Hi Everybody, not many of these kicking around but if anyone has one to sell let me know, I want this for my 2 channel system…Thanks!
3 Likes
I just got the Freya+ and can wholeheartedly recommend for 2 channel.
1 Like
Sometimes, you just don’t want to mess with tubes though.
3 Likes
Having dealt with hum on a tube pre into a tube power amp, I agree.
1 Like
And if anyone has 2, I’d take the other. 
4 Likes
I’d never had anything with tubes except a guitar amp so wanted that option. Luckily I can choose to not use the tube buffer so it’s not a detriment to me.
1 Like
The Freya preamps are quality. The Freya S differs in that it has Schiit’s Nexus gain stage while the Freya+ does not. The amount of gain in solid state mode is also less with the Freya+ compared to the Freya S. Neither has it all, so one may be preferred over the other depending on whether tube or solid state mode is primarily used.
2 Likes
Yes, I am trying to ADD gain when using speakers. I have one more DAC to try, my Matrix which comes home this week. It has a couple of settings that may work, but otherwise I need to feed my amp a louder signal and I have not found anything in the price range of the Freya S, especially balanced.
2 Likes
Specs say that the tube gain is +12db, do you notice any significant increase in noise floor using that? I am sure that is speaker dependent of course, but in general?
The tube gain stage on the Freya + is also 12db, just like the 4x Nexus on the Freya S, so in theory the same amplification. I wonder which is cleaner? I have heard the Freya + is pretty neutral…
2 Likes
Oh I see. I’m not aware of other balanced preamps in the price range of the Freya S, unfortunately. For single ended, I believe there is Parasound and the DIY Elekit TU-8500.
Another option might be to use one of the balanced Schiit headphone amplifiers, preamp output, but that might have less input/output connections than you need.
1 Like
And I think the headphone amps are all passive pass through. I have tried my Asgard 2 single ended out into the Ovation and it still did not give enough spice to the amp…
1 Like
That’s too bad about the A2. I believe the recent models I’ve tried are active, but you might want to confirm with Schiit - the speakers responded when I’d switch between low and high gain.
You may be right, I only tried high gain. For Asgard 3, they say this:
Gain: High = 6 (15.6dB) or Low = 1 (0dB), via rear switch
If the 15.6 db high gain is applied to the SE out also, that would suggest even more gain than the Freya S?? I’m confused.
I may try again but I dismantled everything preparing for the Matrix to get here. Even if the Asgard 2 is active, it was not quite enough gain.
The Matrix has a =10db setting designed for active speakers, I am going to see what that does and take it from there.
Thanks for the help!
1 Like
You bet! Yup, it looks like the A3 has more gain than the Freya S. That isn’t necessarily a good or bad thing in itself, but does affect synergy and proper pairing with the rest of the chain. Some chains prefer more gain/spice, others less gain/spice.
Hopefully the Matrix works out. Sometimes setting the DAC output voltage to the highest setting helps. Good luck.
1 Like
@bpcarb in case you are curious, I had an exchange with Schiit. They said the Asgard 2 is variable in that it can be controlled by the volume pot, but that it will only bring the pre-out up to “line level” without added gain. They stated clearly it will not add additional gain as will a Freya S. Or Freya + for that matter. That is consistent with my experiment with the Asgard 2 in between. No additional volume added, but I did not notice any degradation of sound either, which is nice.
2 Likes
"The Asgard 2’s pramp outputs are variable and can be controlled with the Asgard 2’s volume knob. It can control volume and add enough gain to make a line-level output, however it will not provide extra gain like the Freya S can. "
1 Like
Thanks for the heads up. That’s interesting and consistent with what you are hearing.
1 Like
No, I haven’t noticed any increase in noise using the tube buffer. Like you, I need the extra gain for my Purifi amp, depending on the source. A balanced 4V signal from the D70 doesn’t need the extra gain but my turntable does need the extra gain. Hasn’t the S been discontinued?
1 Like
I didn’t think there was any gain using the Freya+ SS stage. If so I can’t detect it. There is no audible gain difference between the two on my system.
1 Like
That sounds right. I think the online specs say the Freya+ SS stage has gain of 1, zero dB.
2 Likes