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).
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.
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.
- ...
- 82 posts total
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. |
Update on tube rolling of Freya+. After using Russian 68ns made in 1978 tube for a while at gain stage, I switched to RCA gray bottle 4 days ago keeping Sylvania vt231 at buffer stage. With RCA gray bottle at gain stage, it sound round and full almost like analog. I enjoy " I left my heart in San Francisco" . It remind me of my old days. I had lived in Berkeley hill overlooking Golden Gate bridge from 1984 to 1987. The only missing thing is that RCA gray seems to give slightly less details than 68ns. Then about 2 days ago, I replaced Rca gray bottle with Kenrad vt231. Wow this is an endgame combination. It sound full and sweet with enough air. "Cry me a river" by Diana Krall sounds so emotional that I do not need to spend more time on tube rolling on Freya+. Kenrad vt231 at gain stage and Sylvania vt231 at buffer stage leave nothing to be desired. |
Although I like Kenrad and Syl vt 231 combo as end game, you can also have Russian 6n8s to use at gain stage since it give more lively sound. If you switch between Kenrad and 6n8s, it is kind of having two different pre. https://www.ebay.com/itm/QUAD-FOUR-Matched-Balanced-Russian-6N8S-6SN7-double-triode-TUBE-NEW-NOS/312402083888?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 |
- 82 posts total