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Post by pop on Apr 9, 2019 17:54:10 GMT -5
Let’s talk Schiit.
I’m about to pull the trigger on a Freya and 2 Valhalla’s for a 2 channel active powered Tubalicious setup and a dual his/hers headphone setup.
Let’s hear the good, bad, and ugly!
This will be my first step into tubes.
Speakers will be Emotiva Airmotiv 6s and headphones will be Massdrop Senn HD650s
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Post by vcautokid on Apr 9, 2019 17:58:36 GMT -5
It will be tasty. The Schiit likes Senns. Rolling beyond stock will create differences. The stock tubes are good, but the frontier of tubes says, your audio options have just gotten larger. The fun part of tubes. Enjoy the ride! Congrats!
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Post by pallpoul on Apr 9, 2019 18:07:11 GMT -5
IMO, Freya would be a real waste of money. Never heard the Valhalla's, so no comment there. Get you a real tube pre, there's a lot to choose from.
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Post by brubacca on Apr 9, 2019 18:24:19 GMT -5
Explain to me (Like I'm stupid) why Freya isn't a real Tube Pre-Amp?? Its got (4) SN7 tubes....
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Post by audiobill on Apr 9, 2019 18:36:39 GMT -5
I live tubes, and didn’t like the Freya.
Get a VTA. Sp14 and thank us for the guidance.
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DYohn
Emo VIPs
Posts: 18,348
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Post by DYohn on Apr 9, 2019 18:49:20 GMT -5
I have a Freya, I like it a lot. Although since the Valhalla is single ended you may be better off using a Saga preamp.
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Post by teaman on Apr 9, 2019 19:07:49 GMT -5
I only own one piece of Schiit, the Fulla 2, I like it for what it does however it does have a near constant buzz that at low volume drives me nuts. I find myself turning it up louder than I should when trying to go to sleep because that buzz is almost always there. Other than that, no complaints really for under $100
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Post by pop on Apr 9, 2019 19:10:59 GMT -5
I live tubes, and didn’t like the Freya. Get a VTA. Sp14 and thank us for the guidance. I looked intensely at the SP14. One of the major draws to me on the Freya is the remote. Call it crazy, but after work and chasing my twins around all day, I just want to sit the hell down What was wrong with the Freya?
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Post by pop on Apr 9, 2019 19:12:23 GMT -5
I have a Freya, I like it a lot. Although since the Valhalla is single ended you may be better off using a Saga preamp. I want the balanced output for my speakers. But the price on the saga is tempting
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Post by pop on Apr 9, 2019 19:13:29 GMT -5
IMO, Freya would be a real waste of money. Never heard the Valhalla's, so no comment there. Get you a real tube pre, there's a lot to choose from. What makes it not a real tube preamp?
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Post by audiobill on Apr 9, 2019 19:15:49 GMT -5
I felt that the Freya was cheaply built, had limited drive/dynamics, a click/clack volume control and limited imaging and soundstage. Several of these issues point to a weak power supply compared to the large dual toroidals in the SP14, which is also tube rectified. And the SP14 can be had with a remote.
The Freya felt like a toy to me; no pride of ownership in my system.
Need more?
Bill
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Post by pop on Apr 9, 2019 19:23:02 GMT -5
Also am I not correct that the SP14 only comes with 2 pre outs?
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Post by pop on Apr 9, 2019 19:24:07 GMT -5
I felt that the Freya was cheaply built, had limited drive/dynamics, a click/clack volume control and limited imaging and soundstage. Several of these issues point to a weak power supply compared to the large dual toroidals in the SP14, which is also tube rectified. And the SP14 can be had with a remote. The Freya felt like a toy to me; no pride of ownership in my system. Need more? Bill No, makes sense. The issue is the remote model is basically double the price of the Freya
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Post by audiobill on Apr 9, 2019 19:27:31 GMT -5
Money well spent; compare the SP14 to at least $3-$5K preamps.
Only two sets of outputs? Why do you need more?
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Post by pop on Apr 9, 2019 19:37:48 GMT -5
Running two sets of headphone amps, and also out to my Airmotiv 6s
Technically I could link the Valhalla’s together as they have preouts but I’m not sure that’s the right way to go about it
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Post by pop on Apr 9, 2019 19:45:18 GMT -5
I will be using an Oppo 105 as a source, so theoretically I could use variable volume control from the Oppo to utilize a remote volume control.
But that doesn’t solve my issue of needing three pre outs.
The other option would be to use an XLR to rca cable From the Oppo to the second headphone amp, but that would skip the SP14 entirely for that second set of headphones.
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Post by pop on Apr 9, 2019 19:52:54 GMT -5
I have a Freya, I like it a lot. Although since the Valhalla is single ended you may be better off using a Saga preamp. How do you find the overall performance of the Freya?
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Post by Bonzo on Apr 9, 2019 20:17:20 GMT -5
I only own one piece of Schiit, the Fulla 2, I like it for what it does however it does have a near constant buzz that at low volume drives me nuts. I find myself turning it up louder than I should when trying to go to sleep because that buzz is almost always there. Other than that, no complaints really for under $100 Same here. But no noise what so ever for me. Works great on my modest computer set up. For it and the Emotiva b3s I got on close out, I think it's probably the best $200 someone can spend.
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Post by Bonzo on Apr 9, 2019 20:20:17 GMT -5
Let’s talk Schiit. I’m about to pull the trigger on a Freya and 2 Valhalla’s for a 2 channel active powered Tubalicious setup and a dual his/hers headphone setup. Let’s hear the good, bad, and ugly! This will be my first step into tubes. Speakers will be Emotiva Airmotiv 6s and headphones will be Massdrop Senn HD650s Last I checked they still had the 15 day MBG. What's to loose? Give them a try. They aren't 100+ pound subwoofers you have to return to SVS if you don't like them. Try em. You might love them or hate them, but at least you'll know.
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Post by pop on Apr 9, 2019 20:37:11 GMT -5
Let’s talk Schiit. I’m about to pull the trigger on a Freya and 2 Valhalla’s for a 2 channel active powered Tubalicious setup and a dual his/hers headphone setup. Let’s hear the good, bad, and ugly! This will be my first step into tubes. Speakers will be Emotiva Airmotiv 6s and headphones will be Massdrop Senn HD650s Last I checked they still had the 15 day MBG. What's to loose? Give them a try. They aren't 100+ pound subwoofers you have to return to SVS if you don't like them. Try em. You might love them or hate them, but at least you'll know. I think I’m going to order the Valhalla’s B-Stock. No return policy but at $50 off a unit if I don’t like them surely I can flip them Easy. The whole point of this project is to build a nice room for my wife and I. It’s 11x11 so it’s pretty small. Since we have the twins now, my wife challenged me to keep it as inexpensive as possible. But I wanted to go all tube, so that’s why I’m looking towards a preamp vs just using the oppo as one. And unfortunately I don’t have dealer accounts with any tube products. So far heres what I’ve got so far Used Airmotiv 6s - $425 Extra Oppo 105 source - free Sennheiser HD650 Massdrop version x2 - $220 (already owned one set) Vallhalla 2 x2 bstock - $600 Freya Russian tube - $700 Periapt 10ft Senn cables - $160 Interconnects - currently owned. Ultimate support speaker stands - currently owned Entertainment cabinet - repurposed piece of furniture Panasonic UT50 plasma - currently owned Furman 15 PFI - currently owned Total: $2105 I’d say that’s pretty damn good. If I wanted to get real tight with it I could skip the freya and use the Oppo as a preamp and add a DAC to operate the 2nd headphone amp. Saving about another $400-500 I’ve always wanted an all tube setup, and since the kids my upgradeitus has really slowed down. Besides my 140” projector HT upstairs integrated is the tits. The headphone necessity is so we can sit together and enjoy while the toddlers sleep
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