The Freya+ is NOT noisy. I owned it and I also owned 2 of the quietest preamps in the world, the Topping pre90 and the Benchmark LA4 + HPA4. I currently, only have the LA4 and the CODA 07x in the house.
Both the LA4 and 07x have XLR inputs (2 each) and XLR outputs, The LA4 has 1 XLR and 1 RCA. While the CODA has 2 XLR’s.
The Schitt Freya+ is actually rather quiet, not as quiet as the pre90, LA4, or 07x (not 100% sure on the 07x), but surprisingly quiet for tubes. If I were someone that likes to have a lot of audio gear around, I would have kept the Freya+. I thought it was rather good with a Benchmark AHB2 amp.
BTW - I do not think much about the cost of audio gear. I actually laugh at some of the prices. However, saying all of that, I expect to pair my $2500 LA4 preamp with a $35000 amp when my Livingroom system is done. The LA4 is what to use if you do not want to flavor your sound and also want to hear only the other gear. So that other gear better sound good ’naked’. I would not take any other preamp (at any price) over it for my best system.
BTW2 - I am not someone who dislikes tubes. My RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp has 7 tubes and is a bit noisy, but it is also the very best sound I have ever had in my home. That is until my future Livingroom system comes together.
