Who's got Schiit ? (apologies) [Archive]

bbbiker800

07-02-2018, 14:46

I just wanted to get the view of those who have or did have a Schiit Saga Pre-Amp.

I'm thinking of trying a Passive pre-amp and don't want to spend loads - probably £250-350.

I'm well aware of the Tisbury and others like it but the Saga (in the US mainly) does seem to get great reviews and few seem to return to the used market.

So, what are your views and what was the system context it is/was used in ? Why did you move it on ?

All feedback gratefully received as ever :)

Cheers ! Richard

Boyse6748

07-02-2018, 14:59

Have you looked at the Glasshouse offerings. Doubt you will do better of the money! (Passive, TVC, TVC Core).

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bbbiker800

07-02-2018, 15:11

Have you looked at the Glasshouse offerings. Doubt you will do better of the money! (Passive, TVC, TVC Core).

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hi Boyce - Yes I did have a look at these as they were on the list of possibles due to good reviews. But, I don't have the skills to build the kit and when you add build cost, VAT and a decent attenuator (min 48 steps) then these start to get out of my league - TVC especially. Hence looking at the cheaper end of the market as TBH my kit probably can't justify it.

regards, richard

RothwellAudio

07-02-2018, 15:26

I have no direct experience of the Schiit or Tisbury, but I'm willing to bet that Schiit is a much bigger business than Tisbury and have a much bigger advertising buget and much bigger sales team, therefore you're likely to find more good reviews of the Schiit than the Tisbury. Does that mean it's actually better?
The Schiit does give you a lot more to play with though, and has the advantage of a remote control. Still, somehow my instincts would steer my towards the Tisbury.

walpurgis

07-02-2018, 15:28

They are each just a 'pot in a box'.

Barry

07-02-2018, 15:31

They are each just a 'pot in a box'.

Not a stepped attenuator?

The Black Adder

07-02-2018, 15:36

My friend got arrested for having pot in a box. :)

walpurgis

07-02-2018, 15:38

Not a stepped attenuator?

Not on the Tisbury or basic Schitt.

RothwellAudio

07-02-2018, 15:48

Yes, I think they're both stepped attenuators. This is the Tisbury's:
http://www.tisburyaudio.co.uk/images/products/mini-passive-preamp-5.jpg

The Schiit claims a relay operated stepped attenuator.

walpurgis

07-02-2018, 15:51

Not on the basic Schitt Sys. That has a small Chinese pot. I own a Tisbury and that definitely uses a pot.

http://i66.tinypic.com/6qk781.jpg

Shovel_Knight

07-02-2018, 15:53

What kind of stepped attenuator is used in the Tisbury preamp? I personally think that a garden variety 23-24 step attenuators are too coarse and I often find myself in a situation where my desired setting is between two steps which is mildly infuriating. The Schiit at least gives you 64 steps (1 dB each) and this is a huge advantage in my book.

Also with the Schiit unit you can switch between passive and active if you have problems with impedance mismatch.

walpurgis

07-02-2018, 15:57

What kind of stepped attenuator is used in the Tisbury preamp?

Did you not see what I said? The Tisbury does not use a stepped attenuator.

RothwellAudio

07-02-2018, 15:57

I own a Tisbury and that definitely uses a pot.

Definitely looks like a stepped attenuator to me, though to be fair it does look a lot like a pot from the outside.

RothwellAudio

07-02-2018, 15:58

Did you not see what I said? The Tisbury does not use a stepped attenuator.

Look at the picture. That 's a circular line of surface-mount resistors, not a carbon track.

walpurgis

07-02-2018, 15:59

Inside a Tisbury. Can you see a stepped attenuator?

http://i65.tinypic.com/2zxxl43.jpg

walpurgis

07-02-2018, 16:02

Look at the picture. That 's a circular line of surface-mount resistors, not a carbon track.

I dare say, but there's not one in the Schitt Sys.

Shovel_Knight

07-02-2018, 16:02

Did you not see what I said? The Tisbury does not use a stepped attenuator.

You probably posted your message while I was typing mine. By the way, their website claims that they use a stepped attenuator in their passive pre. Do you have the current version?

Shovel_Knight

07-02-2018, 16:03

I dare say, but there's not one in the Schitt Sys.

I thought the OP asked about Schiit Saga which is a completely different beast.

walpurgis

07-02-2018, 16:06

You probably posted your message while I was typing mine. By the way, their website claims that they use a stepped attenuator in their passive pre. Do you have the current version?

Ah. It seems they do use one in the latest model.

wee tee cee

07-02-2018, 16:16

I specked my tissie with a stepper and fixed output to run a head amp.

Good folk to deal with and a lovely wee passive for the money.

I have a Prometheus tvc for sale in the private exhibitions-just saying like!

RothwellAudio

07-02-2018, 16:31

I specked my tissie with a stepper and fixed output to run a head amp.
Do you mean a headphone amp?

RothwellAudio

07-02-2018, 16:33

I dare say, but there's not one in the Schitt Sys.
Schiit's website says:
"Relay Stepped Attenuator
Most preamps—passive or active—use a potentiometer for volume control. There’s nothing wrong with this approach, but some pots can have channel imbalance at lower volume levels (so that one channel sounds louder than the other). Saga uses a sophisticated microprocessor-controlled relay-stepped attenuator for perfect channel matching and zero distortion. You can hear it clicking as you turn the volume up and down."

Here's the link:
http://www.schiit.com/products/saga

bbbiker800

07-02-2018, 16:59

Not on the basic Schitt Sys. That has a small Chinese pot. I own a Tisbury and that definitely uses a pot.

http://i66.tinypic.com/6qk781.jpg

From Schiit's site (I just love that Brand name :lol: ) they say the Saga uses a >>

'Saga uses a sophisticated microprocessor-controlled relay-stepped attenuator for perfect channel matching and zero distortion. You can hear it clicking as you turn the volume up and down (relay-switched stepped attenuator with discrete thin-film resistors , 64 1dB steps) '

bbbiker800

07-02-2018, 17:07

Apologies Andrew, just unwittingly duplicated what you've said with a little extra detail. ..... (I hadn't refreshed the browser so missed a number of other replies too - whoops)

RothwellAudio

07-02-2018, 17:09

^ no problem :)

bbbiker800

07-02-2018, 17:15

^ no problem :)

Ta.

Suspecting that after a few days there may only be one or two members who see this and reply. Passive pre-amps do seem to be a lottery in my price range (and even up to £550+) unless you spend ££££ and therefore buy 'quality'. Then there's the matching issues too - which is another risk. Arrggghhh !!!

mikeyb

07-02-2018, 17:59

The Promitheus TVC that wee tee cee is selling would be worth buying, I've heard it in my system and it's superb. Only reason I didn't buy it was because I'm after a matching pre for my Primaluna valve amp.

I had a Tisbury and a BTE pre amp here at the same time as the Promitheus and it blew both of them away.

PS: I posted this before fully reading the thread and seeing that wee tee cee had already mentioned his Promitheus [emoji4]

Pieoftheday

07-02-2018, 19:02

RothwellAudio

08-02-2018, 10:15

Andrew, do you still build pre/ power amps?
No, sorry, no pre/power amps at the moment. I'm concentrating on vinyl playback stuff - phonostages, SUTs and headamps - and trying not to spread myself too thinly.

Simon_LDT

08-02-2018, 16:07

The Tisbury definitely uses a stepped attenuator, I had one in my system for about 8 months last year.

If budget allows, definitely check the Schiit out. I almost purchased a Saga myself but ended up getting a custom passive built by Jez Arkless, including his active buffer stage.

I do own a Schiit headphone amp which is superb and I do like how the company comes across. Plus their stuff looks well designed and put together too. From my research about the Saga, many prefer it to the higher up Freya as the circuit is more simple, especially if you don't need balanced connections. Plus many are getting into tube rolling with the tube active buffer.

Also, they have an EU/UK store so can purchase without incurring custom fees, plus taking advantage of the warranty and support.

Shovel_Knight

08-02-2018, 17:27

In my opinion, the Saga offers terrific value for money.

Buying a decent switch and a high-quality attenuator plus casing and connectors would probably cost the same or even more. If you buy Saga, you get a tube buffer stage and a remote control essentially for free.

If it had an additional fixed-level output for my headphone amp, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.

Bonky

08-02-2018, 23:42

I have both.
Both are excellent.
I just prefer the Schiit, if only because it has a (cheap) remote, more inputs, and a glowing valve that can be 'rolled' (silly term).

I will be selling the Tisbury soon...

RothwellAudio

09-02-2018, 11:22

... a glowing valve that can be 'rolled' (silly term).
At least valves are round - try rolling a chip! :lol:

montesquieu

09-02-2018, 11:45

jandl100

09-02-2018, 12:24

The original Tisbury was a standard pot, but later versions used a stepped attenuator.

jandl100

09-02-2018, 14:28

I hadn't heard of the Schiit Saga, and I've been looking for a remote controlled passive pre for a while.
Thanks for the heads-up.

bbbiker800

10-02-2018, 12:15

To Richard - the OP - any particular reason you feel the need to use a passive? Do you have a gain issue in your system?

I'm not a particular fan of passives myself though I have had marginally better results with a TVC than with resistor-based passives. The philosophy is appealing but I always feel actives in general give you more music, though accept that adding gain in some systems just causes issues, where the power amp is extremely sensitive for example. In such circumstances I tend to prefer a powered no-gain buffer like the Pass B1 though there are loads of other options for this too.

Hi Tom - thanks for the feedback.

I'm using a Musical Fidelity XA-2 Integrated and passing the pre-amp output to a Cyrus X-Power (my sons old amp). It provided a significant upgrade so I'm thinking that its time for a dedicated Passive to replace it and see if it can provide more the same - more detail, better bass and imaging. Thinking about what you said then I don't think I'll have gain issues or sensitivity issues from what I can see: Lounge Audio LCR MKIII/Ortofon 2M Bronze and Audiolab M-DAC. I'd like to think that combination is fairly neutral but not lean. The Schiit is a good fit to requirements with cost, size, inputs/outputs and remote. Plus it offers the possibility to add my MF X-Can V2 HP amp (and to play with the tube - many people report significant benefits with other tubes).

best regards, richard

montesquieu

10-02-2018, 12:53

Hi Tom - thanks for the feedback.

I'm using a Musical Fidelity XA-2 Integrated and passing the pre-amp output to a Cyrus X-Power (my sons old amp). It provided a significant upgrade so I'm thinking that its time for a dedicated Passive to replace it and see if it can provide more the same - more detail, better bass and imaging. Thinking about what you said then I don't think I'll have gain issues or sensitivity issues from what I can see: Lounge Audio LCR MKIII/Ortofon 2M Bronze and Audiolab M-DAC. I'd like to think that combination is fairly neutral but not lean. The Schiit is a good fit to requirements with cost, size, inputs/outputs and remote. Plus it offers the possibility to add my MF X-Can V2 HP amp (and to play with the tube - many people report significant benefits with other tubes).

best regards, richard

If it were me I'd also be looking to explore possible synergies with the matching Cyrus pre ... I like Cyrus gear I still have an ancient Cyrus One integrated kicking around.

For example this looks like a bit of a bargain and you could run your tube headphone amp off the tape-out https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/222813027929?chn=ps&adgroupid=52137191441&rlsatarget=pla-380309537491&abcId=1129946&adtype=pla&merchantid=6995734&poi=&googleloc=9045755&device=c&campaignid=974961043&crdt=0

ReggieB

10-02-2018, 20:22

I love my Schiit Saga. Transparent, convenient (remote control), splendid. One of my best Hi-Fi purchases.

bbbiker800

10-02-2018, 23:20

Hi Reggie - can I ask what u have the Saga partnered with and have tried swapping tubes?

Best regards Richard

scotty38

11-02-2018, 13:22

I may be mistaken, it may be obvious and it may well not be relevant but isn't the Schiit only passive if you're not using the tube?

bbbiker800

11-02-2018, 13:58

I may be mistaken, it may be obvious and it may well not be relevant but isn't the Schiit only passive if you're not using the tube?

HI Scott - yes; there's a button on the front to bypass the tube and run passive. Users report some benefits from tube swapping so for some people theres a difference in sound quality/presentation when running with the tube.
Regards Richard

ReggieB

13-02-2018, 22:05

I love my Schiit Saga. Transparent, convenient (remote control), splendid. One of my best Hi-Fi purchases.

I run it with a Beard P35 amplifier.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9h4ISuXcAAxCN8.jpg:large

I have not tried alternative tubes. To be honest, I cannot hear a difference in sound with the tube in or out. I believe it is there if you want a long cable run between amplifiers and is not intended to affect the sound.

jandl100

14-02-2018, 06:09

I had to leap on the bandwagon as I have been looking for a sensibly priced passive pre with remote control volume for some time.
It was this thread that brought the Schiit Saga to my notice.

Mine arrived yesterday.
Very transparent, and doesn't sit on the dynamics like the e.g. Tisbury does (a little).
I swapped the stock 6SN7 for a Reflektor I happened to have - and wowzer, superb. What had been a bit vague and imprecise turned into a hi-rez soundstage spectacular (I do get excited about these things!). Immersive in a way the passive section isn't - OK, it's probably added valve glow, but oi loiks it (for now). I definitely do hear a difference with the tube circuit.
So having wanted a remote-passive, I am using it as a remote valve pre. :doh: :)
Ah well, at least I have the capability for both.

bbbiker800

14-02-2018, 10:56

Thanks Reggie - I see yours is connected to tube amp; there maybe something in that combination.

Jerry - That's really interesting to hear; thanks for sharing that. Your Saga is connected to a SS amp whereas I was thinking (referencing other forums) that a tube power amp might be preferable - mine is a (in comparison is a very humble) Cyrus X-Power.

Also like the report on the tube swap too and the fact that you've had a Tisbury too - thats encouraging.

Your glowing report may convince a few others to go dip their toes in Schitt :) LOL !