Three Years With The Schiit Freya + Pre-amp

[PomMarantz]

Thanks…I was comfortable sourcing and installing the vents..that was tedious and stressful…but in my wheelhouse…I solder occasionally…but never on a circuit board…..the hardest thing for me was removing the old components…with no experience that was challenging!…but I am an old surfer dude…so I like taking risks!

 

[krautmaster]

I have a tube (Sylvania 6SN7GTB) that was in the left front position that got noisy after an hour or so on the left channel, so I put it in the left rear and it is quiet. If I put it in the Right front it makes loud pops on the Right channel whenever I adjust the volume. So here is my question, as SCHIIT has me all confused on which tube does what. I had assumed like most people that the Left side tubes were the Buffer and the Right side tubes the Gain. I also assumed that the Front tubes were the left channel and the Rear tubes the right channel. I asked the Schiiter and this is what it gave me - they can't seem to get it right either, as they show different locations for V1, V2, V3, V4. I'm trying to figure out where to put my best set of tubes (highest gain, best match):

The Freya+ uses a differential design, meaning each channel (left and right) utilizes a pair of tubes for gain. Specifically, the front pair of tubes (V1 and V2) are used for the voltage gain stage, while the rear pair of tubes (V3 and V4) are used for the output stage. Both pairs work together to handle the left and right channels in a balanced configuration.

So, to sum it up: the front tubes (V1 and V2) and the rear tubes (V3 and V4) are not dedicated to individual channels but rather work in tandem to deliver that sweet, sweet balanced sound to both the left and right channels.
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On the Freya+, the tube layout is indeed a bit of a dance between buffer and gain stages, but it's not as simple as left side for buffer and right side for gain.

Here's the lowdown:

• The left side tubes (V1 and V2) are indeed used for the voltage gain stage.
• The right side tubes (V3 and V4) are used for the output stage, which includes the buffer.

So, in essence, the left side tubes handle the voltage gain, and the right side tubes handle the output stage, which includes the buffer. It's a beautifully orchestrated symphony of tubes working together to deliver that luscious sound.

I tried tapping on the tubes and only get a "tink" sound from the left channel from all four tubes while both speakers are playing normally...

 

[Gigantic]

I have a tube (Sylvania 6SN7GTB) that was in the left front position that got noisy after an hour or so on the left channel, so I put it in the left rear and it is quiet. If I put it in the Right front it makes loud pops on the Right channel whenever I adjust the volume. So here is my question, as SCHIIT has me all confused on which tube does what. I had assumed like most people that the Left side tubes were the Buffer and the Right side tubes the Gain. I also assumed that the Front tubes were the left channel and the Rear tubes the right channel. I asked the Schiiter and this is what it gave me - they can't seem to get it right either, as they show different locations for V1, V2, V3, V4. I'm trying to figure out where to put my best set of tubes (highest gain, best match):

The Freya+ uses a differential design, meaning each channel (left and right) utilizes a pair of tubes for gain. Specifically, the front pair of tubes (V1 and V2) are used for the voltage gain stage, while the rear pair of tubes (V3 and V4) are used for the output stage. Both pairs work together to handle the left and right channels in a balanced configuration.

So, to sum it up: the front tubes (V1 and V2) and the rear tubes (V3 and V4) are not dedicated to individual channels but rather work in tandem to deliver that sweet, sweet balanced sound to both the left and right channels.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the Freya+, the tube layout is indeed a bit of a dance between buffer and gain stages, but it's not as simple as left side for buffer and right side for gain.

Here's the lowdown:

• The left side tubes (V1 and V2) are indeed used for the voltage gain stage.
• The right side tubes (V3 and V4) are used for the output stage, which includes the buffer.

So, in essence, the left side tubes handle the voltage gain, and the right side tubes handle the output stage, which includes the buffer. It's a beautifully orchestrated symphony of tubes working together to deliver that luscious sound.

I tried tapping on the tubes and only get a "tink" sound from the left channel from all four tubes while both speakers are playing normally...

Clear as mud.

 

[krautmaster]

Just got another muddy answer after I e-mailed them:

My E-mail:
You're AI Schiiter has me confused as to which tube is which: in an answer to left vs right channel it says the FRONT tubes are V1 and V2, and the REAR tubes are V3 and V4.
In another answer to Buffer vs Gain, it says that the LEFT side are V1 and V2, while the right side are V3 and V4. I have a set of matching 6SN7GTA and a set of matching 6SN7GTB, I need to know where the sets need to go, either in the front or back, or on the left or right.

Response:

We recommend using all 4 tubes being the same type and matched otherwise you may experience channel imbalance. 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.

All the Best,
Tom E.
Schiit Tech

I found the bad tube by tapping on them and one made a lot of static, so it is the bad one.

 

[Ross6860]

Neither of the two I had worked properly out of the box.

Too bad because it may have been ideal.

 

[Gigantic]

Just got another muddy answer after I e-mailed them:

My E-mail:
You're AI Schiiter has me confused as to which tube is which: in an answer to left vs right channel it says the FRONT tubes are V1 and V2, and the REAR tubes are V3 and V4.
In another answer to Buffer vs Gain, it says that the LEFT side are V1 and V2, while the right side are V3 and V4. I have a set of matching 6SN7GTA and a set of matching 6SN7GTB, I need to know where the sets need to go, either in the front or back, or on the left or right.

Response:

We recommend using all 4 tubes being the same type and matched otherwise you may experience channel imbalance. 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.

All the Best,
Tom E.
Schiit Tech

I found the bad tube by tapping on them and one made a lot of static, so it is the bad one.

that's how I understood it. I just had the vintage NOS RCA Brown Base tubes in the buffer stage go bad, introducing a fair amount of rush. I replaced them with the stock JJ tubes, but will be looking for something else i the mean time. I'm thinking the Blue Tennis Ball 6SN7 from Psvane

 

[Jon S]

I don't think the Tennis Ball 6SN7 tubes from Psvane will fit as the sockets appear too close to each other.

I have tried various 6SN7 tubes in the Freya and prefer the Sylvania 6SN7GT "Fat Boys" over the stock Tung-Sol 6SN7GTs. The rare Sylvania 6SN7WGT sound even better, but because of their age (1950s?) they tend to be noisy. They were readily found a year ago for about $50/tube but now the going price seems to be about $150/tube.

 

[krautmaster]

I'm currently using a set of the first Sylvania 6SN7GTBs with yellow labels (1954) which are supposed to be older than the green labels (late 50's ?) which are older than the red labels (early 60's). The chrome goes down far enough to cover the top plate -not quite a 1/2", a little less than my older 1951 WGT's, and quite a bit more than my 60's GTB red labels where the chrome is only in the very top 1/4".

Anyway, these 1954's have a nice mid range "sparkle" and great sustain. One tube makes a bit of static occasionally (the seller suggests I leave the tubes turned on for 48 hours and that should clear it up, and I have noticed it is a bit better the more I use it).

 

[krautmaster]

I don't think the Tennis Ball 6SN7 tubes from Psvane will fit as the sockets appear too close to each other.

I have tried various 6SN7 tubes in the Freya and prefer the Sylvania 6SN7GT "Fat Boys" over the stock Tung-Sol 6SN7GTs. The rare Sylvania 6SN7WGT sound even better, but because of their age (1950s?) they tend to be noisy. They were readily found a year ago for about $50/tube but now the going price seems to be about $150/tube.

If you use socket savers the "Tennis Ball" tubes fit fine, without them I think the opening in the top is too small.

 

[krautmaster]

After doing some research I found that indeed letting an old NOS tube stay on for many hours can fix a noisy tube, as well as giving them a brisk tap with a pencil. Further wisdom says if you have a Sylvania tube that is noisy to re-flow the solder on the tips of the pins as some develop a cold solder joint. I found that my noisy tube did have a pin or two that was "suspect" so I re-flowed all 8 pins and now the thing is ultra quiet. When I finally shut it down tonight I think I'll do the other three tubes just for fun.

 

[krautmaster]

So the quad of 1950's chrome top Sylvania GTBs sounds better than any of my other tubes: holographic, great sustain, bass is great without being overpowering (like the modern Tong-Sols which are now in 2nd place in my collection). The mids are sweet and the highs have a "sparkle" with bells, cymbals, etc. that I've not heard before.

I think I'm leaving these in until they wear out, which could be a long long time. There is some kind of great synergy going on between the Freya+with these tubes and the SL-1200GR2 turntable: I was playing the Mofi Limited Edition 45 rpm Brothers In Arms this afternoon and I couldn't believe how good it sounded. I had to try out my UHQR Aja album... I think Brothers in Arms actually sounded better, which is no mean feat. Tomorrow will be Dark Side Of the Moon and the first side of Pulse after the tubes warm up for an hour or so.

My Bluesound Node X streaming with TIDAL has taken on some seriously improved sound quality since they upgraded everything to lossless FLAC files.

 

[krautmaster]

I have finally found an album that sounds like Schiit with my Freya+... I played my Guns N Roses "Appetite for Destruction" ( the new reissue in 180 gram 2 LP version)

Appetite For Destruction - 2LP 180-Gram Audiophile Vinyl Edition - Guns N' Roses Official Store

- INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING - The USA store can ship internationally but you may find a less expensive shipping option and shorter delivery times by shopping from our international territory partner stores, listed below: UK / Europe GermanyJapan First Ever Album Remaster from Original Analog Tapes...

gnrmerch.com

Sweet Child of Mine was acceptable, but Axel Rose's screeching sounded like absolute schiit on every other song... the music was fine, it was just his voice that did something bad with the Freya+ and the set of 50's Sylvania chrome top 6SN7GTB tubes...

It took it in the office and played it on my Azure table with a Parasound JC3Jr phono amp and it was fine... It is so freaking WEIRD that it is unlistenable with the Freya/Skoll combo. One day I'll try it again with a different set of tubes

 

[EddNog]

I've been running a Freya+ for the past year and absolutely love mine as well. It came with the JJs, but I quickly swapped them out for a set of quad matched Psvane CV181 MkII tubes which I felt were quite the step up from the stock JJs, but eventually I gave in to curiosity and sprang for a quad matched set of Linlai's E-6SN7 tubes and, well, there's no way I'm going back. Really amazing performance with the Linlais. Just otherworldly sound! Everything I loved about the Psvane tubes, but even better imaging placement, even deeper soundstage. Better texture and punch on the bass. The Psvanes may have more height in the image, but I'll take the wider and deeper soundstage of the Linlais. I also feel there is more air to the Linlais than the Psvanes, but that part is subtle.

-Ed

 

[krautmaster]

I have finally found an album that sounds like Schiit with my Freya+... I played my Guns N Roses "Appetite for Destruction" ( the new reissue in 180 gram 2 LP version)

Appetite For Destruction - 2LP 180-Gram Audiophile Vinyl Edition - Guns N' Roses Official Store

- INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING - The USA store can ship internationally but you may find a less expensive shipping option and shorter delivery times by shopping from our international territory partner stores, listed below: UK / Europe GermanyJapan First Ever Album Remaster from Original Analog Tapes...

gnrmerch.com

Sweet Child of Mine was acceptable, but Axel Rose's screeching sounded like absolute schiit on every other song... the music was fine, it was just his voice that did something bad with the Freya+ and the set of 50's Sylvania chrome top 6SN7GTB tubes...

It took it in the office and played it on my Azure table with a Parasound JC3Jr phono amp and it was fine... It is so freaking WEIRD that it is unlistenable with the Freya/Skoll combo. One day I'll try it again with a different set of tubes

Turns out I had one tube that was not up to par... it snapped and farted this morning while playing tunes on the Node X streamer, so I swapped it out for another tube (I have two quads of these 50's chrome tops) and then played the GNR album, which sounded just dandy again...

 

[jlm86]

Freya+ Late-comer....
Just added Freya+
Aragon 4004 mkii amp
Denon x3600 AVR (preouts to Freya+)
Schiit Modi+ (large FLAC Hard drive)

Q. Listening to 2 channel The Denon volume seems like it has to be 3/4 up to allow Freya+ reasonable volume control
?

Thank you

 

[Gigantic]

Freya+ Late-comer....
Just added Freya+
Aragon 4004 mkii amp
Denon x3600 AVR (preouts to Freya+)
Schiit Modi+ (large FLAC Hard drive)

Q. Listening to 2 channel The Denon volume seems like it has to be 3/4 up to allow Freya+ reasonable volume control
?

Thank you

This is a sub-optimal arrangement, you’re basically using two preamps. It would be better to remove the AVR from your two channel setup altogether.

 

[jlm86]

This is a sub-optimal arrangement, you’re basically using two preamps. It would be better to remove the AVR from your two channel setup altogether.

I was trying to utilize Home Theater bypass feature, which works ok..
But yes, the 2 channel source needs to be direct to Freya, maybe as secondary input?
Thus Modi+ output to Freya?

Thank you

 

[Gigantic]

I was trying to utilize Home Theater bypass feature, which works ok..
But yes, the 2 channel source needs to be direct to Freya, maybe as secondary input?
Thus Modi+ output to Freya?

Thank you

What I do with my arrangement is that I run everything into my Freya +. My Apple TV goes into an HDMI audio splitter, the HDMI continues to my AVR, while it outputs TOSLINK into my Schiit Bifrost 2/64, into my Freya +. This allows me to bypass the AVR for 2 channel listening, but also has my 3-way horns as my mains for AVR use, although the downside is that I have to use 2 remotes to control the volume for watching movies and streaming shows, as well as the odd occasion that I listen to multichannel audio. That said, if I watch more than 2 hours a week, that’s excessive for me. My 2-channel listening is primary and my AVR setup, while better than the average home, is more or less an afterthought in comparison.

 

[Gigantic]

A little over a year and a half into the ownership experience, I got home Thursday, cracked a cold one and was all set to spin some vinyls when the unimaginable happened: I hit the toggle on my Freya + and nothing happened. It’s dead, Schiit the bed. Fortunately, I had an ART Clean Box in my studio and was able to route rca from the pre out on my AVR to the box and XLR to my DSP speaker management unit, hooking up my DAC and phono pre to the AVR with RCA cables instead of XLR. Apart from a few additional cables that I haven’t bothered to hide, there’s been minimal disruption.

I’m waiting to hear back from texas with a return authorization. Of course, I got my Freya + second hand, so I’m at their mercy if they choose to repair it. I’m dumbfounded as to what could have caused this.

 

[EddNog]

A little over a year and a half into the ownership experience, I got home Thursday, cracked a cold one and was all set to spin some vinyls when the unimaginable happened: I hit the toggle on my Freya + and nothing happened. It’s dead, Schiit the bed. Fortunately, I had an ART Clean Box in my studio and was able to route rca from the pre out on my AVR to the box and XLR to my DSP speaker management unit, hooking up my DAC and phono pre to the AVR with RCA cables instead of XLR. Apart from a few additional cables that I haven’t bothered to hide, there’s been minimal disruption.

I’m waiting to hear back from texas with a return authorization. Of course, I got my Freya + second hand, so I’m at their mercy if they choose to repair it. I’m dumbfounded as to what could have caused this.

Did you try rolling tubes?

-Ed