Schiit Vidar.... Anyone heard one yet?

Nice post FANBOY...heh...sorry...I agree with all of that and if the Schiitsters attitude results in amazingly well made and affordable items from California (which is almost part of the USA), they’re pretty much unique in the stuffy and often precious high end audio world. Regarding "frills and nice to haves": I didn’t need a new preamp when I bought my Freya last November (also bought a Loki which is astonishingly good), I was simply curious about it and wanted to try a tubed preamp...had my eye on some Audio Research stuff at much higher prices...but the Freya has 2 balanced inputs plus the others, 3 outs including balanced, and the 3 operating choices (I prefer the tubed with the higher gain and, well, tubes). Anybody else offer all that and a cool 128 step volume system for the price of a pair of good cables? HA...I say keep at it Schiit.

"Nice post FANBOY..."

Er...yeah...well, if you insist, "Señor Mondo Caliente".  

Just to be clear, I wasn't trying to apply the "fanboy" moniker to anyone here, but I'm sure we could all agree that fanboys of schiit audio exist.

Since I referenced a few things I don't like about Schiit, I'll mention some that get a thumbs up from me.  The upgrading of their dacs has been great.  And that you can simply install a new board instead of having to buy the whole dac, that's outstanding.

It's also really great that they are continually tinkering and thinking outside the box.  An audiophile turntable?  I never saw that coming, and they're taking their time to get it right instead of rushing a product to market.

That they are veteran designer/engineers in the industry is also a big plus in my book.  And they manufacture in the USA instead of offshore somewhere.  I've seen enough of greed from electronic brands and chintzy customers who'll order crap directly from China to save a few bucks.  It's time to support domestic production.

And of course, the audio quality at the various price levels is what keeps customers coming back for more.  At the end of the day, I trust Schiit Audio.  They're not going to release inferior stuff.  They will stand behind what they sell you, and will refund with no questions asked.  

Hi @213runnin I seized on your comment to make a point about that label that’s been bothering me. I’ve seen it used elsewhere and it just seems like a way to dismiss positive comments about a product without taking time to address or recognize whether any of the praise is justified.  I appreciate your critique and balanced assessment of Freya. 

It does seem like we are on the same page about Schiit Audio - a welcome entry to the audio industry.

Just hope they have some kind of succession plan for Mike (and Jason).

Take care.

OK...Now I'm seeing "Fanboys" of the concept that it's perhaps tawdry to label people as "Fanboys." That results in anti-"Fanboy" "Fanboys," and there is no way out. Also, the label seems sexist as women are rarely called "Fangirls" unless the actual fanning of someone or something is occurring. I like electric fans as a natural outdoor mosquito repellant as mosquitos don't fly well in wind (learned that from the NY Times)...I suppose that makes me a "Fan Fanboy." Now I suppose some will label me as a "lunatic." On another note, I'm hoping that Schiit will make a single ended tube power amp someday. As unlikely as that might be I can still hope as, after all, I'm a lunatic.