Schiit - shipments stopped?

Reubent,

Amazing comments, thanks.

when you refer avr setup, would these be the channel level settings? which normally don’t need to be adjusted, except for many one channnel abit louder than another.

problem with ht bypass for tube preamps is that no one designs a preamp that keeps the tubes off while watching tv.  I do know audio research will do this on their next version of the awesome ref6se unit, has 8 Tubes.

All modern AVR's I've used have an auto-calibration setup routine, running a program such as Audyssey, that uses a microphone to "listen" to the room and automatically sets up the speaker configuration according the the levels the microphone detects.

I just mean the you put together the setup, as I described, set the volume control to your pre-determined level (such as top dead center, etc.) then run the auto-calibration routine. The auto-calibration routine will recognize that the front L&R speakers volume is "low" and it will increase the volume of the L&R speakers relative to the other speakers in your multi-channel setup. It will do this calibration automatically.

Only caveat is that I have never done this using a "passive pre-amp". I do not know if the auto-calibrate routine was enough variability to make up the volume difference. If that were the case, you would need to increase your "pre-determined volume control position" to account for that.

You could try it, using the passive setting, and you can also try it using the tube output, and see if there is any difference. Just remember to always run the auto-calibrate routine on your HT receiver if/when you decide to change from passive to active/tube.

Also, there may still be a volume difference when you switch from the input you use for your passive/HT source and other inputs/sources. I would suggest you try to find the correct "pre-determined" volume control position that somewhat matches the output of your other sources. You could do this by simply listening to music and switching between passive and tube. at some point of the volume control position you will find that the volume is the same for passive and tube "active". This would be approximately the "unity gain" position for the tube output and, if convenient for you, it would be a good position to use for your pre-determined position. 

BTW, this all makes sense to me based on my assumptions regarding the Schiit Freya. I do not own one, and have never used one, so I could be off base. But logically, it all makes sense to me.  

Before I wrote my prior reply, I carefully looked at Schiit's web site and reviewed their owners manual for ANY mention of using the Freya as a HT bypass preamp. I found nothing. 

I, too, would like to see screen shots of the emails from Schiit "marketing" or promoting this feature. 

It is one thing to be able to use a device in a manner not intended in its original design. It is quite another to criticize a company for not including a feature that appears nowhere in their standard literature. 

If you don't like it, send it back.

I don't understand the OP's motivation for continuing this ordeal.

First, multiple and borderline libelous posts about Schiit because of delays in getting a Freya+. This was beaten to death in more than one thread. In my opinion, the consensus was that the OP was being unreasonable.

Now, the OP has the audacity to make more unfounded accusations about Schiit and their products. He is claiming that the Freya+ is advertised as having a feature that it does not--HT pass through.

HT pass through has already been explained. I will add that HT pass through achieves unity gain but unity gain is not equal to HT pass through.

HT pass through is a feature.

Unity gain is a state of 0 amplification/attenuation. If you don't understand that, be careful when playing with it.

The Freya+ can achieve unity gain (no amplification/attenuation) in passive mode but that is NOT the same as having a dedicated HT pass through.

The issue here is one of operator error. NOT of a product being misrepresented or used in a way that it was not designed for.

If this has been such an awful experience, why persist?

" Now, the OP has the audacity to make more unfounded accusations about Schiit and their products. He is claiming that the Freya+ is advertised as having a feature that it does not--HT pass through "


Actually, the Schitt website does state at the bottom of its Choosing Amps & Preamps page :
" Home Theater Integration, $0. Okay, all you "home theater bypass" guys. All of our preamps offer true home theater bypass. Just plug in your processor’s front channels to any input, select Passive mode, and turn the volume all the way up. Presto! 1:1 home theater bypass, with only a relay in the signal path. "https://www.schiit.com/guides/choosing-amps-preamps

Now whether or not the Op has hooked it up as described, or simply needs to discuss his issue directly with Schitt are entirely different issues