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Freya 2

Fusion™ Tube or Solid State Preamp

Finish
Voltage/Plug

$999.00

Ships 1-3 days

Description

Specs

FAQ

Downloads

All tubes, half tubes, no tubes? Freya 2 has you covered. Introducing the pure tube preamp—with the comfort of solid state. 
 
Preserving Tube Purity
Go ahead and run all 4 tubes in Freya 2, in a simple classic, simple differential architecture with no solid-state in the signal path at all. It’s a 100% tube preamp.
 
Ensuring Your Sanity
Don’t want tubes? Sure. Switch Freya 2 over to its integrated depletion-mode MOSFETs, in that same classic tube architecture. No worries about tube life—Freya 2 only powers up the tubes when you’re using them! 
 
Providing Unsurpassed Flexibility and Safety
Want to just run tubes for input? Just for output? Sure and sure! Just choose the mode you want. Freya 2 even monitors which tubes you have installed and only allows you to choose the right modes. Plus, it also alerts you if you have a tube installed incorrectly, or are using an out-of-spec or damaged tube.
 
Delivering Ultimate Quality
Freya 2 includes a relay-switched stepped attenuator, literally the best volume control possible with perfect channel matching and unmeasurable distortion. Coupled with MELF resistors and polypropylene capacitors, a 100% linear power supply with two oversized transformers, a serious 300V main rail and 6V DC regulated tube heaters, Freya 2 delivers quality far beyond its price
 
Enabling Unified Control
Freya 2 includes Forkbeard, Schiit’s exclusive multi-product, multi-stack, unified control system. One app gives you total control of Freya and 19 other Schiit products, as well as unique system information like Visual Volume. Don’t want apps? We also provide an IR remote.
 
Designed and Built in the USA—For Real
By “designed and built in the USA" this is what we mean: our chassis and transformers are made in California by a long-term partner, the PC boards are made by us in Corpus Christi, and it all comes together in our San Antonio facility. 
 
5-Year Warranty and Easy Return Policy
Freya 2 is covered by an industry-leading 5-year limited warranty. One exception: the tubes. Those we cover for 3 months. Because, you know, tubes. Don’t like your Freya 2? You can send it back for a refund, minus 5% restocking fee, within 15 days of receiving it.
 

SPECS THAT MATTER

Noise: inaudible
Distortion: unmeasurable by APx555 when run in passive mode, better than any transducer even in tube mode
Heat: gets quite warm when running all 4 tubes; not surprising for a tube-based, Class A device
Size: rack size, fits well with other 16” wide Schiit products; not super desk-friendly
 
OTHER SPECS
 
Passive
Noise and distortion unmeasurable with APx555, below analyzer limits
 
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
 
Solid State, 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
 
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
 
All Tube, 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 
 
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
 
 

Is this a pure tube preamp?
Yes. When you’re using all 4 tubes, it is the most pure you can get—a simple, no-feedback. Class-A triode differential tube preamp.

But it’s also solid state?
Yes. Or half.
 
Wait what? Please explain how this works.
Freya 2 is a pure tube preamp—that also includes depletion-mode MOSFETs that can be switched out for the tubes. This is what we call “Fusion Architecture,” and it provides both unparalleled flexibility and a back-up plan in case of tube issues.
 
Unparalleled flexibility? Like how?
Freya 2 can be run in one of 5 modes:
  1. Passive. No gain stage. Just the relay volume ladder, nothing more.
  2. Pure tube. Input voltage gain is done by tubes. Output current gain is done by tubes.
  3. Tube input. Input voltage gain is done by tubes, output current gain is done by MOSFETs. 
  4. Tube output. Input voltage gain is done by MOSFETs, output current gain is done by tubes. 
  5. All solid-state. Input voltage gain and output current gain all done by MOSFETs.
Why so many options?
Because we like flexibility. And, with Freya 2 set to all solid state, you always have a preamp that works flawlessly, even if your tubes are having issues.
 
Do tubes have issues?
Tubes have a lifespan of about 5,000 hours, and may be more sensitive to RF from phones and routers. They also get pricey, and some people don’t want to use the pricey ones all the time.
 
Are the tubes off when you’re not using them?
Even better: only the tubes you use are active. When in solid state mode, there’s no heater or HV rail applied to the tubes, which completely preserves tube lifespan. It’s just like storing them in the cardboard box.
 
What if I don’t install all the tubes?
Freya 2 measures where you have tubes installed and only allows you to switch to the modes that it supports. For example, if you don’t have any tubes installed, you cannot select any tube modes. If you only have front tubes installed (input, voltage gain), you’ll only be able to select Tube Input and Solid State modes.
 
What if I have a bad tube or do something wrong?
Freya 2 also measures for overcurrent or no-current situations and deactivates the heaters, preventing damage to the preamp. 
 
So when I’m in solid state, is it opamp gain or something?
No. Switching to a completely different gain stage is easy, but a bit of a derpy cop-out. That’s why we came up with Fusion Architecture. When you’re in Solid State mode on Freya 2, you’re actually using exactly the same topology as the tubes, but with depletion MOSFETs. So, you’re getting a classic, 300V rail, tube-like, no-feedback, super-simple, Class A differential topology, but with different devices.
 
Which modes have gain?
Any active mode (all tubes, partial tubes, all solid state) have gain selectable separately, either 0dB or 12dB. Passive has no gain, because, well, passive.
 
Holy heck I see passive preamps alone that sell more than this. What are you cheaping out on?
Nothing. Freya 2 combines literally the best possible volume control (relay ladder attenuation, with nothing in the signal path except resistors), and a uniquely flexible, no-compromise tube or solid state topology. We went even farther with a serious 300V main rail and individually regulated 6V DC tube heaters, for superior performance and low noise. The power supply is, of course, 100% linear, and we use uber-quality parts throughout, including MELF and thin-film precision resistors, Vishay and Nichicon capacitors, Neutrik connectors, and NEC relays.  
 
Then how come there are preamps that cost like a car?
Not sure, unless they come with a car.
 
Ah come on!
Look, guys, we don’t get it either. We don’t do things that are price-for-the-sake-of-price. And preamps have nothing that inherently costs a ton of money. Hell, even “the world’s best volume control” isn’t that expensive to make. Sure, you can find other things out there with more exotic approaches and blingier chassis, but that’s it—they won’t  necessarily perform better.
 
What is Forkbeard?
Forkbeard is our unique integrated control system that spans almost 20 Schiit products. In Freya 2, it provides complete control, volume display, balance control, tube health alerts, and more. When used with a Schiit DAC and amp, it’s also the only system in the world that actually improves your understanding of your system, with features like Visual Volume to show actual headroom, and Continuous Class A monitoring to provide insight into amp performance.

What do I need for Forkbeard?
A reasonably new Android or iOS device.
 
I don’t want apps stealing my info or my money.
Forkbeard doesn’t require account creation, it takes no information, doesn’t even require pairing, and all functionality will always be free.
 
I still don’t want none of this newfangled app stuff!
You are aware that apps, in the context of phones, are almost two decades old? That said, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve provided a buggy whip…er, we mean IR remote control, which does almost everything Forkbeard does.
 
What doesn’t the IR remote do?
IR isn’t bidirectional, so it can’t tell you if you have a tube in wrong or a bad tube (the lights on front of the unit will flash to let you know), and it doesn’t have access to the balance control function, so you don’t get balance. And, of course, you don’t get multi-product, multi-stack control, or things like Visual Volume.
 
What if I don’t want tubes at all?
That’s Kara. Looks a lot like Freya 2, but doesn’t have tubes sticking out of it. Saves you a couple hundred bucks.
 
What if I don’t need balanced inputs?
Then you need Saga 2, Freya’s little sister.
 
Didn’t you make a Freya (not 2?)
Yes, we made Freya, Freya+, and Freya+ F. Basic information and manuals for these are available in the Guides section.
 
Didn’t you used to make solid-state tubes?
Yes, LISST were an option for the original Freya, Freya+, and Freya+F. They have been retired, since our octal tube products are all now Fusion Architecture, and essentially include a LISST analog on their PC boards.
 
So what’s a Freya?
From Wikipedia, In Norse mythology, Freyja (Old Norse for "(the) Lady") is a goddess associated with love, sex, beauty, fertility, gold, seiðr, war, and death. We have no idea what seiðr is, and the war and death stuff doesn’t sound so fun, but the first five items we can go along with just fine. Disturbed? Don’t be. It’s just a name.

Freya 2 Manual