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Well, it's been over 120 hours on the Saga and now 100 hours on the NE 6SN7 tube.
I got to say this is the most transparent Preamp/buffer I have had in my system to date. Plays what is on the source material. It has a wide and deep soundstage that is very quiet.
I just love the remote with the relay controlled volume. Very Transparent.
I can also drive two subs along with the main power amp and it doesn't break up at all.
So far it's been a good match with my Crown XLS 1502 power amp and Clearfield Continental speakers.
Last night while having some glasses of wine (hehe) I cranked this system up and it was just pure nice sounding with no hint of break up anywhere in the audio band. Bass was strong and tight while highs and mids still sound so natural. Wife finally got mad and told me to turn it down but did say its sounds really good. I didn't think it was that loud but since there was no hint of strain or harshness I couldn't tell.
I just can't believe this preamp/buffer is less than $500 the sound it puts out.
I do want to connect my SAE 2800 parametric and Phase Linear Autocorrelator Noise reduction Dynamic range expander (which I use with the tuner now).
The only drawback will be if someone uses this and doesn't have enough gain to push it. My system sources have high enough gain to not be an issue.
The Saga has plenty of inputs for any system. Now I eye balling the Bifrost and a Streaming Unit like the Bluesound.
Follow Ups:
Hi
I currently own an Onkyo AVR RZ830 which has built in streaming functions such as Tidal etc which also decodes MQA songs. I have currently Klipsch RP 6000f speakers. A Marantz UD 7007 CD/SACD player and two Klipsch 10 inched subs. All these are driven by my power amp Class D XTZ A2-300.
Now am considering if getting a Bluesound node 2 or 2i along with a Schiit Saga + preamp will be a better upgrade compared to my internal Tidal function in my Onkyo. Plan to have the node connected to the Saga + and XTZ power amp for streaming. And also connect my Marantz to Saga to XTZ for CDs.
Appreciate your views especially on the Saga + and Node combination as some of you have tried it here and will really help me decide. My onkyo does play well in the current set up. Music is transparent clear and quite detailed with decent soundstage. Just looking for a significant upgrade and am also intrigued by airy Tube sound. The other option is Freya + as a pre amp. Its pricier and I currently dont use balanced XLR connectors so not sure if its worth the added price over the Saga. Am now looking to enhance my journey. Your views will be helpful. Thank you.
Hi Jacobx68, I'm still in the break-in faze of the Bluesound Node 2i. I currently have about 30 hours on it but it sound way better than when I first got it. I'm really enjoying it and that is with the internal DAC. It also does MQA as well. I'm using Qobuz streaming service.
The Saga Plu is fully broken in now so it's a really transparent preamp/buffer. I'm really loving the sound and remote volume control. Also since it's a relay controlled step attenuator there is a big difference in sound clarity and that of a standard volume control.
The Saga Plus sounds great in bypass or Tube. Tube has a bigger soundstage but bypass is nice as well.
The Saga Plus is a gain = 1 preamps, as the Freya Plus is a gain = 4 preamp with bypass, solid state (Jfet) and tube mode. So depending on how much gain your Sources have, you may need a true preamp. The cool thing is you can try the Saga or Freya for 15 days and then return it if you do like them.
If you do try them, Please give them at least 100 hrs. break-in because they don't sound that great at first but start to change around 50 hrs. and the biggest change comes between 70- 100 hours.I almost sent my Saga Plus back due to this but I let it go on with the break-in process and I'm glad I did. Mine took around 120 to settle in but I did change out the 6SN7 tube at 50-60 hrs. and so that took even longer to fully break-in but sound awesome now. The stock tube is good but may be a little bright in some systems so you will have to play with some tubes to get what you want sound wise.
Hi Cougar
Thank you for the informative response. Very insightful. Glad to hear your node 2i has broken in well and the Schiitt saga + is doing pretty well as well.
Where I am in Singapore, I dont think I have a luxury of the 15 day trial you mentioned to compare the Freya + and Saga +. I have to go through a dealer who has to order in. So I need to base my decision on research and sound opinion from users.
Could I check are you using the Saga + to your node 2i direct using its dac and connected to a power amp? As this is how I intend to use it. My power amp has a gain feature. So this way I dont need to worry about gain issues? As I understand the Saga + has no gain.
Based on your impressions the Saga+ seems to be a good find with openness, soundstage and clarity. Hows the bass? Hope it can give some form of tube effect though I understand its not a fully tube amp and only has one tube as compared to the Freya.In terms of tube rolling, need to check with my dealer here if its possible. I have little experience in this. The current tube they use is Tungsol? I hope it doesnt sound too bright. As my current system with Klipsch speakers is a lil forward sounding but not fatiguing.
May I also check if the 2i is better than node 2 in your opinion. I understand they have similar features except for the bluetooth technology which is upgraded in 2i.
Thank you
Just to throw this in, I feel that my first-generation Saga is more transparent sounding than either my Conrad-Johnson PF-R or Rogue Perseus.
Mark in NC
"The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon
Great to hear. Just wondering what the term transparent really means. Is it more detailed or wider soundstage or depth in soundstage?
My Saga + was more transparent than my BAT VK30 preamp. Not that the BAT preamp was bad, the Schiit was just more transparent.
See this transparent term quite associated with Saga+. Helpful to know what is exactly meant by being transparent. Tks
Nt.
"The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon
Hi Thanks for clarifying. Now I have a better picture.
The Saga + and from the output of the Saga + into my power amp. The bass is good but will put out what the source puts out. You can run one or even two subs from the off the Saga + output as I do along with the power amp.
The Saga + does give you a tube sound but more like a Tube Hybrid. It does smooth out the sound and gives you depth and width to the soundstage. The tube that comes with the Saga+ is a Tungsol 6SN7 which is a clear sounding tube. But you are going to have to experiment as everyone's system are different. I'm using a Northern Electric 6SN7. This tube comes from the same factory as the TJ Full Music tubes and sound really nice.
As for the Bluesound Node 2 and 2i comparison, I only have used the Bluesound Node 2i. So I don't know how they compare but from what I have read the 2i is a way better sounding streamer.
I hope this helps?
Hi Cougar
Thank you for the set up info. Pretty useful. I have 2 subs as well and am glad the Saga + preamp can take both. Sorry but being a newbie here, how did you connect the subs to the Saga + which output pl. As well as the node 2i which output you used and how did you link up to the input of the power amp. Cause the way you set up will be the same way am intending to use. Hoping to get my marantz cd player connected to the Saga + as well.
Now everything is.going via my Onkyo AVR to my power amp. So am thinking of segregating CD and streaming via my Marantz and Node 2i
to Saga plus connected to my power amp. And when I need to watch movies than unplug the main connectors of the Saga + and plug in the main connectors of my Onkyo. So in a way there are two separate systems, one for music and another for movies.
Great to hear the Saga + has some good tube qualities. Cause thats the reason why i intend to get it. Tube wise I have to contact my dealer to see if he can help replace with a tube with a more lush feel.
Thanks for your opinion on the 2i. Will get the 2i then; it seems a better option.
to the new Plus or the Freya S. Did you have a Saga before this one? Any apparent differences? I know the Plus gets the full volume treatment (which will make it easier to adjust) but does this make a difference?
BTW, I find the Schiit products as refreshing a Decware (when they were introduced). My ears like NOS Sylvania's and RCA n7s.
I only have bought one piece of Schiit gear, so far the Schiit Saga Plus and I really like it. This is a real bargain in today's market for audio gear and the crazy prices in Hi end audio.
How does it compare in Passive mode vs Active mode? Thanks.
When I first the Saga Plus the passive mode sound better. Once the active (tube) mode hit around 50 hrs. It started to sound better than passive mode, bigger, wider smoother sound stage. Now at over 100hrs with tube mode, it's sounds way better to me than passive mode.
Both modes sound good and could listen in passive mode with no problem. I prefer the Active (tube) mode. In active mode you can push longer runs of output cables.
Hope this helps.
.
Let me know if you have anymore questions I can help with.
I'm really enjoying this little preamp.
I thought the stock tube was just OK. I next tried a Tung-Sol, which was a major improvement. Then another inmate with far more tube experience than I recommended a NOS RCA VT231. Once it settled in I stopped looking for tubes for the Saga.
Opus 33 1/3
Using a Northern Electric 6SN7. The stock are ok but in my system was a tad on the bright side after 50hrs. So I made the switch and it was a huge improvement.
My Pal, The Wizard Of Happy Valley, who's helped me with all my builds including, most recently his adaptation of the JE Labs 76 Line Stage, is not Happy ;-}
Sapiens, my ass!
just be prepared for it to sound congested at first and slightly bright with the Tung-Sol tube. I switched out the Tung-Sol around 60 hrs. I then put in the Northern Electric 6SN7 and been happy ever since. It will really started to open up around the 70-80 hr. mark and continue. Mine, as of last night was still opening up and that's over 100hrs for booth tube and preamp.
You may invest in an 8 pin socket saver so IF you run those Chinese coke bottle type tubes you will have proper clearance from the top of the chassis or else the glass of the tube may touch the top of the chassis. I bought one and glad I did.
I have a quartet of Tung Sol re-issues from more than 12 years ago that came with John Broskie's Aikido Kit. They were OK in that but in the 76 Line Stage were revealed to be terrible!
I acquired a pair of OS RCA's that are juuust right, as RCA's so often are. One will go directly to Schiit.
Sapiens, my ass!
B, Did you receive your Schiit Saga Plus? I'm interested how it sounds in your system so far.
After cooking for 24 hours and with the Tung-sol, then a very nice RCA tube, the unit performs on a par with any solid state, and some tube pre-amps I've had in. The buffer provides the clarity and delicacy of a passive while delivering greater dynamics and bass heft. The remote switching and volume is a treat.
All that, however didn't keep me from packing it up this morning and requesting a return authorization.
I never believed it would surpass my own pre-amp but there was hope it would be close enough to satisfy together with the facility to control my TV, computer, and vinyl gear. It doesn't, quite. My JE Labs 76 Line Stage with my own and Steve Brown's modifications is just too good. I'll have to continue to struggle along with the TV output to the little T-amp and Dayton wall hangers and getting up from my chair to adjust the volume.
Sapiens, my ass!
80-120 hrs. I did say it didn't sound so good at first but did start to transform around 50 hrs. on the tube side and continued up to and over 100 -120 hrs. I wish I had some samples of it from the first playing of music and now. You would have heard a totally different Saga. Like you, I almost sent mine back as well because I didn't like what I was hearing at first but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and let it go on breaking in, then tried a different tube and that was the ticket. I'm glad I did. It has been the most transparent preamp I have had in my system and I have had some good ones.
Sorry it didn't work out for you.
I've had the solid state Freya S for six months. I went through the same settling in process. At the end of the third day with it I thought I'd be sending it back by the end of the seventh day I knew it was here to stay.
It opened up and fleshed out dramatically the first week I had it. And then it was off to the races and it started to boogie like crazy. The Freya pre amps are fantastic.
Cheers,
Scott
It was bright and narrow sounding. Even though it was transparent I was like "this thing sounds funny" then around 50 hrs. start to open up and smooth out slightly. Then around 60-70hrs. I put the Northern Electric 6SN7 in and that was the ticket to way better sound. The funny part, the NE was brand new with no hours on it. I get way better ambience and 3Dish sound that I did hear so much with my BAT VK-30. The BAT sound was really nice but maybe this is a case of less is more in the signal path?
Another thing I noticed that the Saga Plus was power cord sensitive. So this help reduce the brightness I was getting as well.
The biggest change/s came in the last 40 hrs. I'm now over 120 hrs.
Yes, Saga to me.
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
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