I had the Freya in to use while reviewing the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra amp. I thought since it's here what the heck I might as well review it. Big thanks to James our ABX Audiophile for the loan. abxaudiophiles.org
Nice review. I don't mind another Freya review, bring it on. I always like hearing what others think and like to hear what pieces of music you use for reference tracks.
Thank you. I don't just listen to classical. even though I mention it frequently. At the bottom of each video description or playlists which can/do represent many of the track I use for reviews. Check them out and ley me know what you think, Thx.
The Freya + with LISST in the left sockets and Tung-Sol 6SN7 in the right sounds terrific. You can also buy a solid state copper top rectifier to make it even tighter.
As a Freya + owner for several years now I can’t help but scratch my head over your description of its sound. To my ears the passive stage delivers the most neutral and, shall I say, best sound by far. The buffer stage warms up the mid bass, as noted, but the perspective is much more forward. Consequently, it appears to deliver more detail but can sound somewhat artificial and fatiguing with many recordings. The tube stage is WARM. I found it way too colored until I matched it with a Loki Max to bring that mid bass hump back into line. Lastly, the tubes filter out a lot of high end detail that the passive stage delivers easily. Though it sounds like I don’t love this preamp that’s definitely not the case. The Freya is wonderful because it is just so versatile. I think just about anyone can find the perfect sound for their tastes. It certainly does that for me.
I a sure it can sound good. The Orchard Audio amp is very neutral and reveling. The Freya matched up well to the Accuphase E202 I have in. So, I a, sure it can sound wonderful. It was just a mismatch with the Orchard Audio amp. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and for watching.
I have the Fraya paired with Parasound A21 amp, rolled in GE nos tubes out to vintage KEF speakers. The tube buffer stage sounds best on all aspects that you mentioned. I’m in audio bliss. I like, share & subscribed to you channel. Keep it going Ed!
Parasound is very nice stuff. Sounds like you have it all dialed in. Which KEF speakers do you have? We used to be the largest KEF dealer in Chicago back in the 80s & 90s. Thanks for subscribing, viewing and sharing.
Thank you. Enjoyed your review which gave me insight to the Schiit. I recently had delivered a Mr. K PPA-02B Passive Preamplifier. It’s a transformer volume control with RCA and XLR and gain switches that modifies the sound quality at the bottom frequencies (thicker bass the greater the gain). Very transparent and not lean sounding at all. A bit of a gamble but hopefully it will match the soon-to-come Orchard monoblocs. If you get the chance to connect with the distributor, it might be worth a listen.
Another great review Ed! I’m loving my new Schiit Bifrost 2/64 with Schiit Ragnarok 2 and Zu DWX speakers. I liked your comments about how well the Schiit equipment would sound together. My next purchase might be the Freya+ to try the different sounds that comes with tube rolling. 😊
That would be fun. Sounds like your system is coming together nicely. I was a bit under whelmed with the Freya on the Orchard Audio amp but, that could just be a miss-match. I do have the Sparkos Gemini in for review. It is a tube headphone amp that can be a pre as well. It sounds amazing on the Galion TSA75. I think I will be getting some Black Ice gear in soon so, that should be interesting. Watch this space. Thanks for keeping me updated.
I have the freya noval with a Vidar 2. With the noval tube rolling significantly changes the sound. Agree that the buffer mode has slightly rolled off bass. For what it is worth the new tung sol 6sn7 tubes are reputed to be the best in the freya plus. Thanks for your review Ed
Thank you Carl. I didn't have a lot of time to tube roll as I have to pass the unit along to another member of the ABX Audiophile community. I wish I could have spent more time with. As you know, I am a bit of Schiit head. Bifrost Multibit, Lokius, Mani, Modi Uber 2.
First time viewer. This might be the millionth review but I found it to be great & something i could understand. I've been interested in this Freya due to the balanced outputs & price. I have other tube preamps but they lack true differential outputs. From your descriptions (which kinda match others) i understand where this piece is lacking. I have as assortment of NOS 6sn7 types so maybe i can find a good mix. I'm handy with a soldering iron so maybe raising the values & quality of the output caps can fix the bass a little. These are cheap enough 2nd hand to take a chance on though & spend a little money on minor mods..maybe upgrade the transformer. Thanks for the review..subscribed. I have a Hypex Nilai amp in my bunch..very revealing to upstream components. I think its great though. Would love to get the Orchard in my home.
Nice review. I've had the Freya + in my system for about 7 months and my experience is on par with your own. While the "thinness" is noted, I was able to bear it by installing Electroharmonix tubes on the output stage in combination with Tung Sols on the buffer stage. That combination provided ample bass, lovely mids, and very nice and aerie soundstage compared to just running Tung Sols across the board. The great thing is that neither of those tubes are very expensive. Nice to hear you're also running a J2S with the 4499ex chip and the sS2590 pro op-amps...I love love that DAC. Note the J2S really responds well to adding an LPS. I went with a fully custom LPS from Pine Tree Audio. Awesome upgrade. Next step up on my journey will be a PS Audio BHK pre...can't wait 😊
I didn't have a chance to do much rolling so, I did the bulk of my review with the stock tubs. I am sure there can be some nice changes with the different tube. The J2s is amazing so is the J3Pro.
@OldGuyHifi I saw your J3 pro review had entered my feed. I plan to watch it this evening. Would be interested in hearing how it compares to your tricked out J2S. I had also upgraded to the SS2590 Pro op-amps. My plan was to wait to see how well received the Dayzee was before putting an upgrade plan into play. But, the SS2590 op-amps and LPS really elevated the J2S to such an incredible level that I'm hesitant to replace it...i.e., there being other gaps in my system that are higher priorities (upgrading my pre and adding a second Rel S/510). Keep up the great work 👍
The J2S and J3 Pro, are really the same DACs. Geno just redesigned the PC board to accommodate the big Sparkos'. If there are any differences I suspect they will be subtle and I will will need some time to figure them out. I will say they both give my mod"d Bifrost a run for its money. I am not a big fan of Delta-Sigma and I think this AKM dual chip set-up is a hybrid of Delta-Sigma and multi-bit so it has me thinking about a lot of things. Thanks for your comment.
Ramone my friend, thank you so much for your continued support of the channel. As for you last comment, thank you I can use all the help I can get. ;-)
Spot on ED, I demoed it from a friend and felt like you, it's good, not great. Then I got the Kara! That is great, not sure of all the things they changed but paired with Aegir 2 in mono, I won't be hunting for an upgrade anytime soon. Will share a playlist with you over at CAM.
Yep. You need a Tube Preamp to make Leo’s Amps literally sing. Give ‘em a nice fat Tube Pre (for me my ex BAT VK50-SE or The Black Ice F360 which I still have). Great video once again my friend.
Joey, I agree. I would love to hear it with either a Rogue RP-5 or VIncent SAT-7 Mk II. I don't have any contacts with those manufacturers. Besides, I had to move Leo's amp on to the next fellow yesterday any way. I might try to get it back and see what I can pair with it. Thanks for watching and the advice.
I've got a Freya N, which is the "same thing only different" as my old man liked to say. It just uses Novel tubes, easier to get than the + tube types. I love the dang thing and I've had it a couple years now. As far as the sound stage being between the speakers, I'll readily say that is somewhat of a tube thing and also dependent upon even the album you're playing. It could be other things like interconnects/cables, but I know people are going to light me on fire for that suggestion. With mine, I'm using a set of four 750ma Sylvanias and it took the harshness away that the stock tubes had and yes the soundstage improved. I was just typing this listening to Chicago VI and I have found myself glancing two times to the left and right of my speakers at cymbols and chimes. And that's just a really good pressed OG album, the Rega P6/Hana ML, the Freya N, and the Fortes.
Wilson, I am sure it sounds great. Yes synergy is a thing. I use Mogami cables and Amphenol connectors. Most of my listening was done balanced through a Geshelli J2S AKM5500 with either Sparkos or Burson op-amps or it was through my Bifrost multibit. Yes it can be music source dependent. The best part is that you enjoy it. These kinds of things are so subjective. I appreciate you taking time to share your configuration and of course, your returning for more of my pontifications.
I agree that it is a great preamp, especially at the price. It was a bit fussy about amp pairing for me as well, with a pair of Aegirs and with an Adcom 555 II, great. I tried with a Nakamichi PA 5 and a couple of Threshold amps and it was a really a bad match in all modes. They are a bargain especially with the Aegirs.
The Schiit Audio product looks great across the board. I was interested in the Freya+, and I was going to purchase one...but I came across a great deal on a Black Ice Audio F360 w/ a really nice tube pre-installed and ended up going that direction instead. EDIT: I really like Schiit's "solid state tube" tech. That's very appealing to me. I could totally see myself w/ a Freya+ at some point....
I saw your other posts. I have some Black Ice gear coming in for review. I am looking forward to listening to it. Arendal speakers are very good. Thanks for sharing you system.
I’m looking for a preamp for my Orchard Audio power amp. The F360 is on my shortlist as is the Freya+. Significantly different price points. Would love to hear your thoughts on the F360.
@@mindhead1 In short, it's a wonderful piece of gear. It looks great. It sounds great. ...and now for a more detailed response, should you want one. The F360 costs about 1/3rd what it COULD cost. If a brand that does charge $4k for a preamp put out something that sounds 1:1 just like the Fusion360, nobody would bat an eyelash. I also use Black Ice Audio's Fusion9 MKIII phono preamplifier, and it's a wonderful piece of kit, too. Love it. ...and another thing about the F360 before I stop typing (because I could type on & on about this stuff). I love it as much as I do, and I haven't even tried some of the things it's capable of. I can't afford to buy a 2nd pair of Arendal 1723 speakers & amplification to even try out the "Quadraphonic" capabilities. EDIT: I'm waiting on one of the APOs Ray's Tubes for my F360 currently. This will be my first experience with tube rolling.
Errol, I personally didn't think the Freya matched up well with the OA Ultra amp. I would still recommend a tube pre-amp. Depending on your budget: here are two I like very much, Rogue Audio RP-1 or the Vincent Audio SA-32. Both are very well built and sound very good on solid state or Class D amps like Leo's. Now for Black Ice. That is in a bit of a different category. I have some Black Ice gear on its way to me very soon. I think I may be getting an F159 and an F11 integrated amp. Keep an eye on my community page as I plan on posting near gear arrivals there so everyone has a heads up. In the mean time let me know what you decide to do. Thank you.
@@OldGuyHifi thanks for the suggestion on the Rogue Audio and Vincent Audio preamps. I will add them to my list to consider. I saw your video on the Freya+ and that what got me looking at other options for the Orchard Audio amp. That said, the EverSolo is doing a great job as a preamp for the Ultra 2.5 so I’m not in a rush to get another preamp at the moment. I’ll keep an eye on the used market to see what turns up. The only reason I got the DMP-A8 was because I saw it for sale used for $1500. A great pickup IMO.
Great review Ed. I have a kara and really like it. Makes me consider upgrading to freya +. Would you say the tube mode is good for mainly jazz and classical genres?
Alex, Truthfully I really couldn't find any love for the Freya in any mode. I think the Kara is the sweet spot in their line up. To do better you need to change brands and be prepared to spend a little more. I like the Rogue RP-1 but is is double the cost. I wish I had a better answer for you my friend.
The stock Freya + tubes are really good overall, but a bit on the cool side. I tube rolled and got a bit more tuby warm sound without going all out gooey and romantic. The impact is great, but so is the depth and warmth without softening or smearing the detail. definitely huge sound stage. I also have the solid state (LISST) tube modules. They sound exactly between mosfet and tube. I feel the LISST sound better than just the buffer, and maybe more accurate than the tubes. Linear bass.
I didn't have much time with the unit to tube roll. It was on loan from a friend. I own a bunch of Schiit and generally like the product. I just wasn't able to find the right combo for the OA amp. Thx for the info and the view.
@@OldGuyHifi I ordered mine in 2022 without tubes. I got electro-harmonix which are a step up from the tesla. I'd used the tesla before in other products and they are not the best.
Hi there! Really enjoy your reviews. How does the sound compare to the PecanPi+ premier streamer/DAC/preamp combo with Starkrimson? I am thinking about pulling the trigger on the full Orchard audio combo versus getting a tube preamp. Can't make up my mind lol
That's a tough one my friend. I would absolutely go with the amp but, here's a thought: You can get the OA AKM DAC with a volume control but, without the streamer (Volumio kind of sucks a lot), Leo calls it the PecanPi+ and you can configure it without a streamer. Saves $100. Then get a WiiM Pro or even a Cambridge MXN10, and use the coax SPDIF out to feed the DAC and the Angles will sing for you. That would be my choice if all I was going to do is stream. I did the MXN10 and DAC only, almost all the time I was listening. What do you think?
Well… what preamp IS worthy of the Orchard? Obviously the Orchard is on another level than the Schiit. Btw I love your channel and I don’t really care if you review things that have already been reviewed I’ll still watch it.
Thank you. I think something like a Rogue RP-5 or VIncent SAT-7 Mk II would be good choices. They would have a bit of tube warmth which the Freya lacks in my opinion and would be more to my taste. It really all depends on personal preference. I think the take away is that while the Freya is good for the money the Orchard unit should be paired with more price appropriate hardware. Thanks for the kind words. I do appreciate it.
I rolled the output tubes to nos bad boys, excellent sound. I didn't care for theJJ's that came with it at all. Tung sols were a little better. The bad boys smoothed out the top end and plumped up the mids. Paired with Emotiva mono blocks, Cambridge streamer, Magnepan .7's.
So, this pre amp would pair better with a class AB type amp instead of a Class D amp? Be interesting to see it paired with a Parasound or a old Carver. Maybe even a Rotel Amp. Boy, the new J3 looks sweet! Keep up the great reviews.
It could pair up ok with any amp type. The Orchard piece is just so neutral and revealing it can draw attention to any and all short comings in the equipment you connect to it. I think I may have been kinder than I could have been. I think it is a fine product and you are right an old Carver or Adcom would be a great combo. I personally would pass on the OA Ultra and Freya combo. Thanks Jim. Have a great 4th.
You complain under the blanket too much buddy don't care about your orchard audio much as far as price wise this is a fine equipment and it goes very well with schiit product😊
Schiit products are great in an apartment/condo setting. Low to moderate listening levels. I picked up a Aegir used, like new condition to drive Klipsch Forte ii. 98 dB efficiency. Great sound at 80-85 dB levels. Above those levels and the amp shows its flaws. Schiit is a good product for the money. But I would look elsewhere.
I had the Freya in to use while reviewing the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra amp. I thought since it's here what the heck I might as well review it. Big thanks to James our ABX Audiophile for the loan. abxaudiophiles.org
Good job Ed, might be the millionth review but your take is still nice to hear, thanks again!
Also, thanks for loaning this to him James!
Thank you my friend. I guess better late than never.
I have the Freya Plus paired with an Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2. Really beautiful full sound with this pairing running some old Polk towers.
That sounds like a great system. Thanks for coming back the channel.
Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2 with my Freya too! Love it!
Nice review. I don't mind another Freya review, bring it on. I always like hearing what others think and like to hear what pieces of music you use for reference tracks.
Thank you. I don't just listen to classical. even though I mention it frequently. At the bottom of each video description or playlists which can/do represent many of the track I use for reviews. Check them out and ley me know what you think, Thx.
Thanks so much for the music picks. I hadn't checked in the video details. Will do! @@OldGuyHifi
Great run down Ed. ;) Glad you had some fun with it.. I got notice that Carson now has it in his system.. Love it.. :)
Yeah, He didn't waste any time. I hope he has fun with it.
I love your style. Very plesant to listen to. Subscribed, shared & liked sir!
Thank you. I appreciate that very much.
The Freya + with LISST in the left sockets and Tung-Sol 6SN7 in the right sounds terrific. You can also buy a solid state copper top rectifier to make it even tighter.
I would not have thought of that. Thanks.
As a Freya + owner for several years now I can’t help but scratch my head over your description of its sound. To my ears the passive stage delivers the most neutral and, shall I say, best sound by far. The buffer stage warms up the mid bass, as noted, but the perspective is much more forward. Consequently, it appears to deliver more detail but can sound somewhat artificial and fatiguing with many recordings. The tube stage is WARM. I found it way too colored until I matched it with a Loki Max to bring that mid bass hump back into line. Lastly, the tubes filter out a lot of high end detail that the passive stage delivers easily. Though it sounds like I don’t love this preamp that’s definitely not the case. The Freya is wonderful because it is just so versatile. I think just about anyone can find the perfect sound for their tastes. It certainly does that for me.
I a sure it can sound good. The Orchard Audio amp is very neutral and reveling. The Freya matched up well to the Accuphase E202 I have in. So, I a, sure it can sound wonderful. It was just a mismatch with the Orchard Audio amp. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and for watching.
Agree that passive mode is best in my system. Tube mode is next best
I have the Fraya paired with Parasound A21 amp, rolled in GE nos tubes out to vintage KEF speakers. The tube buffer stage sounds best on all aspects that you mentioned. I’m in audio bliss.
I like, share & subscribed to you channel. Keep it going Ed!
Parasound is very nice stuff. Sounds like you have it all dialed in. Which KEF speakers do you have? We used to be the largest KEF dealer in Chicago back in the 80s & 90s. Thanks for subscribing, viewing and sharing.
@@OldGuyHifi 107/2 reference
I used to have a pair of those. One of the best I ever heard. Way better than anything B&W built. Have you had to refoam the woofers yet?
Great insights and review Ed! Enjoying your work. Thanks again! 👍
Much appreciated!
Thank you. Enjoyed your review which gave me insight to the Schiit. I recently had delivered a Mr. K PPA-02B Passive Preamplifier. It’s a transformer volume control with RCA and XLR and gain switches that modifies the sound quality at the bottom frequencies (thicker bass the greater the gain).
Very transparent and not lean sounding at all. A bit of a gamble but hopefully it will match the soon-to-come Orchard monoblocs. If you get the chance to connect with the distributor, it might be worth a listen.
Thanks. I will reach out to them.
Ed, I believe you enjoy making these reviews as much as I enjoy watching them. Thanks for the hard work! Looking forward to the next review.
Rafael, Thank you my friend. It is fun for sure.
I'm a pretty simple Hi Fi guy. I have two Schiit Modi 3+ units and I love them. You can review all the Schiit you want. I guess I never grew up. LOL
Me neither. Thx Mike.
Another great review Ed! I’m loving my new Schiit Bifrost 2/64 with Schiit Ragnarok 2 and Zu DWX speakers. I liked your comments about how well the Schiit equipment would sound together. My next purchase might be the Freya+ to try the different sounds that comes with tube rolling. 😊
That would be fun. Sounds like your system is coming together nicely. I was a bit under whelmed with the Freya on the Orchard Audio amp but, that could just be a miss-match. I do have the Sparkos Gemini in for review. It is a tube headphone amp that can be a pre as well. It sounds amazing on the Galion TSA75. I think I will be getting some Black Ice gear in soon so, that should be interesting. Watch this space. Thanks for keeping me updated.
I have the freya noval with a Vidar 2. With the noval tube rolling significantly changes the sound. Agree that the buffer mode has slightly rolled off bass. For what it is worth the new tung sol 6sn7 tubes are reputed to be the best in the freya plus. Thanks for your review Ed
Thank you Carl. I didn't have a lot of time to tube roll as I have to pass the unit along to another member of the ABX Audiophile community. I wish I could have spent more time with. As you know, I am a bit of Schiit head. Bifrost Multibit, Lokius, Mani, Modi Uber 2.
Freya N here too. I'm running four Sylvania 750ma 6CG7. No soundstage issues at all here.
First time viewer. This might be the millionth review but I found it to be great & something i could understand. I've been interested in this Freya due to the balanced outputs & price. I have other tube preamps but they lack true differential outputs. From your descriptions (which kinda match others) i understand where this piece is lacking. I have as assortment of NOS 6sn7 types so maybe i can find a good mix. I'm handy with a soldering iron so maybe raising the values & quality of the output caps can fix the bass a little. These are cheap enough 2nd hand to take a chance on though & spend a little money on minor mods..maybe upgrade the transformer. Thanks for the review..subscribed.
I have a Hypex Nilai amp in my bunch..very revealing to upstream components. I think its great though. Would love to get the Orchard in my home.
Let me know how the mods go. Thx for watching and commenting.
Thanks for the millionth review. I appreciate how you described everything, including where the bass rolls off, etc.
Thanks so much for watching and letting me know your thoughts.
Nice review. I've had the Freya + in my system for about 7 months and my experience is on par with your own. While the "thinness" is noted, I was able to bear it by installing Electroharmonix tubes on the output stage in combination with Tung Sols on the buffer stage. That combination provided ample bass, lovely mids, and very nice and aerie soundstage compared to just running Tung Sols across the board. The great thing is that neither of those tubes are very expensive. Nice to hear you're also running a J2S with the 4499ex chip and the sS2590 pro op-amps...I love love that DAC. Note the J2S really responds well to adding an LPS. I went with a fully custom LPS from Pine Tree Audio. Awesome upgrade. Next step up on my journey will be a PS Audio BHK pre...can't wait 😊
I didn't have a chance to do much rolling so, I did the bulk of my review with the stock tubs. I am sure there can be some nice changes with the different tube. The J2s is amazing so is the J3Pro.
@OldGuyHifi I saw your J3 pro review had entered my feed. I plan to watch it this evening. Would be interested in hearing how it compares to your tricked out J2S. I had also upgraded to the SS2590 Pro op-amps. My plan was to wait to see how well received the Dayzee was before putting an upgrade plan into play. But, the SS2590 op-amps and LPS really elevated the J2S to such an incredible level that I'm hesitant to replace it...i.e., there being other gaps in my system that are higher priorities (upgrading my pre and adding a second Rel S/510). Keep up the great work 👍
The J2S and J3 Pro, are really the same DACs. Geno just redesigned the PC board to accommodate the big Sparkos'. If there are any differences I suspect they will be subtle and I will will need some time to figure them out. I will say they both give my mod"d Bifrost a run for its money. I am not a big fan of Delta-Sigma and I think this AKM dual chip set-up is a hybrid of Delta-Sigma and multi-bit so it has me thinking about a lot of things. Thanks for your comment.
Nice review thank you
You are very welcome. Thx for tuning in.
Great review Ed!!!! Thank you for another wonderful review and technical explanation. I could listen to you for hours!!!!! God bless!!!!
Ramone my friend, thank you so much for your continued support of the channel. As for you last comment, thank you I can use all the help I can get. ;-)
Spot on ED, I demoed it from a friend and felt like you, it's good, not great. Then I got the Kara! That is great, not sure of all the things they changed but paired with Aegir 2 in mono, I won't be hunting for an upgrade anytime soon. Will share a playlist with you over at CAM.
I read curious about the Kara. Seemed like a good unit. Looking forward to get the playlist. Thx.
@@OldGuyHifi sent on FB.
Awesome review, Ed! Keep it going.
Thanks so much for your view and comment.
Yep. You need a Tube Preamp to make Leo’s Amps literally sing. Give ‘em a nice fat Tube Pre (for me my ex BAT VK50-SE or The Black Ice F360 which I still have).
Great video once again my friend.
Joey, I agree. I would love to hear it with either a Rogue RP-5 or VIncent SAT-7 Mk II. I don't have any contacts with those manufacturers. Besides, I had to move Leo's amp on to the next fellow yesterday any way. I might try to get it back and see what I can pair with it. Thanks for watching and the advice.
I've got a Freya N, which is the "same thing only different" as my old man liked to say. It just uses Novel tubes, easier to get than the + tube types. I love the dang thing and I've had it a couple years now. As far as the sound stage being between the speakers, I'll readily say that is somewhat of a tube thing and also dependent upon even the album you're playing. It could be other things like interconnects/cables, but I know people are going to light me on fire for that suggestion. With mine, I'm using a set of four 750ma Sylvanias and it took the harshness away that the stock tubes had and yes the soundstage improved. I was just typing this listening to Chicago VI and I have found myself glancing two times to the left and right of my speakers at cymbols and chimes. And that's just a really good pressed OG album, the Rega P6/Hana ML, the Freya N, and the Fortes.
Wilson, I am sure it sounds great. Yes synergy is a thing. I use Mogami cables and Amphenol connectors. Most of my listening was done balanced through a Geshelli J2S AKM5500 with either Sparkos or Burson op-amps or it was through my Bifrost multibit. Yes it can be music source dependent. The best part is that you enjoy it. These kinds of things are so subjective. I appreciate you taking time to share your configuration and of course, your returning for more of my pontifications.
I agree that it is a great preamp, especially at the price. It was a bit fussy about amp pairing for me as well, with a pair of Aegirs and with an Adcom 555 II, great. I tried with a Nakamichi PA 5 and a couple of Threshold amps and it was a really a bad match in all modes. They are a bargain especially with the Aegirs.
Yes. Finding that system synergy can be an adventure. Thx for watching and commenting
The Schiit Audio product looks great across the board.
I was interested in the Freya+, and I was going to purchase one...but I came across a great deal on a Black Ice Audio F360 w/ a really nice tube pre-installed and ended up going that direction instead.
EDIT: I really like Schiit's "solid state tube" tech. That's very appealing to me. I could totally see myself w/ a Freya+ at some point....
I saw your other posts. I have some Black Ice gear coming in for review. I am looking forward to listening to it. Arendal speakers are very good. Thanks for sharing you system.
I’m looking for a preamp for my Orchard Audio power amp. The F360 is on my shortlist as is the Freya+. Significantly different price points. Would love to hear your thoughts on the F360.
@@mindhead1 In short, it's a wonderful piece of gear. It looks great. It sounds great.
...and now for a more detailed response, should you want one. The F360 costs about 1/3rd what it COULD cost. If a brand that does charge $4k for a preamp put out something that sounds 1:1 just like the Fusion360, nobody would bat an eyelash.
I also use Black Ice Audio's Fusion9 MKIII phono preamplifier, and it's a wonderful piece of kit, too. Love it.
...and another thing about the F360 before I stop typing (because I could type on & on about this stuff). I love it as much as I do, and I haven't even tried some of the things it's capable of. I can't afford to buy a 2nd pair of Arendal 1723 speakers & amplification to even try out the "Quadraphonic" capabilities.
EDIT: I'm waiting on one of the APOs Ray's Tubes for my F360 currently. This will be my first experience with tube rolling.
Errol, I personally didn't think the Freya matched up well with the OA Ultra amp. I would still recommend a tube pre-amp. Depending on your budget: here are two I like very much, Rogue Audio RP-1 or the Vincent Audio SA-32. Both are very well built and sound very good on solid state or Class D amps like Leo's. Now for Black Ice. That is in a bit of a different category. I have some Black Ice gear on its way to me very soon. I think I may be getting an F159 and an F11 integrated amp. Keep an eye on my community page as I plan on posting near gear arrivals there so everyone has a heads up. In the mean time let me know what you decide to do. Thank you.
@@OldGuyHifi thanks for the suggestion on the Rogue Audio and Vincent Audio preamps. I will add them to my list to consider. I saw your video on the Freya+ and that what got me looking at other options for the Orchard Audio amp.
That said, the EverSolo is doing a great job as a preamp for the Ultra 2.5 so I’m not in a rush to get another preamp at the moment.
I’ll keep an eye on the used market to see what turns up. The only reason I got the DMP-A8 was because I saw it for sale used for $1500. A great pickup IMO.
Great review Ed. I have a kara and really like it. Makes me consider upgrading to freya +. Would you say the tube mode is good for mainly jazz and classical genres?
Alex, Truthfully I really couldn't find any love for the Freya in any mode. I think the Kara is the sweet spot in their line up. To do better you need to change brands and be prepared to spend a little more. I like the Rogue RP-1 but is is double the cost. I wish I had a better answer for you my friend.
@ thank you so much for the feedback!
The stock Freya + tubes are really good overall, but a bit on the cool side. I tube rolled and got a bit more tuby warm sound without going all out gooey and romantic. The impact is great, but so is the depth and warmth without softening or smearing the detail. definitely huge sound stage. I also have the solid state (LISST) tube modules. They sound exactly between mosfet and tube. I feel the LISST sound better than just the buffer, and maybe more accurate than the tubes. Linear bass.
I didn't have much time with the unit to tube roll. It was on loan from a friend. I own a bunch of Schiit and generally like the product. I just wasn't able to find the right combo for the OA amp. Thx for the info and the view.
@@OldGuyHifi I ordered mine in 2022 without tubes. I got electro-harmonix which are a step up from the tesla. I'd used the tesla before in other products and they are not the best.
Solid, thurough, and fair.. :)
Thank you. Thanks again for loaning it tome. I do appreciate it.
Hi there! Really enjoy your reviews. How does the sound compare to the PecanPi+ premier streamer/DAC/preamp combo with Starkrimson? I am thinking about pulling the trigger on the full Orchard audio combo versus getting a tube preamp. Can't make up my mind lol
That's a tough one my friend. I would absolutely go with the amp but, here's a thought: You can get the OA AKM DAC with a volume control but, without the streamer (Volumio kind of sucks a lot), Leo calls it the PecanPi+ and you can configure it without a streamer. Saves $100. Then get a WiiM Pro or even a Cambridge MXN10, and use the coax SPDIF out to feed the DAC and the Angles will sing for you. That would be my choice if all I was going to do is stream. I did the MXN10 and DAC only, almost all the time I was listening. What do you think?
That sounds like a great idea and I already have a Wiim Pro :) thank you 🙏🏾
Well… what preamp IS worthy of the Orchard? Obviously the Orchard is on another level than the Schiit. Btw I love your channel and I don’t really care if you review things that have already been reviewed I’ll still watch it.
Thank you. I think something like a Rogue RP-5 or VIncent SAT-7 Mk II would be good choices. They would have a bit of tube warmth which the Freya lacks in my opinion and would be more to my taste. It really all depends on personal preference. I think the take away is that while the Freya is good for the money the Orchard unit should be paired with more price appropriate hardware. Thanks for the kind words. I do appreciate it.
Great review, I wonder if it would be possible to get a review of the schiit kara. I've only seen one and i am cust curious.
Mike, Maybe. I am working on something. Watch the channel. Not sure when. Thank you so much.
Have Leo at Orchard Audio send you a Pecan Pi + Streaming DAC which can be used as a PreAmp. Should pair pretty nicely with his Ultra amp. :-)
It just arrived today but the amp is gone. I will figure something out. Thx for watching.
I rolled the output tubes to nos bad boys, excellent sound. I didn't care for theJJ's that came with it at all. Tung sols were a little better. The bad boys smoothed out the top end and plumped up the mids. Paired with Emotiva mono blocks, Cambridge streamer, Magnepan .7's.
Very nice system. You are right about the tubes. Thank you for turning in and sharing your experience.
So, this pre amp would pair better with a class AB type amp instead of a Class D amp? Be interesting to see it paired with a Parasound or a old Carver. Maybe even a Rotel Amp.
Boy, the new J3 looks sweet! Keep up the great reviews.
It could pair up ok with any amp type. The Orchard piece is just so neutral and revealing it can draw attention to any and all short comings in the equipment you connect to it. I think I may have been kinder than I could have been. I think it is a fine product and you are right an old Carver or Adcom would be a great combo. I personally would pass on the OA Ultra and Freya combo. Thanks Jim. Have a great 4th.
I've got an Anthem MCA 225 g2 which is A/B and I've been pleased at the pairing.
Tubelar!
Right on dude.
You complain under the blanket too much buddy don't care about your orchard audio much as far as price wise this is a fine equipment and it goes very well with schiit product😊
Thank you for sharing your opinion.
Schiit products are great in an apartment/condo setting. Low to moderate listening levels. I picked up a Aegir used, like new condition to drive Klipsch Forte ii. 98 dB efficiency. Great sound at 80-85 dB levels. Above those levels and the amp shows its flaws. Schiit is a good product for the money. But I would look elsewhere.
I think I agree with that although, I do really like my hot rodded Bifrost and my Magni Piety. Thanks for watching.