Z Review - Schiit Freya

Just sharing a cool fact I learned about the Freya. It will convert single ended inputs to Balanced out. Kinda cool if you don't have a balanced DAC, or if you use it for a turntable.

Camilo Quintero

when you play with the volume knob I'm afraid of the smokey monster coming .....<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0RGSvLnBoA" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0RGSvLnBoA</a>

I paused before you did to check and see if the hum was coming out on my end. Scared me for a second there.

Charles Offdenson

1. K 2. More Tubes doing more Tube things 3. Purists hate the word digital. This appeals to them. Just wait for the $1,700 ifi iCan Pro that is this with a headphone amp and more knobs.

ZeosPantera

check ebay every now and then, I got mine for $150

The unboxing isn't live yet but I unboxed the Play in it. I have to return it but should be an interesting review.

ZeosPantera

Seems like you could ind something cheaper if what you want is tube sound from a preamp. On another note, I see that the parent company for Periapt Cables is now a distributor for Burson products. Maybe a review of something like Bursn Play V6 might be interesting? They are offering a combo deal with the new RCA cable being free.

That was amazing Z, thank you for that.

1) Blasphemous! Have you had your meds today, Ronald? 2) Because the Mjolner only has one set of XLR ins, 1 set of SE ins and one set of RCA Pre outs. Freya has 2 xlr inputs, 3 rca inputs and e sets of se outs. Thus, it can accommodate bigger systems. 3) Have you priced tube pre-amps for home system before? Everything below $1,500 is absolute junk, besides the freya. Prima Luna tube pre start at $2200 and they are considered budget! There are plenty of high end products, both pre amps and cd players/transports, that don’t have on board DACs because DAC tech is advancing faster than pres, amps and source players. 4) Since there is no onboard DAC, Schiit is assuming you’ll already have one to handle the SPDIF and Toslink connections. In order to make a tube pre of this quality you have to cut out some of the extras. I do agree with Z about the god damn power button needing to be on the front.

Jan Miller

1) Too many jokes about the same thing - your sense of humor seems to be going to schiit. 2) Why buy this instead of spending the extra $150 and getting the Mjolnir 2? The Mjolnir has preamp outs, so you can use it with speakers, but offers tube or true solid state output, with plenty of power for any headphones. I'm not being difficult here, I'm genuinely curious who the intended audience is for this. 3) How do they justify $700 for a preamp with no digital inputs? Or a headphone amp of ANY price with no onboard DAC? I would have bought a full setup from them a while ago except for the extra $400 you have to spend just to handle an optical input. I balk at spending money for capabilities that should be standard. Especially for equipment at this level.

That's what she said.

Jan Miller

I have not. I have been using the ifi iCAN Pro as the pre for my living room setup. Its amazing.

ZeosPantera

Have you tried a tube buffer, like the Yaqin CD2?

EH... If I had to sit in front of a pair it would probably be the mackies... but the Edifiers have their own strong suits. Think people would have a harder time choosing.

ZeosPantera

Z, do you like the Edifiers more than the Mackie MR624?

Thanks, and now to wait for another drop

4xx are not the 6xx. Def nice to have both.

ZeosPantera

The hum was in the tubes. Probably something up with the Russian tubes. Owner is gonna have to talk to Schiit.

ZeosPantera

Thanks Ardais. I'm really enjoying my hd 6xx, but would like a little more impact.

I have both and like the 6XX for classical, and 4XX for general use and pop music.

Ardais

Would be great with the vidar and ls50s. Is the he 4xx review coming. Would they be a good addition to hd 6xx or would it be a lateral move?

I have been left wanting! Part 2 of Freya review please. Does the Vidar or other amps hummmm as much as the monitors did?

Jan Miller

I think that would exacerbate the good. You want the midrange to ring also.

ZeosPantera

If shaking it a bit makes good things happen, why not try putting it atop a subwoofer?