I have the Schiit Saga (original) and
use it in tube buffer mode with all my sources except Audio Horizon phono preamp
run passively.
I
don’t presume to tell anyone what they hear, but after spending time rolling a
few 6SN7’s with the Saga, I was able to choose a clear preference based on
overall sound quality. I compared the stock tube with new issue Electro-Harmonix,
Sylvania Chrome Top (not Chrome Dome), Melz 1578, and vintage RCA Grey Glass. This
not only yielded a clear winner, but also a ranking: 1. RCA, 2. Melz, 3. EH, 4.
Stock Tube, 5. Sylvania
Were these
differences dramatic? Well no, but I’m listening for subtle cues and the best
SQ based on different things, like transparency, timbre, highs, midrange, and
bass reproduction.
“So while there were some noticeable gains in collective
performance from a few candidates, the overall race was so close that only
significant deficits in quality stuck out against the negligible.”
The
quote above is from a “Double Blind” 6SN7 tube shootout using four Saga+ units.
Check it out.
https://audio-head.com/double-blind-a-b-schiit-shootout-tubes/
There
was a clear consensus on rankings, which seems to indicate that the tube is
doing something. No?