I've been really enjoying the combination of a Schiit Freya S preamplifier and Schiit Loki Mini tone control and was thinking "what if they were available as a single unit?"

Here's my crude mock-up of what it might look like:

It could be called the "Freya L". Given that the Freya S sold for $599 and the Loki Mini at $149, Schiit could probably manufacture and list a Freya L at $699 USD. There's nothing else like it currently available, especially at such a reasonable price.

With so many of us aging audiophiles experiencing hearing loss but still wanting to listen to our carefully crafted stereo system, something like the "Freya L" would provide a decent, very affordable preamp with built-in analog equalization. Despite the crudeness of my mock-up, I think it would look really cool.

Tom

 Are you good with a Dremel? - NuWave 09:02:25 10/07/20 (4)
 RE: Are you good with a Dremel? - tketcham 09:12:37 10/07/20 (3)
 nothing changed that i know of - NuWave 08:43:16 10/09/20 (2)

...

Show full thread outline!

 Are you good with a Dremel? - NuWave 09:02:25 10/07/20 (4)
 RE: Are you good with a Dremel? - tketcham 09:12:37 10/07/20 (3)
 nothing changed that i know of - NuWave 08:43:16 10/09/20 (2)
 RE: nothing changed that i know of - tketcham 18:59:43 10/09/20 (0)
 RE: nothing changed that i know of - xaudiomanx 18:08:19 10/09/20 (0)
 What do you use the tone controls for? - jedrider 10:57:16 10/05/20 (4)
 RE: What do you use the tone controls for? - xaudiomanx 18:10:57 10/09/20 (0)
 RE: What do you use the tone controls for? - tketcham 12:19:12 10/05/20 (2)
 +1 except I am still in debial about my hearing loss . nt - G Squared 12:22:59 10/06/20 (1)
 RE: hearing loss - tketcham 12:44:52 10/06/20 (0)
 Go with... - Ozzie 18:15:57 10/04/20 (1)
 RE: Go with... - tketcham 12:03:26 10/05/20 (0)
 RE: Would you buy something like this? - Story 12:47:14 10/04/20 (1)
 RE: Would you buy something like this? - tketcham 12:32:37 10/05/20 (0)
 I'd like balance control and fix lever output - Feanor 09:31:13 10/04/20 (1)
 RE: I'd like balance control and fix lever output - tketcham 12:31:59 10/05/20 (0)

In general I've been critical of the Freya' control, a.k.a. "user interface". See my comments in that regard at the link below ...

• User interface and Freya preamps

I think I prefer the tone controls of the Loki Mini over those of the Quad based on the frequency response curves shown below.

The Quad Tilt function, while perhaps better than the classic Bass/Treble adjustments of old, lacks the control of mid-range frequencies like the equalizer functions of the Loki.

The Quad Bass Lift and Step controls are designed to compensate for small speaker bass response (without subwoofers) rather than integrated as a true equalizer control. That would explain why the Loki has a smoother, more consistent response curve for the attenuation and boost of bass frequencies. I could see the need for steeper response curves in the Loki if there were five or six bands.

Tom

Balance control seems to be a function that's being asked for more often these days. I can see the desire to attempt the "straight wire" approach to design but if a preamp is going to include tone controls, why not add a balance control, right? But I've been reading up on the methods of incorporating balance control to a preamp and it's not as simple as I first thought.

I can see the need to attenuate each channel independently as a way to balance channels if you have problems with component output or room acoustics. I'm not an advocate for fixing poorly mixed sound tracks, though. It is what it is.

Tom