Schiit Audio: Audio Products Designed and Built in Texas and California

Saga S is just like Saga+—without the tube. Like Saga+, Saga S gives you all the uber-high-end, no-compromises features you need in a preamp, including a real relay-switched volume control, a switchable DC-coupled discrete JFET buffer, and a custom remote control.

Saga S: The Solid-State Saga

What is Saga S? It’s simple—it’s basically a Saga+ with a discrete JFET buffer stage in place of the tube stage. We understand some people don’t want to deal with tubes, so we went ahead and made one that was 100% solid state.

It’s Your Choice: Passive or Active

Go ahead. Run Saga S in passive mode for a convenient remote-controlled passive preamp that’s ideal for many systems. If you need to drive long cables, switch it to the discrete, DC-coupled JFET buffer mode.

Easiest Relay-Switched Volume, Ever

The benefits of a relay-switched stepped attenuator for volume are clear. Compared to a potentiometer, they give you essentially perfect channel matching and near-unmeasurable distortion. However, some preamps with relay-stepped attenuators confuse you with buttons and screens. Not Saga S. Saga S has a volume knob that works just like a volume knob—just grab and turn. And if you use the remote control, the motorized potentiometer changes to match the remote setting.

Perfect Companion to Our DACs

Want a remote-controlled system to interface your digital gear with the rest of your system? Stack Saga S and Bifrost (or any other of our DACs) for a true no-compromise remote-controlled system.

Designed and Built in California

By “designed and built in California" this is what we mean: the vast majority of the total production cost of Saga S—chassis, boards, transformers, assembly, etc—goes to US companies manufacturing in the US. Our chassis are made minutes from our facility. Our PCBs are done just over the hill from us, or done in NorCal.

5-Year Warranty and Easy Return Policy

Saga S is covered by a 5-year limited warranty that covers parts and labor. And if you don’t like your Saga, you can send it back for a refund, minus 5% restocking fee, within 15 days of receiving it.

Buffer Stage

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, -0.2db, 3Hz-400KHz, -3dB
THD: <0.001%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS
IMD: <0.001%, CCIR (active stage)
SNR: >110db, A-weighted, referenced to 1V RMS
Output Impedance: 75 ohms
Maximum Output: >5V RMS

Passive Stage

Output Impedance: varies, maximum 4.8 kohms

Both Passive or Buffer Stage

Gain: Approximately 1 (0dB) through either passive or active stage
Input Impedance: 10 kohms
Crosstalk: >-75dB, 20Hz-20KHz

Inputs: 5 RCA pairs, selectable via front switch or remote
Outputs: 2 RCA pairs, selectable via front switch or remote
Buffer Stage: Discrete two-JFET buffer with DC offset correction
Volume Control: relay-switched stepped attenuator with discrete thin-film resistors, 64 1dB steps
Power Supply: One 24VA transformer with regulated +/-18V rails, plus 5VDC for microprocessor
Power Consumption: 15W typical

Size: 9"W x6"D x 2"H
Weight: 6 lbs

APx555 report for Saga S

How is Saga S different than Saga+?
Just one thing, really: Saga S is solid-state. That is, it doesn’t have a tube in it. Instead of a tube, it uses a discrete JFET buffer stage. Saga S is for people who don’t want to deal with tubes.

Why would I need a preamp?

If you’re using a power amp without volume control, you’ll need a preamp. The preamp allows you to control volume, switch inputs, etc.

Aha. So what’s so special about your Saga S?

Lots of things. But let’s start where you probably aren’t expecting us to: in the philosophy. Yes, philosophy. Because in the past 20 years or so, audio gear has gone into full gold-plated Bentley/60’ private yacht/$120MM beach estate mode. As in, prices are completely and utterly insane. Go ahead. Look around for a remote passive preamp, and check the prices. And then start looking at preamps that use a sophisticated, perfectly-matched relay-switched stepped attenuator instead of a volume pot or cheap volume-control chip, and we’ll excuse you so you can go scream at the injustice of the world. And then there’s Saga S, at $299.

So how do you make it so cheap?

By making a ton of them at a time, by using automated surface-mount assembly, and through smart design that doesn’t need a ton of hand-work to solder and route wiring. And by selling direct. No magic.

So what’s this about it being passive or active? How does that work?

Passive preamps are great if you have short cable runs and high-impedance inputs to your power amp. On the other hand, active preamps give you the ability to run longer cables and drive low-impedance inputs on some power amps. Saga S is both. Switch it to passive mode to bypass the JFET buffer, or switch it to active mode to use the JFET buffer. It’s up to you.

And this relay-stepped attenuator thing?

Yeah. It’s cool. Unlike a potentiometer, it gives you perfect channel matching down to the lowest level of the volume knob. And, the knob on the front of the preamp acts just like a normal volume knob—it stops at the bottom and top of its travel. No endlessly spinning encoders here. Just the same easy-to-use knob you’re used to, coupled with sophisticated microprocessor control.

Hey, I want balanced inputs and outputs!

Then you need Freya S, Saga S’s big sister.

So what’s a Saga?

Saga is a seeress, or a goddess associated with wisdom. Once you get off the beaten path in Norse mythology, it starts getting a bit murky like this. But we do think you’ll find Saga S a wise choice in a system needing a preamp.

Audio-Head: A Four-Way Schiit Shootout

Brian Hunter

From a blind, 4-way comparison of Saga S, Saga+, Freya S, and Freya+:

"The least expensive of the four options presented unfortunately didn’t create the upset that budget seekers so dearly love. The first initial cycle of comparisons placed the $299 Saga S just before the $899 Freya +, and the difference was both noticeable to every listener (who cared to share their opinion) and somewhat dramatic to this reviewer’s ears. Still, the little pre that could held instruments in stable positions across the stereo field and allowed for a strong dynamic swing from soft to loud. Overall the sonics felt tight, but not as exciting as the other options presented that night."

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This product is Schiit - Why You Need the Schiit Saga S

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