I love your videos, great job. I understand the schiit freya + has 5 inputs, 2 xlr and 3 rca. Question. Can I select input 1 to play with output 1, xlr outputs or select the different speakers I have hooked up to the rca outputs. How does that work?
Hi Angel Grant, thank you for the feedback much appreciated and thank you for your inquiry. The Schiit Freya + will output for example input 1 via the pre-amplifier stage you selected (passive , JFET or valve stage) and volume control to all pre-amp outs. Thus the same input signal is fed to all outputs, xlr and rca. So you can run two power amplifiers from the Schiit, one from the xlr outputs and one from the rca outputs. Or you can run a power amplifier from the rca outputs and an active subwoofer from the xlr outputs as another example. But you will not be able to match different inputs to different outputs unfortunately. Big but, but the pre-amplifier is extremely flexible otherwise. Today it is important (flexibility I am referring to) to be able to drive a power amplifier together with a subwoofer if required.
You cannot select outputs, they are all live at all times and have the same variable output level controlled by the volume knob. The input you select sends a signal from each of the 3 outputs no matter which mode you are using. You cannot choose RCA or balanced outputs for different sources. You can hook up a different anp or subwoofer to each one of the outputs. ie: XLR out to your mail stereo amp, the two RCA outs to a pair of subwoofers. There is no tape loop or fixed output.
Hi Stanley haha yes I am actually not 100% sure how to pronounce it, but the "name" it is a great conversation starter...thank you for the support, one of our aims is to find cost effective products, review them and share our impressions with our viewers...have a great one...
I wish you gave a little more detail on the improvements between the Freya + and the Freya it replaces. Like the almost 20dB increase in signal-to-noise ratio. Being a long time owner of the previous model I found it slightly too noisy even with LISST tubes. It has new owners now and a little delay in the 2nd batch of Freya + has me waiting for mine. Also with some speakers and amp combinations the switching noise of the volume can not only be heard from the relays but also through the speakers. The Freya + has a new tube circuit and DC heaters that accounts for the improved S/N ratio. The value from this preamp is unmatched with current and older tube preamp offerings. The new JFET circuit also has the ability of outputting a balanced signal from a unbalanced input. This was only possible with the tube output in the previous model. This helps alot with Vidar and Agier owners with different sources for balanced-mono use.
Hi Gavin Thank you for your inquiry, and plenty of detail pertaining to the Freya and Freya+ pre-amps. I must say no audible noise (or hiss) from the Freya+ pre-amp that I could perceive...so me think you are in for a winner. (in any of the 3 modes of operation with the Tong-Sol tubes) Gavin I agree 100% with you regarding the value from the Schiit Freya+ but I am sure if the current fitted coupling caps are changed we could see more low frequency detail and or extension...? what do you think ? Also with some speakers and amp combinations the switching noise of the volume can not only be heard from the relays but also through the speakers - I haven't had any of this with my Freya+ ...but will keep monitoring... The new JFET circuit also has the ability of outputting a balanced signal from a unbalanced input. This was only possible with the tube output in the previous model --- I didn't know this, so thanks for sharing! The Freya+ comes highly recommended!
@@TheAudioCouple Regarding the coupling caps. Without knowing the circuit or having a look under the tricky to open now fastenless chassis we can only speculate. There are LED's visible in the previous version which I assume shows the likelyhood of DC servos, so there might even be less coupling caps in that scenario. Series capacitance of the interconnects may be contributing factors but I think even tube choice can affect percieved BASS performance. schiit now provides their audio precision test reports where they did not with the previous version.
Thank you very musch for your time to answer my question. I have the following dillema: i own a ml 331 power amp and a chord hugo2 dac with volume. I am currently using the dac straight to the power amp, am controlling the volume from the dac. I have the opportunity to buy am no 380s preamp, but i don't know if it is worth the investment. Do you think that by using a pre between the dac and the power I will gain or loose something from the point of sound quality? I really appreciate it.
@@andreiaudio hi again. Very difficult to answer. If the DAC pre amp section is of extreme design or in other words of very very high performance, it will not make sense to have a pre amp in between. But then again we are talking about the 380S which complements the 331 very well. In your setup I will recommend the 380S, but do consider the Freya+ as well...this pre-amp is growing on me, like you cannot believe. Have a great one!
