I upgraded to a Supratek Cabernet. It is an obvious improvement, bigger sound, bigger sound stage, more natural sound. I thought things sounded great when I had the Freya+ but now it sounds harsh in my system. Granted, with the customization of allowing me to use 12sn7 as well as 6sn7 the Cabernet cost 4x what the Freya+ did so it better sound better!
Have you upgraded from a Freya?
I have had a Freya+ for a few years and like it a lot, but still get to thinking what another notch up the ladder might bring. Looking for feedback and impressions from folks who have upgraded from the Freya. I mainly use the solid state buffered mode, my listening sessions tend to be shorter and I don't turn on the tubes very often. The rest of the chain past the preamp is Coda #8 -> LS50's.
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Be prepared to spend a sizable sum to get a significant improvement. I just upgraded from the original Freya to an Atma-Sphere MP 3. The Atma is 10 times the price of the Freya and considered to be one of the better preamps available at any cost. Is there an improvement? Sure. But it also shows me how good the Freya really is. |
Thanks for the response and insight, good to know. Based on my experience and what everyone else says, I was pretty sure the Freya was a high performer. I am intrigued by the Benchmark LA4, though it may just be a lateral move with a different sound.
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Just an update, I acquired a used Coda 07x to mate with my #8. I am not as excited about as I expected to be, but still evaluating. My primary issue is that it is not great for low volume listening, which is my primary mode. Great soundstage and detail, but lacks a degree of liveliness that the Freya delivers at lower volumes. I have some other options on my list, the Holo Serene and the Benchmark LA4. @yyzsantabarbara You have extolled the virtues of the LA4, can you comment on how it does at low volumes? I am also concerned that the level of detail it seems to offer might lead to fatigue, any comment there?
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