Schiit’s Freya 2 Pre-Amplifier Hybrid – Quick Look
All Image Credit: Schitt
Schiit Audio has introduced the Freya 2, a rework of its balanced preamplifier around a new circuit design that Schiit calls Fusion Architecture that lets listeners choose how much, or how little, valve amplification they want to use. Available in a black or silver finish for $999 or $1,049 respectively.
The design combines four valves with depletion-mode MOSFETs that can take over either the input voltage-gain stage, output current-gain stage, or both. The semiconductors are depletion-mode MOSFETs wired into the same zero-feedback, Class A differential topology as the tubes, so the underlying circuit stays the same as you switch between its operational modes. It means Freya 2 can operate in five different configurations without changing its fundamental circuit topology. Short presses of Mode Select step through the modes in this order:
- Passive: no gain stage, only the attenuator ladder.
- All solid state: MOSFETs handle voltage gain and output.
- Tube input: tubes for voltage gain, MOSFETs on output.
- Tube output: MOSFETs for voltage gain, tubes on output.
- All tube: all four tubes in play with no solid-state in the signal path.
Each stage has its own LED, which glows orange when tubes are working and white when solid state is operating. When passive is selected the LED’s are off (dark). When switching to tube mode the LEDs flash as the tubes warms up. The design checks which sockets are populated and only provides heater and high voltages to those present. Should a tube be faulty in some way, it is shut down and its LED flashes as a warning.
The Freya 2 ships with four production valves and supports octal; 6SN7, 6N8S and 5692 types. The front pair provides the voltage gain, while the rear pair buffers the output. Regardless of the active configuration, gain can be switched between 0dB and 12dB. While volume is handled by a 128-step, relay-switched attenuator using discrete thin-film resistors with 0.625dB adjustment increments, rather than a conventional potentiometer.
The power supply is all linear and uses separate 48VA and 24VA C-core transformers, together with independently regulated 6V DC tubes heater feeds. Schiit also specifies MELF and thin-film resistors, polypropylene capacitors and NEC relays throughout the design.
The front panel has a motorised volume knob that follows the remote, plus two buttons and a row of LEDs. Input Select cycles through the five inputs and mutes Freya 2 when held for two seconds. Hold Mode Select instead, and gain toggles between 0dB and 12dB.
A Forkbeard control module comes as standard, and Schiit’s app is the only way to access standby or balance. The supplied IR remote covers the remaining functions.
The rear panel provides the following signal connectivity; 2 x stereo XLR and 3 x stereo RCA line level inputs plus 1 x XLR and 2 x RCA stereo outputs.
Specifications:
- Solid State:
- Low Gain:
- Gain: 1 (0dB)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, -0.05db
- THD: <0.0007%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS
- IMD: <0.0006%, CCIR
- SNR: >120dB, A-weighted, referenced to 4V RMS
- Output Impedance: 75 ohms SE, 150 ohms balanced
- High Gain:
- Gain: 4 (12dB)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, -0.05db
- THD: <0.0008%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS
- IMD: <0.0009%, CCIR
- SNR: >110dB, A-weighted, referenced to 4V RMS
- Output Impedance: 75 ohms SE, 150 ohms balanced
- Low Gain:
- All Tube:
- Low Gain:
- Gain: 1 (0dB)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, -0.05db
- THD: <0.006%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS
- IMD: <0.007%, CCIR
- SNR: >124dB, A-weighted, referenced to 4V RMS
- Output Impedance: 75 ohms SE, 150 ohms balanced
- High Gain:
- Gain: 4 (12dB)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, -0.05db
- THD: <0.003%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS
- IMD: <0.003%, CCIR
- SNR: >115dB, A-weighted, referenced to 4V RMS
- Low Gain:
- Output Impedance: 75 ohms SE, 150 ohms balanced
- Input Impedance: 10K ohms
- Crosstalk: >90dB, 20-20kHz
- Inputs: 2 XLR pairs plus 3 RCA pairs
- Outputs: 1 XLR pair plus 2 RCA pairs, all active continuously when preamp is not muted
- Volume Control: hermetically sealed signal-relay-switched stepped attenuator with discrete 0.5% thin-film resistors, 128 0.625dB steps
- Power Supply: One 48VA c-core transformer and one 24VA c-core transformer with 300V main rail with shutdown, 6V DC tube heaters with independent regulation and shutdown, double series regulated -30VDC rail, plus regulated 5VDC for relays and 3.3VDC for microprocessor
- Tubes: 6SN7, 6N8S, and 5692 types all OK. Other types may be accommodated with adapters. Do not exceed 2.4A total heater current for 4 tubes. CV181 tubes not recommended.
- Remote: Standard IR remote for all front panel functions: volume, input select, gain, mute, etc.
- Standard Forkbeard control system for all the above, plus advanced functions including system health and alerts, and additional capabilities when more Schiit Forkbeard products are added to the stack
- Power Consumption: 50W all tube, 36W half tube, 22W solid state 3.5W standby
- Size: 16” x 8” x 2” + tube height (about 2.5″ more)
- Weight: 11 lbs
Pricing (Black/Silver):
- UK: £TBA
- US: $999.00/$1,049.00
- EU: €TBA
For more information visit the Schiit web site.
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