Overall the Freya is a great sounding pre-amp .... sonics are well above its price class - especially running balanced and using the JFET buffer mode. The tube gain stage is also very nice, but I don't think that it is "better" than what can be purchased other places. The newer Quicksilver tube line stage (about $900) comes to mind. But the ability to run balanced in's and outs may give the Freya the nod for many (me included).
The Freya has a big soundstage that is unusual at this price point. Using the JFET mode the stage seems to extend deeply behind the speakers, and the aural cues allowing instrument (voice) placement and a realistic sense of hall size and space are all there. The pure passive mode is also good, but the stage feels a bit smaller. Switching in the tube gain stage keeps the stage about the same size (touch smaller), but the sense of "feeling" the ambience and recorded space declines slightly. This is most evident on well recorded classical music from Chesky and RR.
While the Freya has a "polite" nature dynamically - micro dynamics are quite good. Using the JFET buffer: piano on Sheffield Labs LP Hollywood Town (lincoln mayorga and amanda mcbroom) is very well fleshed out with the attack envelope of the hammers hitting strings properly represented as an organic and cohesive part of the sound. Likewise the rich upper and lower overtones/undertones of cymbals and bells on this disc are beautifully represented giving the sound a very live - yet rich sound. Another example of this is on the Sheffield Lab "The Name is Makowicz" LP .... Phil Woods saxaphone is alive with solid body and rich overtones that sing and sounds very "you are there" live. Switching over to the tube gain stage: you loose a wee bit of the piano hammers on the Hollywood Town disc. You also hear an altered set of harmonics on the cymbals and bells that sound nice (a bit more exciting) but not as "real". Phil Wood sax on the Makowicz disc takes on a bit more body with the tubes, but doesn't sound quite as "real" (although I like it). Amanda Mcbroom's vocals are extremely real sounding via the JFET buffer stage. The tube stage fattens the sound up ever so slightly and it becomes very slightly sweeter (nice - and I like it) but it doesn't sound as "real" (to me).
Having spent some good time with Freya now, I can say that Freya is a fine pre-amp and one that I can (and will) live with for some time. Does it have any weaknesses? I'd say that compared with some of the better pre-amps I have owned it probably isn't as dynamic as the higher end big boys. The bass is quite good for the price range, but here again it isn't quite as able to grab on and hold a bass note (or line) like say a higher level BAT pre or a higher level ARC for example. Nothing to complain about for sure, but relative to the "best" - it is close but not quite there. Then again Schiit isn't (for the most part) about being the "best" - its more about giving the best a serous run at a ridiculously low price - and Freya does that. Freya can play music and make you feel that you are "in" a large room listening live (even if you're listening room is quite small - as mine is). That is something that few pre's can do regardless of price, so (IMO) Freya is a significant achievement at the $799 (as mine is configured) price range. Now I'm going to have to spring for a set of the LISST solid state tubes to see how they compare to the Tung Sol tubes. After all "gain is seductive: :-)
You may gather that I strongly prefer the JFET buffer stage, but that is not really the case. I find myself using the JFET and the tube gain stages almost equally and which I use is highly dependent upon the program material. While there are differences between them, the two modes of operation are VERY similar sounding. The subtle differences are nice to have as some recordings are better with the JFET buffer and some are better with the tube gain stage.
I'll update this thread if and when I buy the LISST Solid State tubes. Not sure how long they take to "break in", but I can tell you that the Tung Sols took almost 3 weeks of continuous on time to settle in. So, if you get a Freya - give it time to cook before you decide how you like it.
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