Schiit is a reputation that many within the audiophile neighborhood know and love. My first tube amp was really the Schiit Vahalla, and I’ve owned the Asgard, Lyr, and Mjolnir prior to now and at present have a Gungnir Multi-bit DAC that I take advantage of in my workplace. For sure, I’ve at all times appreciated Schiit; their merchandise present worth, and their design aesthetic matches my private style.
Lately, my main headphone system discovered itself in want of a preamp, and I got down to discover a preamp that supplied a really particular set of options. It wants to supply each passive and energetic preamp performance. When set to 100% quantity in passive mode, it must be a real pass-through, and when on this mode it must be clear. In an ideal world it will even have a buffer mode, and it will be capable of deal with each single ended and balanced inputs. Lastly, it will have two single ended outputs. Imagine it or not, I got here up with this checklist earlier than seeing the spec sheet for the Schiit Freya S. After I learn over the spec sheet for the Freya S for the primary time I couldn’t assist however to smile from ear to ear, it was precisely what I used to be searching for. The last word query was might the Freya S match right into a system that retails for over $25,000 and sustain with the opposite elements? I used to be decided to seek out out.
Schiit was good sufficient to ship me a Freya S for assessment, and I’ve had it in my system for the final two months and I’ve been extremely blissful. We’ll dive into extra particulars shortly, however to get straight to the purpose, the Freya S is now everlasting member of my reference headphone system.
A Product of the Thunderdome
The Freya S appears to be like nice paired with the Chord Dave
In 2018 Schiit launched the idea of the thunderdome. The thought was to create merchandise after which check if they might promote. In the event that they did, extra would get made, and if not then the product can be discontinued. One product that acquired the thunderdome remedy was the Freya Preamp. For the thunderdome they made two variations, the Freya S and the Freya +. The Freya S is a wholly solid-state preamp with a passive mode, a buffer mode, and an energetic acquire mode. In energetic mode it makes use of Schiit’s proprietary Nexus differential acquire topology. One of many advantages of this topology is that it really works with each single-ended and balanced inputs, and in buffer or energetic acquire mode it seamlessly converts from single ended to balanced and vice versa. This was an vital characteristic for me as my whole system is single-ended, and I wished to make sure the answer I selected was versatile for the long run, however didn’t deal with single-ended as an afterthought.
The Freya + alternatively was a tubed model of the Freya S, it nonetheless featured a passive mode, a buffer mode, and an energetic acquire mode. Nevertheless, the energetic mode is tubed, and it trades the Nexus differential acquire topology for a differential triode enter with a semi-circlotron follower. The Freya + additionally has all the extra {hardware} to assist the excessive voltage rails required for the tube acquire stage.
Selecting between the 2, in idea, is straightforward, in order for you tubes select the Freya + and in order for you a strong state select the Freya S. In my case transparency was the objective, and I deliberate to maintain the preamp in passive mode or buffer mode more often than not, so the Freya S aligned extra with my wants. To my shock, the Freya S really misplaced the thunderdome to the Freya +. My understanding is that when the Freya S sells out, it should possible not be restocked. I personally suppose this can be a disgrace, nevertheless, I recognize the best way Schiit is approaching product improvement, and gross sales numbers do not lie. All that being mentioned, the Freya S is a very particular product and price auditioning earlier than they’re gone endlessly.
Diving into my use case for the Freya S
My reference headphone system consists of two SET (Single-Ended Transformer) headphone energy amplifiers from ampsandsound, a Chord Dave, a Chord M-Scaler, and a streamer. My objective was to insert a preamp in between my Chord Dave and the 2 SET amps. I wished the preamp to behave as a splitter, and a quantity trim, as each of my headphone amplifiers do not need their very own quantity pot. The amount trim operate was actually vital as a result of the Chord Dave has wonderful digital quantity management, however outputs three volts on its single ended output always. The result’s that with extra delicate headphones, just like the Focal Stellia, the noise ground can turn out to be audible.
Now, for the above use case, a passive preamp would have coated all of my wants. Nevertheless, I wished to ensure it had a distant management, as I plan so as to add further sources to this technique sooner or later, and will need to use the built-in quantity management as greater than a trim characteristic. I additionally wished an energetic acquire stage as I’ll ultimately add a set of excessive effectivity audio system. Whereas, I don’t want further acquire with my headphones right now I’ll possible need further acquire with a set of audio system sooner or later.
The last word query was: in passive mode will the Freya S be clear sufficient to be unnoticeable with the remainder of my system?
Assessment Gear
- Chord Dave and Chord M-Scaler
- ampsandsound Greater Ben and customized Kenzie Amplifier
- Hifiman Susvara and Focal Stellia
- Wywires Platinium Interconnects and Headphone Cables
- Wireworld Platinum Starlight BNC cables
- Closing Contact Audio Callisto USB cable
Unboxing and First Impressions
As at all times, Schiit’s packaging is minimal, and I’m completely high-quality with that. I might a lot somewhat have the price of the product spent on the product itself as an alternative of fancy packaging. The field contained the Freya S, distant, guide, and energy wire. Schiit additionally despatched a set of the PYST balanced interconnects which can be good for connecting the Gumby when the Freya S is sitting straight on prime of it.
The Freya S makes use of Schiit’s unity chassis, which appears to be like nice. As I mentioned above I’m an enormous fan of Schiit’s minimalist design aesthetic. The controls on the entrance of the preamp are properly laid out, and I’ve but to want the guide. The again of the preamp is clearly labeled and teams balanced inputs, single ended inputs, after which the outputs in a logical method.
One factor I wish to verify is that if the single-ended inputs and outputs can deal with bigger RCA connectors. I’ve had points with this on different merchandise, however my Wywires Platinum RCA cables simply match on the Freya S.
The distant is comparable in measurement to the outdated silver Apple remotes. It doesn’t have an influence button, however one of many good issues a couple of strong state preamp with a passive mode is that you just actually do not ever want to show them off. I discovered the distant responsive, simple to make use of, and nicely laid out. I by no means had points dialing the amount in excellent.
The amount knob is comparable (if not similar) to those used on Schiit’s different amps. It has nice resistance, and it’s good that it has onerous stops for 0% and 100%. Nevertheless, I want there was some form of mild up indicator that informed me the amount degree. I normally sit about 14 ft away from the preamp and can’t see the little dot on the amount knob.
After plugging within the preamp, turning the amount knob leads to a flurry of clicks. These clicks are the 128 step relay managed quantity management doing its factor. This, for me, was the primary purpose the Freya S caught my curiosity. I’ve had different tools that supplied relay managed quantity management, and that tools began at $4500. Schiit’s implementation is superb, gives good channel matching, and was just about clear. Some could not just like the clicks, however I’ll let you know that the click occurs on the upper finish tools, and is a small worth to pay for the efficiency. As I said above, however need to be certain I restate, when the Freya S is in passive mode, and the amount knob is at 100%, the Freya S acts as basically a wire. For my use case this was vital, however typically it’s a nice characteristic that’s oddly not all that widespread.
Passive Mode Experiences
There loads of room for the big Wywires RCA connectors
Most of my time was spent with the Freya S in passive mode. Why passive mode? Effectively for one, all of my supply tools has loads of acquire for my headphone amplifiers, and the Chord Dave is greater than able to driving the preamp and the linked amplifier with out partaking the strong state buffer performance of the Freya S.
The primary query was, how clear is the Freya S? The Chord Dave by itself is a superb preamp/DAC. In my expertise including elements in entrance of the Dave, particularly a part as reasonably priced because the Freya S, will possible lead to lowered transparency of the general system.
With the Freya S in passive mode and quantity set to 100%, I started enjoying my standard checklist of music. After listening I switched again to simply having the Dave run on to the amplifier, after which again once more. I did this a number of occasions all through the assessment interval. I can very comfortably say that when the Freya S is about to 100% and is in passive mode that it actually doesn’t add any coloration to the sound. I used to be impressed. I’ve had different preamps that present passive quantity management and bypass performance that had been far much less clear in bypass mode and that value a number of occasions extra money.
Now, as I defined to start with of this assessment, have two headphone energy amps. One amp is kind of solely used with the Hifiman Susvara. I’m able to join the Chord Dave on to this amp and use the Dave’s digital quantity management with no background noise, due in no small half to the Hifiman Susvara’s lack of effectivity. Nevertheless, my second amplifier is supposed for use with extra environment friendly headphones. Sadly, the road noise from the Dave coupled with my amplifiers acquire causes the noise ground to be too excessive for my Focal Stellia (104 dB/mW). Bear in mind, my headphone amplifiers do not need a inbuilt quantity management pot.
Putting the Freya S into the circuit (in passive mode), I placed on the Focal Stellia and adjusted the amount down ranging from 100% till the noise ground disappeared (just below 50% on the Freya S’s quantity knob). Typically passive preamps sound lifeless, or at the very least missing in dynamics. With my elements the Freya S appeared to as soon as once more be clear. I didn’t really feel like I used to be lacking out on dynamics, particulars, or house.
Due to the noise ground, it was more durable to check the Freya S out and in of the system with the Focal Stellia, so as soon as once more I grabbed the Hifiman Susvara. Placing the Chord Dave into DAC mode (mounted quantity) and utilizing the Freya S for quantity management, I regarded for variations. I might describe passive quantity management on the Freya S as wonderful. Whereas there was a slight lower in house inside the recording, I’m splitting hairs. It was in any other case as if the Freya S was not within the circuit, and for me, that was precisely what I wished.
Buffer and Energetic Acquire Modes
I wished to take the time to check out the buffer and energetic acquire modes. Sadly, each raised the noise ground of my system into audible territory, however I’m listening with headphones on excessive acquire headphone amps so this isn’t stunning.
My curiosity within the buffer and energetic acquire modes had been to assist a future use case of connecting excessive effectivity audio system to my headphone energy amps. I consider these options will work excellently sooner or later, and I stay up for having the ability to use them extra usually.
For this assessment although, I wished to take the time to hearken to the energetic acquire stage and the buffer. In idea, the buffer mode must be simply as clear because the passive mode if performed proper. To be clear, it’s uncommon that I hear a buffer mode that lives as much as that expectation. As soon as once more the Freya S impressed, aside from a rise in noise ground the buffer sounded similar to the passive mode with the amount at 100%, and it mounted the slight lower in house. Lowering the amount and fascinating the buffer produced the identical outcome.
When the Freya S has the buffer or the energetic acquire stage engaged it helps changing balanced inputs to single ended outputs (or single-ended inputs to balanced outputs) as a byproduct of the Nexus differential acquire stage. In my testing, I discovered the Gumby going into the Freya S in steadiness mode misplaced nothing in its transition to the only ended output. I additionally linked the Freya S to my essential speaker system which use Emotiva XPA-1L balanced mono-block amplifiers. I used to be unable to detect any noticeable variations when the amount degree was matched between the Gumby offering a balanced or single ended sign into the Freya S.
Lastly, testing out the energetic acquire stage, the result’s that the sound stage takes a step ahead. You go from row 20 to row 10 and dynamics seem to extend however not in a destructive or synthetic method. Amplification is impartial and whereas there’s extra drive, I don’t really feel like every particular frequency vary is boosted. In my testing, the energetic acquire stage isn’t as clear because the passive mode or buffer mode. To be clear it shouldn’t be, nevertheless it was as if somebody dropped a skinny veil in entrance of the artists when listening. Once more, that is splitting hairs, and you will need to keep in mind that my reference is a Chord Dave with no preamp which is without doubt one of the most clear and detailed DACs you should buy.
What I might have cherished to see
If it isn’t clear, the Freya S is superb. It will be wonderful at $2000, and it’s a down proper metal at $599. Is it good? No, however is it good at its worth? Completely! What would make it good at any worth?
I want the Freya S had a tape loop. I do know most individuals don’t use them, however I discover it a good way so as to add room correction that may be simply pulled out of the circuit. You may as well use tape loops for tone management and the power to seamlessly change it out and in of the circuit is essential for the best way I hearken to music.
I might have additionally cherished to see a channel steadiness possibility. A number of preamps that implement quantity management utilizing a relay system to supply the power to offset the amount place on the relay ladder for a given channel. This isn’t an enormous deal to me, nevertheless it looks like a missed alternative.
Lastly, as I discussed above, I actually want there was a visible indicator of the amount degree that might be seen from throughout the room. Once more, not the top of the world however it will have been good.
Wrap Up
The Freya S is a characteristic wealthy solid-state preamplifier. It has an excellently carried out relay primarily based quantity management. It has an unbelievable passive mode, a wonderful buffer mode, and a very good energetic acquire mode. It helps single ended and balanced sources, and it seamlessly converts between the 2 in buffer and energetic acquire modes. I have no idea what extra you may ask for at its $599 price ticket.
I do know I can’t discover one thing as versatile that sounds this good at this worth. I attempted and couldn’t so, I purchased my assessment pattern. Schiit has at all times packed a ton of worth into their merchandise. Some firms try this and sacrifice high quality alongside the best way. In my expertise, Schiit has at all times constructed wonderful merchandise, that hit method above their worth tags, and the Freya S isn’t an exception to this rule.
Lastly, you will need to notice that the buffer and passive modes of the Freya S are similar on the Freya +. Selecting between the 2 preamps actually comes right down to in order for you tubes. Whichever route you select to go , I’m pretty sure that you can be blissful.
Freya S Preamplifier
Retail: $599
Schiit Audio
