what input I am using. If zero is at, say, 7 o’clock, I have to turn it to 2 or 3 o’clock before it sounds decent. It can’t possibly be that sensitive so far down.

This is what I have plugged into it using RCA cables:
Philips 673 tuner into Freya
Technics SL-1800 into Schiit Mani 2 (phono preamp) into Pioneer RG-1 (dynamic processor) into Freya
Cambridge CXN into Freya

Using XLR cables,
Cambridge CXC (cd transport) into Cambridge DAC Magic 200 into Freya

The Freya 2 then goes into an Adcom GSA555 power amp that then goes into Ohm Model I (eyes).

Are there any settings I’m missing? On the speakers or the preamp? It does it for any input so I’m thinking it must be one of those two.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[krautmaster]

You very likely have it in Passive mode- try the solid state or tube modes and turn the gain up to +12 ... my first one played LOUD as hell in tube mode with the gain set on High and the volume set at 11 O'clock. Mine had too many problems trying to accept my stash of NOS and new tubes without getting an "over current" warning. Schiit has already done a firmware update on them and I get one of the revised ones on Monday. These are the many different modes you can use:

• Passive. No gain stage. Just the relay volume ladder, nothing more. ** yours is probably in this mode**
• Pure tube. Input voltage gain is done by tubes. Output current gain is done by tubes.
• Tube input. Input voltage gain is done by tubes, output current gain is done by MOSFETs.
• Tube output. Input voltage gain is done by MOSFETs, output current gain is done by tubes.
• All solid-state. Input voltage gain and output current gain all done by MOSFETs.

It also has two gain modes, Low and High which adds 12dbz of gain.

 

[krautmaster]

For anybody who buys a Freya 2 and tube rolls, they have changed the layout of the tubes: Left is Left channel / Right is right Channel. Front is INPUT Voltage gain/ Rear is OUTPUT current gain, so used a matched pair in the rear and another matched pair in the front (no more matched pair in the left side and another matched pair in the right side).

 

[duckpin76]

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried it at -12 and now I’m maybe at 12 o’clock for comfortable listening, so there was some slight improvement. I still don’t feel this is right, though - maybe I’m wrong? If I have the Freya in normal passive mode, I can’t change the gain and thus it still remains too quiet.

I’m also not getting a lot of “bass” - not that what I listen to requires it (jazz/classical), but I definitely imagined it to be fuller, if that makes sense, with these Ohm Is.

 

[krautmaster]

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried it at -12 and now I’m maybe at 12 o’clock for comfortable listening, so there was some slight improvement. I still don’t feel this is right, though - maybe I’m wrong? If I have the Freya in normal passive mode, I can’t change the gain and thus it still remains too quiet.

I’m also not getting a lot of “bass” - not that what I listen to requires it (jazz/classical), but I definitely imagined it to be fuller, if that makes sense, with these Ohm Is.

Passive mode has NO gain, it is a simple volume control, so yes you will have to turn it up pretty far in that mode to get some sound. Try the other modes in high gain.

I generally find on my all three of my Freya+ preamps that straight up "noon" is the nearly perfect position for moderate listening when in tube mode... go past 1:00 and they get loud really fast.

 

[duckpin76]

Thanks. In speaking with other groups, it would appear what I’m experiencing is normal because it uses an attenuator - I’m used to older integrated preamps.

 

[Trays]

You definitely want to use one of the gain modes. And use the tubes unless you're saving them for holidays or to show off for company. My suggestion for anyone running passive mode primarily is save $700 and just get a Saga 2.

"Noon to 2:00" is the new normal without the audio taper of olden times.

Not sure about OP reporting "also not getting a lot of bass". Maybe previous preamp had a loudness button engaged all the time.

 

[duckpin76]

Not sure about OP reporting "also not getting a lot of bass". Maybe previous preamp had a loudness button engaged all the time.

I’m going to guess that I just wasn’t pushing it far enough. When I wrote that, it was before I learned to ignore the 10-2 mindset. Going to try later tonight to try for that low end.