I own the original version of the Schiit Freya and it can switch immediately (the newer Freya + "improved" version shuts off the tubes when one of the other outputs, passive or FET, are utilized...so you have to wait for the tubes to warm up if switched) between the 3 modes...passive sounds fine but the tube mode sounds better for my tastes. Just more "there" there. Switching among modes keeps the tubes honest since if you notice a degradation of some sort with the tube mode you simply replace the tubes.
