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Schiit Freya+(Plus)

Freya+ users:

For me, sending DAC input through tube output clearly adds warmth, bloom, punch, musicality, presence.
However, when used with analog inputs (TT, FM, cassette), the tubes (current stock JJ 6SN7 supplied with the unit) sound too lush, rather over the top, sometimes frankly bloated. I mean at equal volume (not volume SETTING).

Despite balanced output to power amp, the SS buffer stage sounds inferior to pure passive mode. So it's tubes with
DAC, passive with analog, SS buffer with nothing.

Questions: (1) does my experience sound typical?
(2) should I experiment with rolling Tung-Sols or other recommended upgrade tube?
(3) does any of this bespeak some peculiarity elsewhere in the chain?

Advance thanks for diagnoses/suggestions.

hickamore
jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,617 posts
 
Do you mean when you switch the interconnect cables the pop switches sides?If so it's a loose connection in the cable.
cliffkhz
48 posts
 
I will try different cables, but I believe I tried that but I tried so many things now I'm not sure.
mvrooman1526
42 posts
 
I've had a Freya+ driven by monoblock vidars for about a month now.  Loving it.  In researching the Freya I heard many reviewers commenting on how if you tap the top of the pre-amp you can hear it through your speakers.  I do the same and can't hear a thing.  Anyone else experience this? 
hickamore OP
659 posts
 
Just tried the same to verify, and I also hear nothing. My theory is it depends on whether your tubes have been tailored to avoid microphonics. Definitely a good idea with the relatively fragile little Freya, which unlike its Rogue and Prima Luna functional equivalents, is not built like a brick s*** house. (As how could it be at the price).
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
There have been some posts here and there for years about the "microphony of the tubed Freya, but I've had lots of different tubes in mine and have never had a tube display microphonics (I've had microphonic tubes in guitar amps over the years and I always replace them). I prefer some tubes to others of course, but even the original Russian tubes were fine...a bit boring but fine.
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