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No Frills Hi-Fi
เข้าร่วมเมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2023
There are a lot of reviews where people use fancy equipment. They spew out specs and data, or describe the sound like they are drinking the best latte they have ever had. I’m not that guy. I’ll tell you what I like, what I don’t like, and how it sounds to me. Nothing fancy. You can get the specs from the manufacturer and it doesn’t mean anything if it sounds like crap.
Upgrading a Bluesound Node with an Sbooster power supply
Installing the Sbooster Active Interface Board in a Bluesound Node!
Sbooster’s first AIB is designed for the Bluesound Node N130 / Node 2021. The upgrade lifts the sound quality of the Node to the next level. The Sbooster Node AIB differs from all other existing Node upgrade solutions, because of its unique MAXimalistic upgrade concept, It improves on literally every aspect of the stock power supply circuit, starting at the power connector. The AIB uses Sbooster's special C8 connector with gold-plated pins, hand-picked audio-grade components, and silver-plated OCC wires. The two-layer gold-plated PCB is made and assembled in Bulgaria.
The triple anti-oscillation circuits stabilize both the AIB and NODE's internal power rails and an advanced central grounding point creates a pure reference for the circuits. In addition, the Sbooster Decoy V2 is used to move internal RFI away from the audio circuitry.
www.sbooster.com/aibs
www.bluesound.com/products/node/
Sbooster’s first AIB is designed for the Bluesound Node N130 / Node 2021. The upgrade lifts the sound quality of the Node to the next level. The Sbooster Node AIB differs from all other existing Node upgrade solutions, because of its unique MAXimalistic upgrade concept, It improves on literally every aspect of the stock power supply circuit, starting at the power connector. The AIB uses Sbooster's special C8 connector with gold-plated pins, hand-picked audio-grade components, and silver-plated OCC wires. The two-layer gold-plated PCB is made and assembled in Bulgaria.
The triple anti-oscillation circuits stabilize both the AIB and NODE's internal power rails and an advanced central grounding point creates a pure reference for the circuits. In addition, the Sbooster Decoy V2 is used to move internal RFI away from the audio circuitry.
www.sbooster.com/aibs
www.bluesound.com/products/node/
มุมมอง: 18
วีดีโอ
Bluesound Node Performance Music Streamer Setup and Review
มุมมอง 1849 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา
It's a rather long review. I had to do a firmware update so that took a while, I did cut about 10 minutes off of the video while it installed, but you get the idea. I didn't want to cut it down too much, because I wanted to show the complete process. Feel free to skip ahead if you need to. I paired it with the Gallion TS A75 power amp and the Schiit Kara preamp. Simply put, there is nothing lik...
Bluesound Node Performance Music Streamer Unboxing
มุมมอง 14112 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา
Simply put, there is nothing like the NODE. With re-engineered components and circuitry for even better performance, the original wireless hi-res music streamer now features built-in THX AAA™ headphone technology, DSD playback, and more. Connect it to your stereo system and stream music, radio, podcasts, and more from popular streaming services or your personal library. With HDMI eARC, Dolby Di...
Galion TS A75 Poweramp Review with Schiit Kara Preamp
มุมมอง 1.5K14 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา
Giant Killer Galion TS A75 Power Amp Why is this called a giant killer? The performance of this amplifier is so good that you will question whether the significantly more expensive amplifier you are currently shopping for is truly better than this one; for those who prefer XLR, the TS A75 comes with both XLR and RCA inputs. www.galion-audio.com/pages/ts-a75
Galion TS A75 Poweramp Unboxing
มุมมอง 11316 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา
Giant Killer Galion TS A75 Power Amp Why is this called a giant killer? The performance of this amplifier is so good that you will question whether the significantly more expensive amplifier you are currently shopping for is truly better than this one; for those who prefer XLR, the TS A75 comes with both XLR and RCA inputs. www.galion-audio.com/pages/ts-a75
Schiit Audio Aegir 2 Amp and Kara Preamp Review
มุมมอง 2.2K19 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา
Today I'm trying out the Schiit Aegir amp and Kara preamp. They are an amazing combination! Check out my unboxing videos first for some more information on them! www.schiit.com/products/aegir_2 www.schiit.com/products/kara
Fosi Audio LC30 VU Meter Amplifier Speaker Selector Switch Review
มุมมอง 10519 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา
A 2-in 2-out amplifier/speaker switch box designed for HiFi enthusiasts. It allows seamless switching between two amps or speakers, eliminating the hassle of cable plugging. The needles’ lively dancing on the music enhances your audio-visual experience. www.amazon.com/Fosi-Audio-Amplifier-Visualizer-Control-Black/dp/B0D31JLTMJ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=35EZ7VV27R33W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lKTPG4lyaH00wOpc...
FX Audio TUBE 05 HiFi Vacuum 12AU7 Tube Headphone amp Review
มุมมอง 4621 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา
WELCOME TO FX-AUDIO- 2.0 ERA 1.TUBE-05 uses high specification tube 12AU7/ECC82,with strong tube sound warm and soft voice sound, full human voice. 2.Using the high-end chip NJM1194 of Japan JRC, the left and right channels have high balance and low distortion.With treble and bass adjustment function, enthusiasts can adjust EQ according to personal preference. 3.Customized high-performance tran...
Fosi Audio LC30 VU Meter Amplifier Speaker Selector Switch Unboxing
มุมมอง 128วันที่ผ่านมา
A 2-in 2-out amplifier/speaker switch box designed for HiFi enthusiasts. It allows seamless switching between two amps or speakers, eliminating the hassle of cable plugging. The needles’ lively dancing on the music enhances your audio-visual experience. www.amazon.com/Fosi-Audio-Amplifier-Visualizer-Control-Black/dp/B0D31JLTMJ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1XCRKTQCBJSBP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lKTPG4lyaH00wOpc...
FX Audio TUBE 05 HiFi Vacuum 12AU7 Tube Headphone amp Unboxing
มุมมอง 46วันที่ผ่านมา
WELCOME TO FX-AUDIO- 2.0 ERA 1.TUBE-05 uses high specification tube 12AU7/ECC82,with strong tube sound warm and soft voice sound, full human voice. 2.Using the high-end chip NJM1194 of Japan JRC, the left and right channels have high balance and low distortion.With treble and bass adjustment function, enthusiasts can adjust EQ according to personal preference. 3.Customized high-performance tran...
FX AUDIO FX03 MINI Type C DAC Review
มุมมอง 30วันที่ผ่านมา
Powerful little DAC If you want to make the most of lossless and hi-fi music. As long as you need a Dac and are ok with only having an RCA out, this is great. This little dac decodes the formats accurately with noticeable improvements over the software decoder. Solid aluminum alloy integrated shell, 100# sand blasting process SA9137L ESS9028Q2M hard-decoding System Support DSD64 DSD128 DSD 256 ...
FX AUDIO FX03 MINI Type C DAC Unboxing
มุมมอง 24วันที่ผ่านมา
Powerful little DAC If you want to make the most of lossless and hi-fi music. As long as you need a Dac and are ok with only having an RCA out, this is great. This little dac decodes the formats accurately with noticeable improvements over the software decoder. Solid aluminum alloy integrated shell, 100# sand blasting process SA9137L ESS9028Q2M hard-decoding System Support DSD64 DSD128 DSD 256 ...
AIYIMA A07 MAX Review
มุมมอง 2.6K14 วันที่ผ่านมา
AIYIMA A07 MAX 2 Channel Stereo Amplifier Home Audio 300W 300W TPA3255 Class D Power Amp Bridgeable Mono Amplifier 600 Watt with 3.5mm Line Output for Passive Bookshelf Desktop Speakers Power Adapter www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ6TSSY4?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details www.aiyima.com/products/aiyima-a07-max
AIYIMA A07 MAX Unboxing
มุมมอง 53814 วันที่ผ่านมา
AIYIMA A07 MAX 2 Channel Stereo Amplifier Home Audio 300W 300W TPA3255 Class D Power Amp Bridgeable Mono Amplifier 600 Watt with 3.5mm Line Output for Passive Bookshelf Desktop Speakers Power Adapter www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ6TSSY4?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details www.aiyima.com/products/aiyima-a07-max
Schiit Audio Kara Preamp Unboxing
มุมมอง 47421 วันที่ผ่านมา
Tubes, schmubes. Who needs tubes when you have an insane, fully discrete, solid state preamp running on 64V rails-something so over the top that the likes of this haven’t been seen for 30 years. Welcome to Kara, the all-new do-all Nexus™ preamp from Schiit Audio. www.schiit.com/products/kara
iFi Audio Diablo 2 Portable DAC\\Amp Review
มุมมอง 16821 วันที่ผ่านมา
iFi Audio Diablo 2 Portable DAC\\Amp Review
SKW BG Series Single XLR Female to RCA Male Cable Unboxing
มุมมอง 57หลายเดือนก่อน
SKW BG Series Single XLR Female to RCA Male Cable Unboxing
SKW A Pair Balanced XLR Male to XLR Female 3 PIN Microphone Cable Unboxing
มุมมอง 24หลายเดือนก่อน
SKW A Pair Balanced XLR Male to XLR Female 3 PIN Microphone Cable Unboxing
iFi Audio Diablo 2 Portable DAC/Amp Unboxing
มุมมอง 106หลายเดือนก่อน
iFi Audio Diablo 2 Portable DAC/Amp Unboxing
Record Doctor X Dual Sided Record Cleaning Machine Unboxing and Review
มุมมอง 255หลายเดือนก่อน
Record Doctor X Dual Sided Record Cleaning Machine Unboxing and Review
NEO Stream from iFi audio Network audio streamer Review
มุมมอง 294หลายเดือนก่อน
NEO Stream from iFi audio Network audio streamer Review
NEO Stream from iFi audio Network audio streamer Unboxing
มุมมอง 217หลายเดือนก่อน
NEO Stream from iFi audio Network audio streamer Unboxing
Vinyl Vac 33 Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit Review
มุมมอง 158หลายเดือนก่อน
Vinyl Vac 33 Vinyl Record Cleaning Kit Review
Schiit Audio Freya+ Tube Preamp Review
มุมมอง 4.3K2 หลายเดือนก่อน
Schiit Audio Freya Tube Preamp Review
SKW Upgrade Audiophile Ultra high Purity Copper Power Cord Unboxing
มุมมอง 1.6K3 หลายเดือนก่อน
SKW Upgrade Audiophile Ultra high Purity Copper Power Cord Unboxing
SKW Upgrade Audiophiles Audio Cable 2RCA Male to 2RCA Male Cable
มุมมอง 853 หลายเดือนก่อน
SKW Upgrade Audiophiles Audio Cable 2RCA Male to 2RCA Male Cable
Most exciting amplifier in a very long time.
I agree. It sounds really good and it’s priced right!
All I hear is u say amazing , detail, solid build . No elaboration on the sound like bass etc
That’s fair. I was really impressed with how detailed it was, so I guess I got a bit stuck on that. I’ve spent a lot more time with it and some point I may do follow up video. The bass is tight and bit prominent. The mids are open and have good separation. The highs are very realistic with a bit of a sparkle to them. The highlight of this amp for me is definitely in the minute details and the open, realistic soundstage.
Question about the Kara, if you hold the mute button on the remote while there's headphones plugged in, does it still force the preamp outputs on?
It sure does. You can just leave the headphones plugged in permanently if you want to. Then use the button on the device or the remote.
Oh I forgot to ask, is this Gallion amp a big step up from the Aegir 2 in your opinion? Thank you.
If running the Aegir in stereo yes. If buying two Aegirs and running them in Mono no. Maybe just my opinion, but that was my experience.
You can't judge an amp when it's cold. That AMP needs to be on at least an hour prior to using to sound right and it will way better. That being said....this does sound pretty great. Thanks for the sound demo's though. With my pass labs XA-25 the tech over at pass told me to leave it on 24/7. It took two weeks to sound good when it was first turned on.
I agree. I always plug amps up for a few hours prior to my tests. It is a loaner unit too so it’s been used quite a bit and probably well past the break in period. I just disconnect everything so I can show everything getting connected.
It takes my Schiit Modi Multibit DAC 3-5 hrs. to sound its best. It takes my Schiit Vali 2++ headphone amp at least an hour to get “into the groove.”
Thanks! That’s good info. I try to give it at least two hours to warm up before a review. I haven’t timed it exactly but 2 hours seems enough for most everything.
I thought Aegir was pronounced "Aay-jeer"?
It’s very possible. I looked it up and found about 8 different ways to pronounce it. I live in Tennessee, US so you’re lucky I got that close. 😂
Rimes with Kegger 😂
That I might be able to remember!
Ok. So this amp is a great value. Granted. However lets not over play the hand. It's a Great budget amp with many off the shelf budget parts that will not age well. I have heard this amp in a side by side with a Premium brand. One of the easiest blind A/B comparisons I have ever done. 100% of the time I knew the Galion was playing and so did 3 others. While it is a good amp it is NO giant killer by any stretch. The Premium brand will remain nameless as I don't want to promote. Let's just say it was sub 10K in retail. You think it's not fair to compare? Well stop calling this amp a Giant killer. it is not!!! But it is good and a great value.
I do think it’s fair to compare. Comparisons are always fair. Yes a nearly $10k amp should sound better. I would hope so for the price difference. For some it’s about getting as close to the sound of the $10k mode as they can afford. You won’t know unless you compare. As far as the verbiage, that’s provided on their website and more than likely written by the marketing department. That’s their job, sell products. Do I think it’s the greatest amp ever created? No. I do feel like it’s about as good as you will find in that price point for my ears? Yes, I do. In fact, I think it sounds pretty good for an amp at twice the cost. All retailers embellish their products with lavish descriptions and high praise. I don’t care about that, or what the specs say. I only really care about what it sounds like for the price. Is it a good value? Is it pleasing to listen to, or would I pass on it for something else? A lot of that is subjective.
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi Well said. I just don't like all the posts calling it a Giant Killer. That it is not in any way. Is it better then some of the competitors at its price point and lets say twice that? Yes IMO. I know Thomas has a lot of friends in this industry. But I find it very miss leading to call it a giant killer. By all measures it is not. Thanks for the reply.
Honestly, that is the exact reason that I started doing this. I got tired of seeing ads that show the greatest thing ever invented, only to buy it and be disappointed. I don’t know that I would consider their marketing to be a complete lie though, I actually was very impressed with it and would love to keep it. It’s just a loaner for evaluation. If I thought it sounded like junk or was over priced, I would have said so. Even if that meant not getting any more products from them. I think it’s maybe a bit of an enthusiastic representation, but I’ve definitely seen much worse. There truly is no substitute for listening for yourself. If you have the opportunity to listen to something before buying, do it. Just because I liked it doesn’t mean anyone else will. Certainly the rest of the system is equally important.
Nice,hopefully see this at the Toronto Audiofest in October..and I’ve met Thomas a few times ..nice guy and knows his stuff 👍
I’ve spoken with him but we’ve never met in person. Seems like a good guy.
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi Nice guy ,knows his stuff and his live demonstrations are pretty entertaining..not a dry sales pitch .
I’d love to see that in person. I’ve seen his TH-cam videos and they look pretty good.
Thomas is a Magnepan dealer Yet this amp won't power 3.7is
Thomas who? Not Thomas Tan, he has already addressed your previous comment. Does everything that a company sells have to work together? That’s like saying Best Buy sells vinyl records, yet they won’t work with the cd players they sell. You’re pretty hung up on this. Please explain.
Put this amp behind a black curtain with 5 other amps and have someone switch between them and i bet my left testicle you wouldn't know which was which.
So all amps sound the same?
Gorgeous amp, seriously in the top three that I’m considering, minus that land-fill swill that was playing on it. For four and a half seconds, I thought, Oh God, I’m being extraordinarily rendered! (please just kill me now)🌹
Well, at least you’re not a drama queen…
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi …,only 🙃N Thursdays! lol!
😂
The Schiit Vidar 2, at half the price, is a nice alternative, which is 100W/channel and perfectly doubles into 4 ohms.
I did a review on it as well. Very nice amp. I love them both!
I'm curious about how you think the Galion compares to the Vidar 2. For instance, would you say it's 80% better?
It’s really hard to quantify. I wouldn’t say it’s that much better and it would also depend on every other components in your system. For me the Galion seemed to have tighter and more prominent bass, more detailed mids, and the highs were about the same. That being said, you may not want those things. They are both excellent amps and priced fairly for what you get.
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi that makes zero sense “ you’re a “ kit” critic no??.. and the creepy little way you avoided the guy’s question about Cost !!
Creepy little way I avoided the guys question about cost? How. What question? I see a statement about it. I answered how I think it compares to the Vidar 2, but how am I going to say what percentage better that it is? It is better in some respects, but not in others.
. I think it's got a ton of capacitance. Unless stand-by kills it, I think the amp will keep playing for a bit even after shutting off the power to the amp only. Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
It shuts off instantly when you kill the power
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi . Ya, it's got anti-pop shut-off and soft start circuitry as most do these days 👍. Still that 75 watts has a "deep bench" if you will, from what's been reported. Peace.
Yeah, that thing is a beast!
Dang you're getting a lot of stuff in for review. Congrats.
Thanks, it’s been a lot of fun!
I just bought the new Saga 2 for my desk. This Kara looks like something I would absolutely upgrade to for my TV setup. Thanks for the overview/review.
Thanks so much! You might check out the Freya too.
Is there a benefit to using the balanced outputs into the rca inputs?
Not that I can think of. I always use dlr if it’s available, but the rca would be the weak link in that scenario.
Great video. Super helpful to see how you hook all of this up.
Thanks so much!
A little DeOxit 5 on that volume knob would fix that noise.
That knob is fine. It uses a 128-step relay-switched stepped attenuator instead of a potentiometer. It’s supposed to make that noise.
uses a 6.3 AMP slow blow fuse... since I bought a Synergestic Research Orange fuse just for the heck of it a couple weeks after my amp was delivered since they were closing out the Orange fuse...
I’ll have to check those out!
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi thomas told me about the fuse amp rating, etc when I asked about those ceramic fuses early on after getting my amp.
I love when a manufacturer is engaged with their customers!
at the 4:12 mark you mentioned the dent at the back rear left of the amp... when I opened my box ... it had the same dent on *both rear corners* so they were uniform in angle so I thought that was a design...told Thomas about it...wanted to give me a credit, I said no need to do so...I still leave it in the bent position on those two corners in the rear...again, I thought it was a design method...it's all good...
Thomas seems like a really good guy. It strictly cosmetic so I wouldn’t sweat it either.
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi yeah he saw my pic I sent when I gave my quick impressions for his website.. saw the bends and said he can give me a $150 credit and can show me how to reshape it back... told him never mind about the $150 credit and I will just leave the bent tips like it is.. as it looks like it was designed like that...
That was pretty nice of him. Most manufacturers would make you beg for it.
the fuse inside the amp and the extra fuse in the plastic bags are ceramic fuses... i have serial #12 got in January 2024 in HI...didn't have all those other cables, just the regular iec cables and the extra ceramic fuse... no manual at that time in box or on the website...though at present, there is a digital manual for the A75 on the website....
I suppose it’s possible that they included the extra cables so the review might be more relevant in other countries, but they didn’t mention anything about that to me.
Thomas is a Magnepan dealer Yet he won't show amp usage Know it won't power 20.7s 😮 Like to see how it does w 3.7is
I think you confused me with Adrian from Audio excellence. I am not a Magnepan dealer.I have people telling me it can drive their Magenpan LRS+, 0.7i, 3.6R with zero problem.
Thanks for the response. I don’t have any Magnepan experience.
DAC Direct no preamp 😊
So no need to pair with a preamp?
that volume knob sounds noisy
It has a 128-step relay-switched attenuator, rather than a traditional potentiometer, which does make a clicking sound. It’s far more reliable and accurate, but it does take a bit of getting used to.
That Kara would be great for my usage. I'm not sure if I could tolerate that noise every time I adjust the volume, though. Does that noise sound as bad in person as it does over TH-cam? Nice job on the quick review.👍🏻
I feel like it is a bit worse on TH-cam than in person. To be honest, I hated it at first and completely forgot about it after I used it a few times.
Is the kara a fully balanced design, What kind of sound signature does it have
I own both of these and I think the video is accurate, the volume noise is significant. However, you get used to it and all the positives of these Schiit products FAR outweigh this negative.
It is balanced. I would say it’s incredibly transparent. It really seems to do exactly what it should. It amplifies the source without really adding much to it. I will say that I is crystal clear, very detailed. If anything I would say it accentuates in all the right places. Good highs and lows and excellent mids. A very neutral preamp.
Yeah, it bothered me for about 30 seconds. I will say I sit pretty far from the amp when actually listening so it’s not a big deal at all for me.
Are you running a power amp or receiver, too? Or just all coming through the phono-stage pre-amps?
Just going from the turntable to the phono preamp, then phono preamp to the A07. Nothing else needed.
I just got this preamp and I'm noticing I have to bump up my receiver volume much more than with the TT bult-in preamp. I have the volume in the Fossi up to the max and my receiver up to 35, while with the bult-in at 24 already sounds high. Do you know if this might be a common thing with preamps? Or maybe mine is just defective.
It can be a common thing. Sometimes the preamps in the turntable can be more powerful than the smaller preamps. That being said, I would compare the two to see if the preamp has better clarity or maybe helps provide a better sound in some way. If not, it may not be the preamp for you. Unfortunately it can be a lot of trial and error to get the sound you are looking for. Just because one is more powerful doesn’t mean it sounds better.
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi thanks for the reply!
Anytime!
@@Groucho3321 I have the same "issue" with the gain being lower than my amps built-in phono preamp. How is the clarity for you? I feel like i have to max out the treble for it to be clear. And while i have it directly connected to the amp i have no need to use an eq..
@@AndreS-gn6gd I'm not blown away, to be honest. I need to test it a bit more before deciding to keep it.
This device works without the tube plugged in when set to solid state mode (RCA).
Thanks so much! I forgot to mention that! I’m a tube fan so I probably would never do that myself, but it certainly should have been included in the review!
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi It's an unusual feature for a tube headphone amp to work in a solid state mode without the tube. The only other one I've seen is the Schiit Lyr. Do you know any other dual-mode tube/solid state hybrid headphone amps?
I don’t to be honest. Schiit also sells solid state tubes!
How a single subwoofer can be connected in the double mono mode?
You would use the Aux port. Using a 3.5mm to RCA adapter, unless your sub has 3.5mm input.
How can you tell the difference from the Vidar 1 to the Vidar 2 if both casings just read Vidar?? o.O
That’s a great question. Unfortunately I’ve not had a chance to try out the original Vidar.
This video could have been 5 minutes shorter.. don’t even demo the vacuum??
I made a video where I did use the vacuum and deleted it because so many people complained about the noise. I guess you can’t please everyone.
Thank you so much for the shout-out! For best results, I would encourage you to try a wet cleaning and vac with a wet/dry vac.
Thanks so much! I need to get a smaller wet vac. I think my current shop vac is a bit too much. I love the product though. Really can’t say enough good stuff about it!
Can you use line out from turntable straight to zen can signature rca input? My turntable came with a 3.5 to rca cable. Would this set up work?
It’s possible. If your turntable has a built in phono preamp, that would work. If not, you would need a separate phono preamp. Given that your turntable has a 3.5mm to RCA cable it most likely does have a built in phono preamp. If you let me know what turntable you have, I will let you know for sure.
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi awesome, thanks. I believe it does. I have audio technica lp60x
Yes, that will work. Just make sure the preamp switch is set to “line” when using the aux port.
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi thank you for the replies!
Anytime!
Is this serious? really? You have more money than sense., Thank goodness for "don't recommend channel" setting on YT. Your 216 subscribers are happy, I'm sure.
To each their own
Cal muz
?
Schiit Freya+ and 1950s Sylvania 6sn7 GTA is what made me sell my Audio Research preamp, as the differences were different, but not better.
That would be a great combination for sure!
Most people today are more into convenience then sound quality. That's why so many people listen to music on their phones through crappy headphones. If you want better streaming quality music then you need to pay at one of the subscription sites. Like you I'll stick with my records and save digital for background music.
Yup. Digital has its place, but it’s a small one.
8:07 you must have ADD... you're now on a 5 minute rant about spindle size and drilling out records from the 90's .... LOL. Like the review though! I actually might make one. Neat idea.
Now it's here............... That Fiber Optic SC connection will become the digital connection of choice real soon. We knew it was coming & now it's here. Say goodbye Toslink, AES...etc. This is why we keep digital separate from analog components. Streamers & DACs go out of date very quickly. Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
I agree!
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi . And I think a new USB-'C' pin-out standard has been agreed to just recently, so that looks like it will be here for a while.
Yeah. I think it’s about to take over!
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi . How about that. A 2nd component has just shown up with SFP/LC. The Lumin U2 Mini & U2.
I’ll have to check that out!
Schiit is the Schiiznit
Schiit yeah it is!
Why no xlr connections?
I know right? It has one for using in mono, but none for stereo!
I picked up a Freya N on closeout for $600, and I love it. Besides sounding excellent and looking cool, its multiple in and out connections make it extremely useful. I'm only using one input, the XLR, from a Schiit Lokius (fed by a Gumby and a Skoll). But I'm using all three outputs: one goes to a Vidar 2, one goes to a Nitsch Pietus Maximus headphone amp, and one goes to a little Fosi amp in the kitchen.
That’s awesome! I loved the Freya+\Vidar combo! I would probably get a headphone amp with it too. I do wish it had balanced XLR headphone ports in the front, but it’s a really solid amp!
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi I'll bet you the next generation of the Freya+ has a headphone jack, considering that their replacement for the Freya S, the Kara, has one now. Seems unlikely that it would be balanced, though, unless Jason wanted to move the + upmarket, to get a bit more distance from the Kara. Actually, that might be a pretty good idea, considering how good the Kara is.
I agree!
Wtf is that clicking ?wtf
That’s the sound of the mechanical relays in the relay-switched stepped attenuator. Unlike a typical potentiometer, a relay-stepped attenuator gives you perfect channel matching down to the lowest level of the volume knob. There’s only a couple of thin-film resistors in the signal path at all times, rather than a potentiometer wiper. And it doesn’t use a “volume control chip,” like cheap receivers.
You didn’t say how long you burned it in. Your impressions mean little without that info. It will sound better with time.
Hahaha. It’s a loaner unit. Your guess is as good as mine. It may have been used for one minute or 1,000 hours before I got it. Unfortunately there is no hour meter on it. I guess my impressions mean nothing.
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi Think of it as a lower bound on sound quality. It could be almost no better or yards better with play . Over years the xformer sound will improve while some caps will increase leakage (more noise): Some caps will keep sounding better until near failure. Just let people know. Ask whomever you got it from.
No need to explain, I am very familiar with the process and the reason behind it. I got it directly from Schiit. They also would have no idea how long it has been used. They didn’t ask me how long I used it. That’s not how any company that I’ve worked with handles their test products. I will say that Schiit runs every amp for 24hrs after it’s built, so that would be the minimum amount of time that it has been run.
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi Very good, thank you for explaining. Glad you liked it, I’ve had only good experiences with Schiit and their gear.
Glad to hear it!
I pair my Schiit Freya+ with the Jeff Rowland 125 power amp and I'm happy with that combo
Thanks so much! I’ll have to try to check one out!
I wasn’t really noticing a big difference with the subsonic filter either until I took the screens off my speakers and saw that the drivers were really working hard with the filter turned off. Just the needle going to the end of the record had my drivers going crazy like they were pumping serious bass or something. When I turned the filter on that stopped and the drivers were acting normal again. After messing with it a bit I could hear the difference when playing at higher volumes. The bass was tighter and cleaner with no hum. I just leave it on all the time now.
That’s interesting, I’ll have to try that! Thanks so much!
I am curious why you are using a preamp with a preamp? You only need one. Take out the little one.
The Freya+ is a preamp, not a phono preamp. The signal coming from the turntable is too low for the Freya+ so you need a phono preamp in between. The phono preamp bumps up the signal enough so that the Freya+ can pick it up and amplify it enough for the amp.
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi I didn't realize the small unit was a phono preamp. My bad.
It’s all good. I had a Schiit Skoll phono preamp that I wanted to use, but I had to send it back. I ended up using the Fosi Box X4 phono preamp instead.
Who wants a Denon, here in Europe no one wants something like that, ist just crap
Well, clearly I did. I like their turntables and cartridges, although I’m using a Sumiko cart at the moment. Mine is a vintage table, which I certainly prefer to the newer tables. Newer Denon components are geared towards the “all in one type” systems as apposed to using separates so their amps are frowned upon by so called “audiophiles.” What turntable do you use? By your comment I would expect perhaps Macintosh or Acoustic Signature at a minimum.
I tried one, in 1 word - disappointment. I know Schiit denies it and tries to blame physics but the Skoll has a major f-up in the design with the left channel being noisy and it is absolutely audible on efficient speakers and headphones. I'd say wait for Skoll 2, most probably it will be a well reworked PCB. There is no excuse if I tried 4 phono stages in the exact same setup and only the Skoll had a severe noise in left channel. It's not PSU hum but some HF zzing and it's also measurable even with the inputs shorted.
That’s really a shame. I’m not having that issue with mine, I suppose it’s possible that they made a running change, or maybe you got a bad unit. Of course it is also possible that my speakers and headphones aren’t sensitive enough to pick it up. Out of curiosity, how long ago was that?
It’s great to see someone finally reviewing the new Zen Phono preamp. How do you think the sound of the new iFi compares the Schiit Skoll phono preamp that you also reviewed recently? The Skoll costs more, so you would think it would be the better of the two, but I’ve always been happy with my iFi gear too. There aren’t a lot of reviews out there for either the iFi Zen Phono 3 or the Schiit Skoll, so you’re in a unique position to have a lot of influence here. Thanks in advance.
Thanks so much! Both are excellent products. I’ve always found that iFi, in general, is very well suited for use with headphones and small to medium speakers. Schiit is better for medium to large speakers. The Zen and Skoll are no exception to that. Both suit a wide range of cartridges. For me, the Skoll seemed to be a bit more detailed and warm sounding. More open and airy. The Zen didn’t seem to have quite the warmth or openness, but it has slightly sharper highs. Miss are about the same on both, with the exception of the Skoll having more clarity in the mids. Bass is more pronounced at lower levels on the Skoll. I love both to be honest. If I was primarily listening with my vintage Sansui speakers, I would pick the Skoll. For headphones or bookshelves, I might go with the Zen. For medium speakers it’s a bit of a toss up. I personally prefer the warmth of the Skoll with a tube amp and vintage speakers. I’m sure a lot of this would also depend on the amp and/or preamp you will be using with it. If just using headphones, you can plug straight into the Zen. Also consider that the Zen is maybe half to two thirds the physical size of the Skoll, if that is a consideration. I hope that helps and wasn’t too long winded.
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi - not too long at all. I appreciate the detailed breakdown. It sounds like the Skoll is more what I’m looking for. Thanks for taking the time.
No problem at all! Let me know how you like it if you decide to get it! What preamp/amp are you using with it?
@@NoFrillsHi-Fi- I’m using a Technics SL=1210GR turntable with a stereo pair of Sonos Fives, or it my go on my stereo setup. Swapping things around 🙂
Awesome! I’d love to hear how it works out!