Schiit - shipments stopped?

A preamp with a HT bypass will designate one input to bypass the volume control and be set at unity gain. The Freya+ does not incorporate a HT bypass function. If you need a preamp with this function, you need to find something else. A simple input select switch box between the preamp and amp may suffice.

They market product as a ht bypass preamp.  I have several emails where they tout this feature.

what else do you use passive output for?

the passive output allows a receivers volume to control volume.  Unity gain is achieved with the passive output on freya.  
What are you saying jaytor, it conflicts with schiits  marketing of product.  Keeps tubes off when not needed,  exactly what ht is all about.  

They market product as a ht bypass preamp. I have several emails where they tout this feature.

"ht bypass preamp" 
Where is this stated in the product description or in the manual? https://www.schiit.com/products/freya-1

If in a email take a screen shot and post up the link of it using https://imgbb.com/ as it’s false advertising even in email and you can get a full refund.


Cheers George

There is no HT bypass on this product.

If you want HT bypass you need to buy something else.

Return this during the home trial period and get your money refunded.

The good news is you didn’t buy it used with no return available.

@emergingsoul  - It seems you may have confused a passive output with an HT bypass, which is a unity gain circuit.
 
You state that you must turn up the volume all the way when using HT to get enough volume. This would be correct for a passive output, as at full volume the passive circuit will be passing through "everything" matching the input, i.e. unity gain at full volume.

For an active pre-amp stage, gain is added in the circuit. So unity volume may be at some point on the volume control that is only 1/2 or even 1/3 of full volume on the knob.

For a passive pre-amp, unity gain will only be achieved when the volume control is set to max volume. Any setting of the volume control knob, that is less than full volume, will only be outputting a portion of the input volume.

However! All is likely not lost. If you choose to use the passive output as an "HT bypass", you can simply set the volume control on the pre-amp to a pre-determined setting (like top dead center, or 5, whatever) and re-run the setup routine on your HT receiver. The setup routine will recognize the lower volume output of the channels connected through the pre-amp and the HT receiver setup will increase the relative volume of those channels to match the other channels in your multi-channel setup.

Really, it's easy-peasy, just one additional step you need to make when switching to HT. Just always set the volume control on the pre-amp to the same pre-determined setting you used when you ran the setup routine, and you should be good to go.

You could also use the tube gain output for your "HT bypass circuit" and it will likely more closely match the existing level of the other channels in your multi-channel setup. However, to get it "right", I would still recommend you choose a pre-determined setting, like top dead center, or "5?" This will get you the most accurate relative output of all channels. However, it will have the tubes active during play.

Otherwise, if you don't want to do this, send the Schitt back and get a pre-amp that does have HT Bypass.

Good luck. Hope it turns out well for you. I know it has been a journey and it is not working as you expected.

Sorry, if I've made any incorrect assumptions ok mistakes in my recommendations. I don't own the Schitt Freya, but I have done similar "combo" 2-channel stereo/HT systems using a 2-channel pre-amp/power amp to power the front L7R speakers.

Reubent,

Amazing comments, thanks.

when you refer avr setup, would these be the channel level settings? which normally don’t need to be adjusted, except for many one channnel abit louder than another.

problem with ht bypass for tube preamps is that no one designs a preamp that keeps the tubes off while watching tv.  I do know audio research will do this on their next version of the awesome ref6se unit, has 8 Tubes.

All modern AVR's I've used have an auto-calibration setup routine, running a program such as Audyssey, that uses a microphone to "listen" to the room and automatically sets up the speaker configuration according the the levels the microphone detects.

I just mean the you put together the setup, as I described, set the volume control to your pre-determined level (such as top dead center, etc.) then run the auto-calibration routine. The auto-calibration routine will recognize that the front L&R speakers volume is "low" and it will increase the volume of the L&R speakers relative to the other speakers in your multi-channel setup. It will do this calibration automatically.

Only caveat is that I have never done this using a "passive pre-amp". I do not know if the auto-calibrate routine was enough variability to make up the volume difference. If that were the case, you would need to increase your "pre-determined volume control position" to account for that.

You could try it, using the passive setting, and you can also try it using the tube output, and see if there is any difference. Just remember to always run the auto-calibrate routine on your HT receiver if/when you decide to change from passive to active/tube.

Also, there may still be a volume difference when you switch from the input you use for your passive/HT source and other inputs/sources. I would suggest you try to find the correct "pre-determined" volume control position that somewhat matches the output of your other sources. You could do this by simply listening to music and switching between passive and tube. at some point of the volume control position you will find that the volume is the same for passive and tube "active". This would be approximately the "unity gain" position for the tube output and, if convenient for you, it would be a good position to use for your pre-determined position. 

BTW, this all makes sense to me based on my assumptions regarding the Schiit Freya. I do not own one, and have never used one, so I could be off base. But logically, it all makes sense to me.  

Before I wrote my prior reply, I carefully looked at Schiit's web site and reviewed their owners manual for ANY mention of using the Freya as a HT bypass preamp. I found nothing. 

I, too, would like to see screen shots of the emails from Schiit "marketing" or promoting this feature. 

It is one thing to be able to use a device in a manner not intended in its original design. It is quite another to criticize a company for not including a feature that appears nowhere in their standard literature. 

If you don't like it, send it back.

I don't understand the OP's motivation for continuing this ordeal.

First, multiple and borderline libelous posts about Schiit because of delays in getting a Freya+. This was beaten to death in more than one thread. In my opinion, the consensus was that the OP was being unreasonable.

Now, the OP has the audacity to make more unfounded accusations about Schiit and their products. He is claiming that the Freya+ is advertised as having a feature that it does not--HT pass through.

HT pass through has already been explained. I will add that HT pass through achieves unity gain but unity gain is not equal to HT pass through.

HT pass through is a feature.

Unity gain is a state of 0 amplification/attenuation. If you don't understand that, be careful when playing with it.

The Freya+ can achieve unity gain (no amplification/attenuation) in passive mode but that is NOT the same as having a dedicated HT pass through.

The issue here is one of operator error. NOT of a product being misrepresented or used in a way that it was not designed for.

If this has been such an awful experience, why persist?

" Now, the OP has the audacity to make more unfounded accusations about Schiit and their products. He is claiming that the Freya+ is advertised as having a feature that it does not--HT pass through "


Actually, the Schitt website does state at the bottom of its Choosing Amps & Preamps page :
" Home Theater Integration, $0. Okay, all you "home theater bypass" guys. All of our preamps offer true home theater bypass. Just plug in your processor’s front channels to any input, select Passive mode, and turn the volume all the way up. Presto! 1:1 home theater bypass, with only a relay in the signal path. "https://www.schiit.com/guides/choosing-amps-preamps

Now whether or not the Op has hooked it up as described, or simply needs to discuss his issue directly with Schitt are entirely different issues

Yes indeed, it is marketed as a ht bypass solution without a warning.  This product as marketed seems very dangerous to use.  A family member using this may easily make a mistake.  
Very very surprised elite posters are supportive of this situation.  Very troubling.  I have now learned about this product and it has a dangerous feature deserving of great care.  

Seriously?

Two lines at the bottom of one page on a web site is marketing? I suggest you look up the definition of marketing.

Nothing in the advertising mentions this feature.
Nothing on the item's web site mentions this feature.
Nothing in the owner's manual, which most reasonable people (and probably attorneys) would agree is the definitive location for answers, mentions this feature.

Why are you so intent on blaming someone else for your perceived slights? What do you have against Schiit?

You made an error. Why not own it?

You are grasping at straws here. Why?

If the unit is so dangerous, why don't you return it and launch an investigation with the appropriate division of the FTC?

Schiit is awesome. My Vidar amp delivered in ten days and it’s the best audio product I ever owned. And I’ve been buying audio gear for 50 years. Some of it much more expensive than the Vidar. But none of it better. I love Schiit. I even love the name.

If you dont adjust freya properly, you may damage your hearing.  I do have emails where they tout product for ht use.   The definition of marketing to discern where anything improper occurred is irrelevant. Whether they marketed it this way or not is irrelavant.  All this does not prevent a risky to your hearing health situation while using product.  Its a poor design.

so how is ht handled on a preamp if the passive setting isnt supposed to be used for this? 

If the unit is so dangerous, why don't you return it and launch an investigation with the appropriate division of the FTC?

A congressional investigation warranted?

That or reading the instruction manual

Instruction manual provides no warning as it supports ht use.

There is nothing in the manual because it's not designed or intended for HT use.

Is it capable of HT use? Apparently.

Are you on your own and responsible for your actions if you choose to use it in a way that it was not designed or intended for? Yes.

Show us the e-mails.

If the unit is so dangerous, why don't you return it?

The unit is not a "poor design".

You don't want to accept responsibility for your actions.

Why not return it?

Drussell,
did u not see the 3/12 post from facten above??
clearly, had u seen it you would reverse ur stance. This Product, and no doubt others, can be very dangerous. I dont let my kids use it. It is destined for the junkyard, its a cheap box.

i am looking for a highend ss line stage with ‘ht bypass’. I made a mistake buying freya.

OP:
If you read my response from 3/12 at 2:47PM, two messages after facten, you would see that yes, I did read his response.

And I stand by my assertions.

The Freya+ is no more inherently dangerous than any other piece of equipment that is used in a manner in which it was not designed or by someone who does not know how to use it.

Two lines on one web page does not constitute marketing.

If it's not in the instructions/owner's manual and a user tries something different, ALL responsibility is on the USER.

You have still provided no e-mails that you claim to have from Schiit. I can only assume that in those e-mails there is evidence exonerating Schiit from your accusations.

You did not do sufficient research prior to your purchase and you can not accept the consequences of that.

FWIW, there is an excellent web site, based out of Norway I believe, that maintains a very up-to-date list of preamplifiers and integrated amplifiers with HT bypass. I can not speak to the site's accuracy but it appears to be up-to-date.

@audio2design: you couldn't be more right.