Thanks for bringing up XLR Vs RCA. Balanced can sound better in terms of clarity but, depending on the source and input circuitry can loose some 'body'. I have compared both outputs from my Ares 2 over 2 years using multiple different cables. I have made three different balanced input modules for my preamp. The first two sounded all round worse than unbalanced. The last one cost €60 in parts and did the trick. Keep in mind balanced circuitry has over twice the components so it can have more of an effect on the sound. At the end of the day, never mind the technology or other people's opinions, trust your ears. P.S. I used to watch Steve for the gear, now I come for the album tips! What great taste in music
Good review, Steve! Haven't seen much about the Kara yet so this is nice to hear. Thinking I'm locking into a Kara with an Aegir driving Zu Audio DW6. Should be a good system!
I love Schiit's schiit! I have a Freya+ PreAmp and a Loki Max Equalizer powering my McIntosh MC152 Solid State Power Amp. I took my Freya+ apart and removed the capacitors and resistors in the tube stage circuit and replaced them with $800 worth of audiophile components. I am running NOS tubes and I even put some cool vents on the top left side of the chassis to ventilate this relatively hot device…..I am really thrilled with the sound quality of these components and thanks to the internet I had fun supercharging mine! 😀
One cool feature that people sometimes forget, is that the Kara and Freya line will convert single ended to balanced, and vice versa. So it's somewhat of a connection wizard for your system as well :)
You know converted signal forms are always a compromise and 64V high voltage rails that reportedly echo the “golden age of solid-state”, don't. But it's nice some buyers appreciate these efforts. (The Scratch and Rumble filter of old, the Turnover button for tone controls.)
Thanks for the review. This is the first review I found on you tube about Kara! .... Could you please share, How much you advise to look for Kara $699 in comparing with Saga+ $399 purely as preamp, headphone part separated..... if we exclude balanced options (as advised RCA is also fine with better connectivity and sources) also considering Saga+ gives the tube option as well and all passive + active portions.... Can Kara definitely make us fell Overwhelmed in comparison or Saga+ is good enough? Please advise.
Schiit is always coming out with new stuff. Super cool. Steve, is there any particular piece of gear you'd like to see Schiit try their hand at? I'd love to see them try to make a tube phono stage.
Great review. Thanks for comparison against Pass Lab as a headphone amp. It makes sense since Pass Lab is headphone first with added preamp but Kara is a preamp first with headphone. How did Kara perform against Pass Lab as a preamp?
The 64V high voltage rails would help if using Zu speakers because the impedance is 12 ohms and accordingly with High Z headphones but try to appreciate what Steve actually offers in the video package. It's a very carefully managed script.
Word salad again? You never fail to confuse: How does the rail voltage have an relationship to a preamp's ability to drive speakers?? That's the power amplifier's job😂 Maybe you should manage your script more carefully ?
Wow, Steve. I always liked you but now---Mike Bloomfield---my guitar hero! I never heard you mention him before. I have everything he ever recorded. In fact, I bought new copies of the Butterfield albums because my originals are well worn. Very cool to hear you recommend him.
Thank for the review, Steve. Could you also shed some light on how is the new Saga 2 stacked up with Kara? Is it worth upgrading for additional $400 plus dollars?
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophilliac You say theres little point to balanced operation? Isnt the point that it can drive long cables to the power amp? Also one could use long cables from a balanced source with much less signal degradation? Using s balanced preamp in unbalanced mode only, makes HALF of all the extra components redundant, no?😮 Lastly: With such an accurate volume management relay system, WHY CANT SCH**T OFFER A "BALANCE" CONTROL????! (I feel a balance control would help those of us with asymmetrical room layouts;-) Always appreciate your enthusiasm 🎵🎶😊👍🎶🎵
Ditto this question? Got to what do you really think, and mostly talked about the glitch? So do we fathom that you mostly ran it with midfi gear, that that’s where you peg it? How does it compare to Saga passive? Did it not entice you to plug into better speakers and sources? What was your transport, the oppo? My oppo isn’t very swift as a transport… Sounds like you had fun and got into the music though..
I don't want any tubes in my hifi system, but I want tube like three dimensional sound stage but with the solidified low end of purpose wound output transformers.
Steve, don't you think there is a bit too much base, too loose? Otherwise it is excelling Freya + in all other aspects. But if you pair it with full range speakers, it becomes a bit too much
Hey Steve, love your stuff! Allow me to mention, like so much of music, having admiring a specific guitarist is subjective. So allow me to mention, one reason "Clapton is God" graffiti was prevalent throughout London in the late 60's is because Eric played with great passion, at least until the Derek and the Dominoes album where Duane Allman pushed Eric to be his best. Don't get me wrong, Michael Bloomfield was an outstanding guitarist, and like you said Steve, the tuning and tone of hist guitar is second to none. It comes down to the goose bumps, doesn't it? The best thing about Eric Clapton, Michael Bloomfield, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Duane Allman, et al is we get to listen to all of them. Awesome sauce!
Hi Steve. Thanks again for the reviews. I am really interested in your feedback on the emotiva xda 3 vs the schiit Kara as a stand alone preamp. Which you prefer
Nice review, Steve! Re: balanced - I’ve heard that if you have a long cable run balanced is the way to go (reduced noise). I’m a single-ended guy, with short cables from my source to my integrated. Thanks for the shoutout to Michael Bloomfield - he had slipped under my radar.
My old eyes prefer equipment with sliver faces and dark text. The black background is just too difficult to read in reduced lighting. Also, it seems that the black background equipment uses more often than not use grey text which makes reading even more difficult.
Great video and review! I am waiting for silver Kara. You must listen to Al Kooper as well! Bloomfield is awesome and the two do recordings together. Al Kooper has played with many artists and is one of my favorites. Kinda like George Harrison in that most never remember him. Glad you mentioned them both.
Interesting to hear about your experience with the protection mode. I have a Freya that does the same thing from time-to-time, and it always happens when turning down the volume. I have been wondering if perhaps something was wrong with my preamp, but from what you describe with the Kara, this sounds like designed-in behavior.
With a new Freya I find annoying audible speaker pops, when switching output between passive, differential buffer, and differential tube, and mute. Steve did you get audible popping on the Kara while switching between passive, gain stages and mute? I'd think that'd be rough with headphones. In my case, no remote use, no mute, just on and off back switch in tube mode only. Schiit says the pops I get are normal for the relay switch.
My diy preamp uses relays to select different features... If done properly there should be no pops. Schiit makes excellent stuff but occasionally allow stupid flaws in their designs.
On ballanced vs single ended, it's not going to really affect the signal as such, it more affects the noise on the signal. A balnced cable will have significantly lower noise than single ended. As far as anything else, neglibible performance increase if any. On good quality cables, the signal is the signal, regardless of the connection type. Noise is a different thing, but very few would really hear a difference other than placebo effect. That said, I don't judge anyone on what they feel is better for them. It's their system, they can set it up how they feel happiest.
Excellent review ... any thoughts on the headphone amp with lower impedance headphones (say 32 ohm)? I note that Amir at ASR tested Kara recently and got somewhat poorer results in testing and listening with lower impedance headphones. I think the ones you used in your review were 150ohm and higher.
Amir only pays attention to measurements and not how things SOUND. Few here are into his constant criticism, it's kinda like listening to Trump being a victim - in 3,000 lawsuits against him - and complaining all the time but never solving a problem. Real audiophiles discount Amir.
Fully balanced ???..................inputs/outputs....and a symmetrical circuit design inside ??? No symmetrical design is fully perfectly symmetrical ( no 2 active devices are perfectly similar ) FM acoustics selects two transistors outy of a badge of 1000, and wonder why they are expensive ...those circuits eat away some of the low level information and reduce the small detail/dynamics..............but it sounds very CLEAN ! AND .........many audiophiles like that ! The real symmetrical inputs / outputs are on professional gear ( for use with long distance connections ) they are build with very expensive input/ouitput transformers and most of the better designs are SE inside ... ALL this for 650 $............in a perfect world . Illusions keep the audiophile market going......you haven't XLR , whe feel pity ... poor guy ! I join the opinion of Steve....and some presected very high quality brands/manufacturers who don't fall for the trap.
I recently replaced the Freya S with the Kara and have to say it's a step up. If I had to put it into a percentage I would say somewhere between 25 to 35 percent better. More dynamic, more low level bass and better staging. My only criticism has to do with the volume control which can be a bit fickle at times when using the remote.
Hi Steve, sound signature-wise, if compared with a passive transformer-based preamp of about max 2K price range, is there anything worth mentioning? I.e. like of dynamic, less lively sound, anything like that?
@@TheIoMeroMero idk, I ended up with Freya+ and NOS tubes from the early 50s. I don't regret it at all. I'd still be very curious of this comparison, though.
Hi Steve, I am looking for a preamp that drives my Linn Selekt with Organik DAC (Line Card) and my LP12 to my Geithain active speakers. Can the Shiit manage that or do I need to go some more steps above in the shelf to do not slow down the streamer and the player? Thanks for your thoughts. Cheers Andi
Loved the mention of him, haven't listened to his stuff in many years but glad to see you think highly of him. The first two Butterfield records showcase his amazing playing. If I remember correctly Al Kooper was slated originally to play guitar on the Highway 61 record but Bloomfield showed up at the studio with his guitar wrapped in a pillow case in the middle of snow storm. Upon plugging in and playing for a few minutes Kooper quietly packed up his guitar and moved to organ/keyboards.
@@danm3359 - Wow, thanks for sharing that story! I switched off from Steve a few minutes to pull up M. Bloomfield on Qobuz using good headphones and the music was stunning
If you removed the kara and just used the xda as the preamp- would there be any sonic loss? Or is there any benefit having the kara in there? Sonically speaking.
Balanced cables are in general louder, if I'm not mistaken about 6db louder. It's geometry rejects noise , and that could count for more clarity in my perspective. I'm not so sure in circuitr, unless the same principles are used, ->noise rejection. Better quality persee, nope. That is all about quality wire, and quality cable design.
One of our early homes ... August heat-wave, I leaned back as I could reach the window unit over and behind my head as I reclined ... I reached it to bump up the A/C a notch or so ... boom! As soon as I did, it took out a 60a main fuse! Still had the other leg so we still had some power. Its midnight or so, I drove to a local Meijer superstore and bought four fuses. Fun times ... Too bad youth is wasted on the young.
What I have learned from having multiple electrostatic headphones is that if they have any more detail than your speakers then you need to upgrade your speaker and/or room. There are other good reasons to own headphones but detail is not one of them.
I'd really like to see an External Effects or RecOut/MonitorIn loop and a simple Mute button instead of the mute function being tied to the headphone jack. Other than that this is on my short list.
I think the annoying part about it is if you don’t use the XLR inputs, you only have 3 RCA inputs, making for a pretty small group of devices to preamp. I guess you can convert maybe. The other annoying thing is it doesn’t have a tape loop. Tape loop can be any recording device, a CD recorder for instance. Although for me, I’d like to have a cassette deck hooked into it…just not sure how. In contrast, the Denon integrated amp has a “recorder loop” and 6-7 rca inputs with also Bluetooth support. I wish the Kara or Schiit had at least a tape loop
. That thing looks like one heck of a sleeper. Ssshhh.......... tell no one, lol. It needs a "Main-in" input to accept the "Pre-out" output. I can't tell if it would work because the Sony has only "Adapter" labeled ins/outs. I can't figure out what the heck those are. Sonic improvement? It'll probably be a little quieter. Somewhat clearer and the Schiit volume control is definitely the Shit. Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
Schitt has prime time at Steve’s. Thank you for Mike Bloomfiled - it sounds natural compare to the others. I always appreciate musical guide from Steve.
I recently did a lengthy comparison between quite a good SE headphone cable and a low end balanced cable. The source was a Bifrost 2/64 + Jotunheim 2 stack, and the headphone was the Arya v3, and I felt that the good SE cable through the Jot's SE jack sounded noticeably better than the not-so-good balanced cable through the XLR. Better separation, greater detail, wider stage... So, at least in the case of this system, cable quality more than offset balanced vs SE considerations.
Couple of months ago I tried a 900$ Audioquest Yukon XLR to replace à 200$ Cardas SE into my Luxman L590axII and sold it back after a month. Sound was too forward and incisive for my taste... so back with my old Cardas.
Just wondering. On the picture, the volume control seems to me to be a Alps Blue Velvet, not an attenuator. I own a couple of these… Are you certain about what you mentioned? Thoroughly enjoyed the presentation.
Great video Steve! Thank you for reviewing such a highly anticipated product! Thanks also for including the brief shout-out for the Elac Reference Uni-Fi DBR62's. I'm a big fan of those speakers (having them, as well as the original UB5's), and it was nice to see them in your test rig.
I'm giving a brief shout-out, you know, for old low power Radio Shack, the STA-47 from 1976 because this fall it is 47 years young. Although it best uses the Optimus-1B (a ferrous motor take on the AlNiCo Optimus-1) it used the MC-500 in its basic match. Back then record players had small speakers like the MC-500 but they were special, probably engineered by Teledyne, CTS of Kentucky. Only 11 watts per channel, but the STA-47 and MC-500 will satisfy a load of vinyl record playing buyers and come low priced today.
I’m with you when it comes to comparisons with the pass labs. From the other hand I can’t get my head around why the Pass Labs’ measurements look like a broken device when compared to the Schiit preamp.
Thank you for watching, the sink that Nelson Pass, he designs for sound not measurements. For those who prioritize measurements there's other choices. Each to their own.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I prefer the sound of the pass as well. I am just trying to understand how the pass sound translates to measurements so I can always look for these.
Nelson Pass designed the amp camp amp (ACA) power amplifier kit that sells for around $320. I'm sure you can find already assembled ACAs that aren't at all expensive.
Thanks for bringing up XLR Vs RCA. Balanced can sound better in terms of clarity but, depending on the source and input circuitry can loose some 'body'. I have compared both outputs from my Ares 2 over 2 years using multiple different cables. I have made three different balanced input modules for my preamp. The first two sounded all round worse than unbalanced. The last one cost €60 in parts and did the trick. Keep in mind balanced circuitry has over twice the components so it can have more of an effect on the sound. At the end of the day, never mind the technology or other people's opinions, trust your ears.
P.S. I used to watch Steve for the gear, now I come for the album tips! What great taste in music
Hi Peter. I am looking also for a balanced preamp for my Ares. Can you tell me what preamp have you ended up building?
Good review, Steve! Haven't seen much about the Kara yet so this is nice to hear. Thinking I'm locking into a Kara with an Aegir driving Zu Audio DW6. Should be a good system!
Man, the Aegir is my end-game amplifier. You are in for a treat.
@@ChicagoRob2 That's great feedback! Thanks
I love Schiit's schiit! I have a Freya+ PreAmp and a Loki Max Equalizer powering my McIntosh MC152 Solid State Power Amp.
I took my Freya+ apart and removed the capacitors and resistors in the tube stage circuit and replaced them with $800 worth of audiophile components. I am running NOS tubes and I even put some cool vents on the top left side of the chassis to ventilate this relatively hot device…..I am really thrilled with the sound quality of these components and thanks to the internet I had fun supercharging mine! 😀
Do you have a link on how to supercharge the Freya+ ?
I tried to post you info…but it does not show up? 🤷🏻♂️ any ideas? 😀
Wow, your modded Freya has to sound amazing.
@@ChicagoRob2BIG soundstage! More detail. It looks waaaaay cool with the vents on top, too!😊
In the Deep South during this recent Heat Wave it’s the absence of the AC hum you have to worry about 😮🤔😉
😂
For sure (from Charleston).
I had to move my Schiit to high ground during the tsunami and flooding in San Francisco last month.
One cool feature that people sometimes forget, is that the Kara and Freya line will convert single ended to balanced, and vice versa. So it's somewhat of a connection wizard for your system as well :)
You know converted signal forms are always a compromise and 64V high voltage rails that reportedly echo the “golden age of solid-state”, don't. But it's nice some buyers appreciate these efforts. (The Scratch and Rumble filter of old, the Turnover button for tone controls.)
Don't forget to convert you have to use the 1X gain - naturally no conversion in passive.
Thanks for the review. This is the first review I found on you tube about Kara! .... Could you please share, How much you advise to look for Kara $699 in comparing with Saga+ $399 purely as preamp, headphone part separated..... if we exclude balanced options (as advised RCA is also fine with better connectivity and sources) also considering Saga+ gives the tube option as well and all passive + active portions.... Can Kara definitely make us fell Overwhelmed in comparison or Saga+ is good enough? Please advise.
Do prefer the Freya + or the Kara?
Steve you're the most enjoyable hifi guy on TH-cam. Thanks!
Wow, thanks!
How does this compare to the Freys+
Schiit is always coming out with new stuff. Super cool. Steve, is there any particular piece of gear you'd like to see Schiit try their hand at? I'd love to see them try to make a tube phono stage.
I really want them to turbo charge the Ragnarok myself. Also combining a DAC, Bifrost and Yggdrasil level, and the Urd into one unit would be killer.
@@jackstraw1756 the Ragnarok needs an update for sure
Integrated amp
Great review. Thanks for comparison against Pass Lab as a headphone amp. It makes sense since Pass Lab is headphone first with added preamp but Kara is a preamp first with headphone. How did Kara perform against Pass Lab as a preamp?
The 64V high voltage rails would help if using Zu speakers because the impedance is 12 ohms and accordingly with High Z headphones but try to appreciate what Steve actually offers in the video package. It's a very carefully managed script.
Word salad again?
You never fail to confuse:
How does the rail voltage have an relationship to a preamp's ability to drive speakers??
That's the power amplifier's job😂
Maybe you should manage your script more carefully ?
Steve. Nice review but curious how the Kara sounds versus the original Freya S and the Freya Plus as I own both. Thanks
Wow, Steve. I always liked you but now---Mike Bloomfield---my guitar hero! I never heard you mention him before. I have everything he ever recorded. In fact, I bought new copies of the Butterfield albums because my originals are well worn. Very cool to hear you recommend him.
That Electric Flag song that starts off with a Lyndon Johnson speech overdub is hilarious and a favorite.
Thank for the review, Steve. Could you also shed some light on how is the new Saga 2 stacked up with Kara? Is it worth upgrading for additional $400 plus dollars?
Just listened to Jazz Party on my Grados...Wow! Thanks for the recommendation and all the others in the past!
Love your track recommendations and your enthusiasm, Steve! You're the man!
@SteveGuttenbergAudiophilliac
You say theres little point to balanced operation?
Isnt the point that it can drive long cables to the power amp?
Also one could use long cables from a balanced source with much less signal degradation?
Using s balanced preamp in unbalanced mode only, makes HALF of all the extra components redundant, no?😮
Lastly: With such an accurate volume management relay system, WHY CANT SCH**T OFFER A "BALANCE" CONTROL????!
(I feel a balance control would help those of us with asymmetrical room layouts;-)
Always appreciate your enthusiasm
🎵🎶😊👍🎶🎵
But Steve, how does it sound? What kind of system would benefit from the Kara's sonic signature?
Ditto this question?
Got to what do you really think, and mostly talked about the glitch?
So do we fathom that you mostly ran it with midfi gear, that that’s where you peg it?
How does it compare to Saga passive?
Did it not entice you to plug into better speakers and sources?
What was your transport, the oppo?
My oppo isn’t very swift as a transport…
Sounds like you had fun and got into the music though..
Power switch needs to be on the front, or at least be able to power on preamp with remote.
I LOVE the dynamic range of things you talk about on your show, I always learn so much. Don’t ever stop. ❤
HATTOR AUDIO has very good passive pre amps
Two thumbs up for Duke Ellington's Jazz Party.
I don't want any tubes in my hifi system, but I want tube like three dimensional sound stage but with the solidified low end of purpose wound output transformers.
Have you tried a Luminous Audio Axiom II passive preamp? It is really good with the First Watt J2
Steve, don't you think there is a bit too much base, too loose? Otherwise it is excelling Freya + in all other aspects. But if you pair it with full range speakers, it becomes a bit too much
Hey Steve, love your stuff! Allow me to mention, like so much of music, having admiring a specific guitarist is subjective. So allow me to mention, one reason "Clapton is God" graffiti was prevalent throughout London in the late 60's is because Eric played with great passion, at least until the Derek and the Dominoes album where Duane Allman pushed Eric to be his best. Don't get me wrong, Michael Bloomfield was an outstanding guitarist, and like you said Steve, the tuning and tone of hist guitar is second to none. It comes down to the goose bumps, doesn't it? The best thing about Eric Clapton, Michael Bloomfield, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Duane Allman, et al is we get to listen to all of them. Awesome sauce!
Hi Steve. Thanks again for the reviews. I am really interested in your feedback on the emotiva xda 3 vs the schiit Kara as a stand alone preamp. Which you prefer
I wish Schiit would make a simple modi sized FM tuner module.
Nice review, Steve! Re: balanced - I’ve heard that if you have a long cable run balanced is the way to go (reduced noise). I’m a single-ended guy, with short cables from my source to my integrated. Thanks for the shoutout to Michael Bloomfield - he had slipped under my radar.
My old eyes prefer equipment with sliver faces and dark text. The black background is just too difficult to read in reduced lighting. Also, it seems that the black background equipment uses more often than not use grey text which makes reading even more difficult.
Great video and review! I am waiting for silver Kara. You must listen to Al Kooper as well! Bloomfield is awesome and the two do recordings together. Al Kooper has played with many artists and is one of my favorites. Kinda like George Harrison in that most never remember him. Glad you mentioned them both.
Interesting to hear about your experience with the protection mode. I have a Freya that does the same thing from time-to-time, and it always happens when turning down the volume. I have been wondering if perhaps something was wrong with my preamp, but from what you describe with the Kara, this sounds like designed-in behavior.
Ye it's not a flaw, it's a feature :]
I have had my Freya+ for three years and that has never happened to me, perhaps I lower the volume quickly but not abruptly.
How come there’s not a lot of talk about this preamp?
Is not that great?
WBCables are wonderful for the money.
With a new Freya I find annoying audible speaker pops, when switching output between passive, differential buffer, and differential tube, and mute. Steve did you get audible popping on the Kara while switching between passive, gain stages and mute? I'd think that'd be rough with headphones. In my case, no remote use, no mute, just on and off back switch in tube mode only. Schiit says the pops I get are normal for the relay switch.
My diy preamp uses relays to select different features... If done properly there should be no pops. Schiit makes excellent stuff but occasionally allow stupid flaws in their designs.
On ballanced vs single ended, it's not going to really affect the signal as such, it more affects the noise on the signal. A balnced cable will have significantly lower noise than single ended. As far as anything else, neglibible performance increase if any. On good quality cables, the signal is the signal, regardless of the connection type. Noise is a different thing, but very few would really hear a difference other than placebo effect. That said, I don't judge anyone on what they feel is better for them. It's their system, they can set it up how they feel happiest.
Excellent review ... any thoughts on the headphone amp with lower impedance headphones (say 32 ohm)? I note that Amir at ASR tested Kara recently and got somewhat poorer results in testing and listening with lower impedance headphones. I think the ones you used in your review were 150ohm and higher.
Amir only pays attention to measurements and not how things SOUND. Few here are into his constant criticism, it's kinda like listening to Trump being a victim - in 3,000 lawsuits against him - and complaining all the time but never solving a problem. Real audiophiles discount Amir.
I love this review and it is honest. This is a guy you can trust.
Great shirt.
Thank you for recognizing Michael Bloomfield.
Sir.. suggest preamplifier with separate sub out except parasound.. already using.. thanks
Sounds too much like Karen
Tekton DI speakers with Ribbon Tweeters! Very interesting. Also a set of drums in the room. Sound familiar Steve?
Ha ha Billy
Fully balanced ???..................inputs/outputs....and a symmetrical circuit design inside ???
No symmetrical design is fully perfectly symmetrical ( no 2 active devices are perfectly similar )
FM acoustics selects two transistors outy of a badge of 1000, and wonder why they are expensive
...those circuits eat away some of the low level information and reduce the small detail/dynamics..............but it sounds very CLEAN !
AND .........many audiophiles like that !
The real symmetrical inputs / outputs are on professional gear ( for use with long distance connections ) they are build with very expensive input/ouitput transformers and most of the better designs are SE inside ...
ALL this for 650 $............in a perfect world .
Illusions keep the audiophile market going......you haven't XLR , whe feel pity ... poor guy !
I join the opinion of Steve....and some presected very high quality brands/manufacturers who don't fall for the trap.
It's a differential design
Thank you for the reply ....yeah ,food for some audiophiles ...
Have a nice day
kind regards @@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
I very happy with my Schiit Freya S. It sounds good from your review but I think I’ll stay where I am. Mine is also with a Vidar II and tekton lores.
That sounds like a beautifully balanced system. Enjoy
I recently replaced the Freya S with the Kara and have to say it's a step up. If I had to put it into a percentage I would say somewhere between 25 to 35 percent better. More dynamic, more low level bass and better staging. My only criticism has to do with the volume control which can be a bit fickle at times when using the remote.
@@myaudioquest I was considering the Freya s but now am thinking Kara. What amp are you using?
@@theedgeofbreakup5192 I am using Rotel RB-1552 mk2 amplifier.
@@myaudioquest
Thank you, this is helpful.
Was wondering how it might compare to an og Saga passive?
Giva would be a better name imo.
I'm a balanced kind of guy
Schiit know their Schiit!😂
Hi Steve, sound signature-wise, if compared with a passive transformer-based preamp of about max 2K price range, is there anything worth mentioning? I.e. like of dynamic, less lively sound, anything like that?
How would it compare to the Freya plus with LISST tubes?
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. Do you know something about it?
@@TheIoMeroMero idk, I ended up with Freya+ and NOS tubes from the early 50s. I don't regret it at all. I'd still be very curious of this comparison, though.
@@AeroSS87 Yeah, I know. Not a lot of comparisons out there. Thanks!
Hi Steve, I am looking for a preamp that drives my Linn Selekt with Organik DAC (Line Card) and my LP12 to my Geithain active speakers. Can the Shiit manage that or do I need to go some more steps above in the shelf to do not slow down the streamer and the player? Thanks for your thoughts. Cheers Andi
Michael Bloomfield👍👍 Thanks for pointing him out on that box set!
Loved the mention of him, haven't listened to his stuff in many years but glad to see you think highly of him. The first two Butterfield records showcase his amazing playing. If I remember correctly Al Kooper was slated originally to play guitar on the Highway 61 record but Bloomfield showed up at the studio with his guitar wrapped in a pillow case in the middle of snow storm. Upon plugging in and playing for a few minutes Kooper quietly packed up his guitar and moved to organ/keyboards.
@@danm3359 - Wow, thanks for sharing that story! I switched off from Steve a few minutes to pull up M. Bloomfield on Qobuz using good headphones and the music was stunning
If you removed the kara and just used the xda as the preamp- would there be any sonic loss? Or is there any benefit having the kara in there? Sonically speaking.
Can’t beat a good Schiit 🤣👍
Gettin’ a little thin up top, so I’ll be using the Rogaine setting.
Ah man that's what I've been doing wrong! I had the Rogaine on low and the bottom end on fat.
Balanced cables are in general louder, if I'm not mistaken about 6db louder. It's geometry rejects noise , and that could count for more clarity in my perspective. I'm not so sure in circuitr, unless the same principles are used, ->noise rejection.
Better quality persee, nope. That is all about quality wire, and quality cable design.
whoa... hadn't heard Michael Bloomfield until your review and... wow... thanks for the recommendation
One of our early homes ... August heat-wave, I leaned back as I could reach the window unit over and behind my head as I reclined ...
I reached it to bump up the A/C a notch or so ... boom! As soon as I did, it took out a 60a main fuse!
Still had the other leg so we still had some power.
Its midnight or so, I drove to a local Meijer superstore and bought four fuses.
Fun times ...
Too bad youth is wasted on the young.
For us, old farts, but exact same price the Kara sells for the same as the Audio Research SP-3 LOL
What I have learned from having multiple electrostatic headphones is that if they have any more detail than your speakers then you need to upgrade your speaker and/or room. There are other good reasons to own headphones but detail is not one of them.
I'd really like to see an External Effects or RecOut/MonitorIn loop and a simple Mute button instead of the mute function being tied to the headphone jack. Other than that this is on my short list.
Having issues with Schiit warranty repair....ensure you investigate AI and service concerns
I always like your chanel, Steve. Does it run hot like Freya+? Is this class A or class AB preamp?
Mike Bloomfield! His tone reminds me of Roy Buchanan the greatest guitarist that never lived …
I wonder how different the Kara is from Jotunheim 2? Both are balanced. I use Jot 2 both as a preamp and a headphone amp with LCD2 classic
I think the annoying part about it is if you don’t use the XLR inputs, you only have 3 RCA inputs, making for a pretty small group of devices to preamp. I guess you can convert maybe.
The other annoying thing is it doesn’t have a tape loop. Tape loop can be any recording device, a CD recorder for instance. Although for me, I’d like to have a cassette deck hooked into it…just not sure how.
In contrast, the Denon integrated amp has a “recorder loop” and 6-7 rca inputs with also Bluetooth support. I wish the Kara or Schiit had at least a tape loop
First
Impressive
I still have to giggle when i see the caption "knob feel'. I know i am immature, but i like that.
Cool math shirt.
Hello Steve, Are you going to make it to the Capital Audio fest this year?
The Electric Flag brought back memories..
I wish you guys would heal yourself rambling😊
Steve thank you thank you for what you bring to your fans .
have the debut reference ....so i want the unifi reference
I was just wondering if how or can Kara improved an intergraded like a Sony amp 444esx? Thank you for sharing. Great video!
. That thing looks like one heck of a sleeper. Ssshhh.......... tell no one, lol.
It needs a "Main-in" input to accept the "Pre-out" output. I can't tell if it would work because the Sony has only "Adapter" labeled ins/outs. I can't figure out what the heck those are.
Sonic improvement? It'll probably be a little quieter. Somewhat clearer and the Schiit volume control is definitely the Shit.
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
Schitt has prime time at Steve’s. Thank you for Mike Bloomfiled - it sounds natural compare to the others. I always appreciate musical guide from Steve.
Nice to hear from you!
I recently did a lengthy comparison between quite a good SE headphone cable and a low end balanced cable. The source was a Bifrost 2/64 + Jotunheim 2 stack, and the headphone was the Arya v3, and I felt that the good SE cable through the Jot's SE jack sounded noticeably better than the not-so-good balanced cable through the XLR. Better separation, greater detail, wider stage... So, at least in the case of this system, cable quality more than offset balanced vs SE considerations.
Couple of months ago I tried a 900$ Audioquest Yukon XLR to replace à 200$ Cardas SE into my Luxman L590axII and sold it back after a month. Sound was too forward and incisive for my taste... so back with my old Cardas.
Love the fact that the Kara is black. Maybe I' ll try it.
Just wondering. On the picture, the volume control seems to me to be a Alps Blue Velvet, not an attenuator. I own a couple of these… Are you certain about what you mentioned? Thoroughly enjoyed the presentation.
You can see the inside on Schiit’s website.
I have the West Side story album.
Great video Steve! Thank you for reviewing such a highly anticipated product! Thanks also for including the brief shout-out for the Elac Reference Uni-Fi DBR62's. I'm a big fan of those speakers (having them, as well as the original UB5's), and it was nice to see them in your test rig.
I'm giving a brief shout-out, you know, for old low power Radio Shack, the STA-47 from 1976 because this fall it is 47 years young. Although it best uses the Optimus-1B (a ferrous motor take on the AlNiCo Optimus-1) it used the MC-500 in its basic match. Back then record players had small speakers like the MC-500 but they were special, probably engineered by Teledyne, CTS of Kentucky. Only 11 watts per channel, but the STA-47 and MC-500 will satisfy a load of vinyl record playing buyers and come low priced today.
The silver knob looks bad…
will check
k out bloomfield
Thanks for another great video. Your channel is the only one I have the notification bell turned on. 💯
Nice, thanks Andy
Balanced is definitely better at driving an amplifier tho.
Only if that power amp is designed to receive that higher voltage "tho".
Why do you not review rega amplifier or any other British stuff
I reviewed rega io amp and their small speakers
Yes freya plus phew
I’m with you when it comes to comparisons with the pass labs. From the other hand I can’t get my head around why the Pass Labs’ measurements look like a broken device when compared to the Schiit preamp.
Thank you for watching, the sink that Nelson Pass, he designs for sound not measurements. For those who prioritize measurements there's other choices. Each to their own.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I prefer the sound of the pass as well. I am just trying to understand how the pass sound translates to measurements so I can always look for these.
Ok, but still true...
If it locks up in protection mode I believe owner's manual says to slowly pour a cup of cold water into ventilation grill.
😂😂😂😂😂 just don’t let the smoke out
You’re giving people dangerous advice that they just might follow. We all know that you’re supposed to use warm water 😉
@@MrBonger88 😂😂😂😂😂 and shouldn’t that be warm distilled water?
@@Aswaguespack you’re right. It’s been so long since I had to pour water over my equipment that I totally forgot
@@MrBonger88 sometimes it is easy to forget the tiny details
"The feel of his sound..."
those elacs look nice!
U S and A 🇺🇸🫡
Herb knows power!
If non audiophiles hear us talking about knob feel out of context they probably think we’re weird.
What do you mean probably 😊
We're weird, they're weird too. So called "Normal" people are the weirdest.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac 😂😂😂
Love my Schiit!
Schiit are doing some good shit!😃
No,they are making insanely overprized shit!
Pass gear is always too expensive
Nelson Pass designed the amp camp amp (ACA) power amplifier kit that sells for around $320. I'm sure you can find already assembled ACAs that aren't at all expensive.
Thanks Steve