2. amps-preamps
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Thinking Out Loud

I have been interested in checking out the “tube sound” for some time and just bought a Schiit Freya+ to pair with my SS amp.  The Freya+ replaces, or compliments, a Parasound P5 preamp I have been using.  I don’t know whether to just set aside the Parasound pre and go with the Freya+, as I don’t know how to incorporate both into my system so I could just switch between them.

A bigger issue surfaced when I realized the Freya+ doesn’t have a dac, not even for phono use.  So it wasn’t as simple as getting the Freya+ and dropping it into the system, I now need to supply a dac for at least the phono.  I had previously purchased a Audiolab CD transport, which lacks a built-in dac.  To remedy that, I bought a Pro-ject Dac Box 2 that I was just using with the Audiolab via the RCA-type connection.  I know this dac has other connections, but I’m not sure if I can connect it to the Freya+ using the other connections.  The Pro-ject has no power off button, so I have been plugging and unplugging it each time I play a CD.  Now I would have to do that each time I want to play vinyl — a bit annoying.

I think my problem is that I approached things piecemeal, adding/substituting gear without realizing up front the problems in doing that.  Do I just switch to the Freya+ full-time or is there a good way to incorporate both preamps?  Do I try to use the Pro-ject dac with available connections, or do I retire the Pro-Ject and buy a more full-featured dac equipped to handle multiple devices easily?
bob540
ghdprentice
8,015 posts
 
@bob540.  Sounds like that TT is the source of noise. I understand where you are at.

Understand your history. Mine was similar until I started upgrading my turntable… admittedly a long time ago. But the albums that were warn and dirty from my teen years sounded better and better as I upgraded my turntable, then got a cleaning machine, then upgraded my table. It is incredible how much a good turntable eliminates noise, and improves the sound. Part of it is I believe good cartridges run deeper in the groove than do really cheap ones. So, the dirty, warn albums of my youth now sound spectacular. The cleaning machine has removed all the dirt and pops, the turntable reproduces no surface noise, and the cartridge has increased the sound quality manifold. If the album is scratched… we’ll there is nothing that can be done. But otherwise those albums could have a complete new life ahead of them.
Also, often old albums can have better recorded original mix / pressing and actually sound better than later releases.
bob540 OP
427 posts
 
@lowrider57, The tubes are those that came with the Freya+ . . JJ tubes, made in Slovakia (same country my Pro-Ject was manufactured in).  The tubes are said to be good ones and less expensive than the Tung Sol tubes people really like. 
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
JJ may be of good quality for stock tubes, but there are many 6SN7s with better sonics.

This dealer has good info on different manufacturers and the sonic signature of tubes.
http://www.audiotubes.com/6sn7.htm

These are NOS tubes ( New Old Stock), known for very good consistent SQ and build quality.

New production tubes are available as well. I’ve tried some, but prefer NOS.
There are comments about tubes for Freya in the archive link I posted.

bob540 OP
427 posts
 
I also found this video regarding tubes for the Freya+:

https://youtu.be/WA_GImHsZNY
bob540 OP
427 posts
 
Follow-up:  Giving the tubes time to settle in, the sound has become more full and not dominated so much by the highs.  I think I like this!

Haven't bought any other tubes yet, but I think I will try some Tung-Sols.  All the ads I have seen are limited to matched pairs, but there are four tubes.  I’m guessing that since each pair is devoted to a different function, I just need the two tubes devoted to that function to be matched, not all four, right?
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