I like Viva tubes as they're sort of local for me (and thetubestore.com), but also look at Ebay sellers with positive ratings and return policies, and you can find NOS GEs (my current fave) and others for the same cost as new Tung Sols (I have these also...sound pretty good)...I’ve owned my "original" Freya for a couple of years and had no issues with the supplied tubes (back then Russian 68HCs or something), no microphonics, all worked, but started rolling for fun immediately and settled on the GEs...great tubes...used in all 4 sockets. The "right" set of tubes supposedly has more influence as the voltage gain stage, and the lefts are cathode followers...I use the same age and type for all of ’em. I have sets of Sylvania Chrome Domes, new Tung Sols, more GEs, JJs (out of curiosity, they’re "meh")....it’s fun and a really great sounding preamp.
Schiit Freya+ Tube Recommendations
Hello all!...after much consideration - I've settled on a Schiit Freya+
preamplifier. Right out of the box, one tube was bad and caused some
awful static in one channel. Luckily, a local friend had a good
Tung-Sol tube that I could swap out with the bad one. I've contacted
Schiit and am waiting to hear back about getting new tubes.
So, for now I have 3 of the stock JJ 6SN7 tubes, and one Tung-Sol.
First of all, a question for those who own these: Which pair of tubes (left or right) affects the sound more? I'm not sure I exactly understand the function of a cathode follower output stage (left) or differential voltage gain stage (right).
Secondly, my main question: What tubes sound best in the Freya+? At this point - I'm thinking Electro Harmonix or Tung-Sol. But what about NOS Westinghouse, RCA or GE?
I like very clear bass, if that changes any answers...and my speakers are Focal Aria 936
Thanks!
So, for now I have 3 of the stock JJ 6SN7 tubes, and one Tung-Sol.
First of all, a question for those who own these: Which pair of tubes (left or right) affects the sound more? I'm not sure I exactly understand the function of a cathode follower output stage (left) or differential voltage gain stage (right).
Secondly, my main question: What tubes sound best in the Freya+? At this point - I'm thinking Electro Harmonix or Tung-Sol. But what about NOS Westinghouse, RCA or GE?
I like very clear bass, if that changes any answers...and my speakers are Focal Aria 936
Thanks!