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Thinking Out Loud

I have been interested in checking out the “tube sound” for some time and just bought a Schiit Freya+ to pair with my SS amp.  The Freya+ replaces, or compliments, a Parasound P5 preamp I have been using.  I don’t know whether to just set aside the Parasound pre and go with the Freya+, as I don’t know how to incorporate both into my system so I could just switch between them.

A bigger issue surfaced when I realized the Freya+ doesn’t have a dac, not even for phono use.  So it wasn’t as simple as getting the Freya+ and dropping it into the system, I now need to supply a dac for at least the phono.  I had previously purchased a Audiolab CD transport, which lacks a built-in dac.  To remedy that, I bought a Pro-ject Dac Box 2 that I was just using with the Audiolab via the RCA-type connection.  I know this dac has other connections, but I’m not sure if I can connect it to the Freya+ using the other connections.  The Pro-ject has no power off button, so I have been plugging and unplugging it each time I play a CD.  Now I would have to do that each time I want to play vinyl — a bit annoying.

I think my problem is that I approached things piecemeal, adding/substituting gear without realizing up front the problems in doing that.  Do I just switch to the Freya+ full-time or is there a good way to incorporate both preamps?  Do I try to use the Pro-ject dac with available connections, or do I retire the Pro-Ject and buy a more full-featured dac equipped to handle multiple devices easily?
bob540

Showing 4 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,464 posts
 
Let’s start at the beginning:

For digital playback-> Streamer -> DAC -> Preamp ->amp-> speakers
For analog playback-> turntable-> phono stage -> Preamp-> amp -> speakers

The preamp connects the two sources… it is a switch box in addition to adding volume control and crafting the sound you will hear (why tubes are a really good choice here).

You can get a preamp that has a Phonostage in it for analog playback.
You can get a Streamer with a DAC.

For that mater you can get all sorts of combo functions. But for folks interested in good sound, they are generally separate boxes.

Also a good separate streamer is as important as is a good turntable. PCs can do the job, but not well once the rest of your components get better.

To build a good system, the best way to get there is to purchase as high a level component as you can afford. Using two inexpensive components seldom furthers your system. Trading up, it usually means getting rid of the old thing. So, perhaps you can trad in the Parasound for a phonostage.

A good Phonostage is costly but worth the investment. I have never heard a good one for less than a couple thousand. So, think buying used.




ghdprentice
6,464 posts
 
What kind of TT are you using… if there is rumble that points to a big problem problem with the TT. There sound be no noise at any frequency.

Also, if you really want the warm tubey sound a tube amplifier (one known to be tubey) will also be required.
ghdprentice
6,464 posts
 
OP congratulations. It is always great to get a new piece of equipment.

The reputation for “mellow” sound comes from tube implementations of long ago where they tended to be rolled off at the top but with huge midrange bloom. Modern implementations tend to be very well balanced but still with a midrange bloom.
Some of your first impression may come from the unit not being broken in. Tubes tend to sound a bit trebly for the first ten or fifteen hours. The unit should mellow a bit and the bass may tighten a bit in the first hundred or so hours. The more expensive the unit the usually the more obvious are the changes. But give it 100 hours or more before solidifying your conclusions.
ghdprentice
6,464 posts
 
@bob540.  Sounds like that TT is the source of noise. I understand where you are at.

Understand your history. Mine was similar until I started upgrading my turntable… admittedly a long time ago. But the albums that were warn and dirty from my teen years sounded better and better as I upgraded my turntable, then got a cleaning machine, then upgraded my table. It is incredible how much a good turntable eliminates noise, and improves the sound. Part of it is I believe good cartridges run deeper in the groove than do really cheap ones. So, the dirty, warn albums of my youth now sound spectacular. The cleaning machine has removed all the dirt and pops, the turntable reproduces no surface noise, and the cartridge has increased the sound quality manifold. If the album is scratched… we’ll there is nothing that can be done. But otherwise those albums could have a complete new life ahead of them.
Also, often old albums can have better recorded original mix / pressing and actually sound better than later releases.
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