If there is odd equipment out there that doesn't produce more than 600mV on their balanced outputs the Freya seems like a safe bet for it - distortion is low and channels will perform the same. I am, however, no longer interested.
Thanks for the recommendations. These don't appear to have multiple ins though?
I'd like to disagree. THD of both channels is in specs. IMD is measured with CCIF, not SMPTE, so may not be comparable. And all rated at 2V, not 4V.
Of course. Actually it's made for reproducing music, not for baking eggs.In your opinion is it similarly perfect , when tasked with reproducing music ?
I don't know of any disagreements between measurements and listening experience, which have been proven by controlled and unsighted listening tests. And I haven't seen any schematics so far. Can you deliver both?If its not perfect reproducing music, can you contribute why that might be - and can you possibly identify if you have time, which part of the schematic is causing that disagreement with measurements then countering listening experience.
Your insisting on unreliable subjective listening experience starts to get boring.Does its measurements also reflect as 'works great " in its ability reproducing music - if so can you describe what you think is good about it relative to other preamps and other forms of attenuation, that you have tried.
Just reread the chapter in his book. You're right, the noise floor of his measureing equipment is at 0.0004% (= -108 dB?).His measurements are over ppm. Apx555 here has distortion harmonics of near -150db which is 30db less than ppm. Any precision analogue designer knows that sub ppm is a completely different world.
AFAIK they sell only direct to customers, so just send them an email and ask.@LTig Does http://www.funk-tonstudiotechnik.de/ have distribution in north america at all?
Or a Nobsound switch - there are also models with RCA.The JDS Atom ($99) has two inputs. In low gain mode it would serve as a perfectly fine pre-amp.
If you only need to switch between two input's, JDS also sells a passive pre-amp & switch ($45).
Just reread the chapter in his book. You're right, the noise floor of his measureing equipment is at 0.0004% (= -108 dB?).
Of course. Actually it's made for reproducing music, not for baking eggs.
I don't know of any disagreements between measurements and listening experience, which have been proven by controlled and unsighted listening tests. And I haven't seen any schematics so far. Can you deliver both?
BTW: The developer of this preamp does not perform subjective listening tests. He knows that those test are less reliable than measurements. Of course this is quite a provocation for most audiophiles. OTOH he sells all his equipment to the pros who use it to make recordings. If the signal passes through his equipment and still sounds fantastic it will do the same when you use his equipment in your home.
No, I don't.Do you think any numbers below 0.0004% have any significance whatsoever? Just askin'
No.So you don't actually have one ?
Remembering it is a pre amplifier/ passive attenuator that is being measured, not a amplifier. End users would likely never use full volume at all with levels of 4V, not even at a Black Sabbath reunion party.
No.So the SAGA is still the better pre-amp?
Is there any point in a systematic comparison of a number of cheap (below e.g. $100) passives/volume controls? I use a discontinued Emotiva Control Freak in my desktop system and I think the use case is obvious. But how do these perform in a system with otherwise transparent electronics?
I happen to be looking for a pre-amp with balanced outputs, but without a built-in DAC, since I already have a DAC; the Freya S is the only analog pre-amp I know of under 700 USD that meets this criteria
10, bucks eh? Now you're speaking my language (that of a super cheapskate, of course)!I paid less than $10 for this, shipped. No distortion. Probably some channel imbalance on low levels.
View attachment 46539
The chart shows the average SINAD between the Freya S's two channels in "0 DB" active mode for different gain levels (unless I'm mistaken)
It appears that it is the input stage that clips at 4V as lowering the volume doesn't seem to help all that much. We've seen some devices that have low output levels on the XLRs e.g. the Hegel HD-12, but the majority will put out 4V or more at 0dB. Not that it matters audibly, but they should have been able to make it more linear to 4V in unity gain without a lot of effort, it is not a power amp after all as you say. I guess it is fine, it is Schiit after all.
Edit: unsure if that bar chart included noise, if it did then lowering the volume seems to help to lower the THD a bit. @amirm ?