tube rolling with Schiit Freya +

213runnin, I don't have a Freya so take this with a grain of salt, but my tube preamp runs 4 12ax7 tubes and gets only a bit warm to the touch.  However, the tubes are situated inches under the cover versus above the cover.  So not sure why your pre gets so warm, maybe another Freya owner will chime in.

The major heat in the Freya+ does not come from the tubes.  The tubes are effectively external with many vent holes surrounding them.  The heat comes from a point between between the tubes and the transformers. 

My best guess, and it is only a guess, is that the heat emanates from the rectification for the regulated 300V rail.

I can update my findings on the heat issue as well. The Freya + isn’t heating up as much now, it still gets pretty warm, but not as much as previously.  I have it on its own shelf of an open unit with about 6 inches of space above it.

Reading up on the various Freya threads at SBAF forum, apparently it does run pretty warm when in tube mode, nothing to worry about.

This pre is a real treat.  The audio quality is simply superb.  I’m presented with a sound stage that is seamless and doesn’t seem to be coming from the speakers’ locations whatsoever.  I’m surprised at how much benefit a good pre adds to the end result.

I sent the Aegir back to Schiit (at a loss of around 100 bucks for return shipping and "re-stocking") as it doesn't sound as good (to me) as my single ended Had Firebottle tube amp...the Aegir did sound very interesting and certainly lives up to its reviews as a sweet SS amp, but I think I'm spoiled by the Had amp (and very used to its sound obviously as it's been in continuous use for a couple of years), and as a great single ended tube amp it simply has a snappy feel and harmonic profile that I clearly prefer, and no SS amp I've heard replicates that tone...I still might try a Pass XA25 at some point as I'm a fan of Nelson's ideas, but at nearly 5 grand (worth it, but still) for an experiment inspired by curiosity I'll likely just keep enjoying my little tube amp for a while. 

I googled Had Firebottle tube amp, it seems quite exclusive?   Made by one of the major dudes from Cary Audio or something like that.  5 watts per channel of class A.  Quite an interesting piece for sure.


I'm guessing you're using it with the Freya, so that's a tube pre and a tube amp?  I've been dragged kicking and screaming into tube based gear!  The Saga was enough of a win for me that I was willing to consider the Freya.  

But the Schiit Vali 2 tube headphone amp really made my jaw drop, and I realized that tubes can really sound amazing.  Paired with the Modi Multibit, the Vali 2 is by far the best headphone rig for 300 you can get.(I got both as b stock, hence the lower price).

Anyway, that's why I was willing to shell out the cash for the Freya +, and it's become my end game pre.