Schiit Freya User manual

balanced remote control preamp
In norSe mYtHoloGY, FreYa IS a GoddeSS aSSocIated wItH love, Sex,
beauty, fertility, gold, seiðr, war, and death.
leaVing aside those last three, that sounds Pretty Cool.
she also aPParently had Cats. yeah.
we don’t recommend YoU let YoUr catS Sleep on FreYa,
but we’re not gonna CoMMent further.
FREYA
owner’S manUal

The following is required by the roughly 9,542 government agencies
and regulations we have to comply with. If you have some common
sense, they should seem pretty straightforward. In any case, read
these instructions before proceeding farther, follow all instructions, and heed
all warnings. Or else!
1. If you don’t know how to install audio devices, get a qualied professional
to help.
2. Never use this device near water, and clean only with a
dry cloth.
3. Assure adequate ventilation, do not block any ventilation openings, or place
near heat sources.
4. Use only the supplied power cord or suitable replacement. Route cords away
from trafc areas and protect them from being pinched. Unplug the cord from
the outlet if the apparatus is unused for a long period of time.
5. To prevent electric shock, do not use the plug with an
extension cord, receptacle, or outlet unless blades can be
fully inserted.
6. Refer all servicing to qualied service personnel. Service is required when
the device has been damaged, including cord or plug damage, liquid has been
spilled or objects have fallen into the device, the device has been exposed to
rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS DEVICE TO RAIN OR
MOISTURE.
INTRODUCTION
Freya is a no-compromise, ultra-high-end balanced preamp clever-
ly disguised by a low price tag. You won’t nd any volume-control
chips or other shortcuts in Freya—just uber-quality techniques like
a relay-switched stepped attenuator and all-triode gain stage—you
know, just like what’s used in the most expensive audio gear.
In tHe box
(1) Freya
(1) Power cord
(0) Stick-on feet (they’re pressed in)
(0) Wall-warts (they’re not needed)

CAUTION! Dangerous voltages inside!
1. Before plugging in the preamp, insert
the tubes. Carefully align the key in the
tube base to the notch in the tube socket
for each tube. It doesn’t matter which tube
goes where—all tubes in Freya are the same type.
2. Ensure tubes are well-seated. Push down rmly until the tube is
seated on the tube socket. This may take a fair amount of force.
3. Plug it in and turn it on. The tubes will glow after a few
seconds, and the microprocessor will connect the output after
about 40 seconds.
4. Connect your sources.
Connect up to 5 sources
to Freya’s balanced and
single-ended inputs.
5. Connect the output. Connect
the output of Freya to your amp or
amps using XLR or RCA cables.
6. Ensure the volume is turned down if you’re using Freya for the
rst time. You don’t want any big surprises!
7. Power it up, turn it up, and enjoy your music!
TUBES
replacInG tUbeS
Freya accommodates any 6SN7, 6N8S, or 5692 tube type.
6SL7, 6N9S, and equivalent types also work, but will have higher
distortion and higher output impedance.
The right tubes are for the differential voltage gain stage. The left
tubes are for the cathode follower output stage. All tubes are of
the same type on Freya.
To replace or swap tubes:
1. Turn off and unplug the preamp. Wait a while for the tube to
cool. Seriously, these suckers are pretty hot.
2. Carefully extract the tube by gently rocking it back and forth
and pulling upwards.
3. Carefully insert the replacement tube. Align the key to the notch
and press down rmly until the tube is seated.
4. Plug the preamp back in and turn it on.
NOTCH
GETTING STARTED

Saga/Freya Ragnarok 2 Loki Loki Max
SCH 03-11
SCH 03-13 SCH 03-14
BYPASS
20HZ UP/DOWN
250HZ UP/DOWN
2KHZ UP/DOWN
6KHZ UP/DOWN
16KHZ UP/DOWN
BYPASS
PRESET 1
PRESET 2
PRESET 3
20HZ UP/DOWN
120HZ UP/DOWN
400HZ UP/DOWN
2KHZ UP/DOWN
6KHZ UP/DOWN
16KHZ UP/DOWN
VOLUME
INPUT
OUTPUT
MUTE
SCH 03-12
VOLUME
INPUT
OUTPUT
MUTE
GAIN
Sleipnir/Ellida
SCH 03-15
PLAY/PAUSE
SKIP FWD
FAST FWD
FAST REV
STOP/EJECT
DISPLAY OFF
SKIP BACK
1
3
4
2
Yes, this preamp comes with a remote control. Unlike earlier Freyas, this is
now a fancy milled aluminum model. It’s still inexpensive to replace in case
you lose it or want another one, however.
1 Input. Press this button to select the input you want to listen to. If you skip
the input, keep pressing—it cycles back around.
2 Volume Up/Down. Press the up arrow to turn volume up, press the down
arrow to turn it down. Simple as that.
3 Output. Press to change between passive and tube hybrid buffer output.
4 Mute. Press to mute the preamp. All input lights will turn off.
Changing the Battery
1. Flip the remote over to reveal a single hole on the back.
2. Push the remote open by inserting the end of an open paper clip into the hole in the back and
pushing rmly. It’s held together with magnets.
3. Replace the battery inside with one of the same type.
4. Reassemble the remote by rst inserting the clear LED in the front, then dropping the panel
down onto the matching magnets. Press down gently to pop the panel in place.
REMOTE CONTROL

1 2 3 4 5
INPUT 1 INPUT 2 BAL OUT SE OUTSIN 3 IN 4 IN 5
CAUTION:
RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK—DO NOT OPEN
NO USER
SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE
3 Balanced Output
Connect to external power ampliers or
powered speakers that accept XLR
connections, using good XLR cables.
4 Single-Ended Output
Connect to external power ampliers or
powered speakers that accept RCA con-
nections, using high-quality RCA cables,
especially for longer runs.
1 Balanced Inputs
Freya offers two sets of balanced inputs.
Connect to your balanced sources using XLR
cables. You can select your source with the
front panel controls.
2 Single-Ended Inputs
Freya offers three sets of balanced inputs.
Connect your single-ended sources here
using good RCA cables. Note: Freya does
not convert single-ended to balanced,
except when using the tube gain stage.
Note2: Don’t panic—all of Freya’s outputs
work ne with all of its inputs, you’ll get
output from all of them with any input type.
5 Power Switch
Up for on, down for off. No tricks here.
6 Power Inlet
Plug the end of the supplied IEC cord in
here. You can also use fancy audiophile
types, but they won’t really do anything—
what about the thousands of feet of crap
copper cables in your walls, huh?
CONNECTIONS
1 2 3 4 51 2 2 6

6 Output Select
Press to select the output stage: passive,
JFET buffer, or tube gain.
7 Volume Knob
Turn up to increase volume. Stop before
your speakers explode.
8 Input Select
Press to select the input you want to
listen to.
9 Input
These lights indicate which input you’re
listening to, from 1-5.
1 Hot Tubes
When using the tube gain stage, Freya’s
tubes get hot. We don’t recommend letting
your pets sleep on them.
2 Mute LED
This light is on when Freya is muted.
3 Buffer LED
This light is on when using the JFET buffer.
4 Tube LED
This light is on when using the tube gain
stage.
5 Mute Button
Press to toggle mute on and off.
10 Remote Window. The IR remote beams
invisible light through this hole to control
the preamp remotely. Magic! Don’t block it
and expect it to work.
11 Remote Indicator. When you’ve used
the remote control to adjust volume, this
LED will light. You’ll need to turn the
volume down below the level set by the
remote in order for the knob to control
volume again.
CONTROLS
1 2 3 4 5
INPUT 1 INPUT 2 BAL OUT SE OUTSIN 3 IN 4 IN 5
CAUTION:
RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK—DO NOT OPEN
NO USER
SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE
1
2
3
4
5 6 78910 11

I hear hum, what do I do?
A small amount of hum in the tube gain output mode is to be ex-
pected, especially with high gain ampliers. It should not be audible
from the listening position in most typical systems. If you want the
lowest noise floor, use the passive or JFET buffer modes.
No, I mean, I have a LOT of hum!
You may have a ground loop. Try a ground loop isolator or a device
like the EbTech HumX.
I hear hiss in tube gain output mode, why?
A small amount of hiss in the tube gain output mode is normal, es-
pecially with high gain power ampliers and high sensitivity speak-
ers. It should not be audible from the listening position in most
typical systems.If you want the lowest noise floor, use the passive
or JFET buffer modes.
There’s no sound for a while after I turn Freya on.
That’s perfectly normal. Freya delays the output for 20 seconds
after you rst turn the preamp on and flashes the remote light to
indicate it is muted.
FAQ
What’s with the clicking noises when I turn the volume?
That’s the sound of the mechanical relays in the relay-switched
stepped attenuator. Also normal.
The volume knob doesn’t seem to work.
If you have adjusted volume with the remote, you have to turn down
the volume below the remote level before the knob is enabled again.
This helps ensure there are no volume surprises.
Can I use both outputs at the same time?
Most of the time, yes. If you have products that short the input
when turned off, then that can cause distortion.
It doesn’t turn on, what do I do?
Plug it in to a different AC socket. Ensure you are not
currently in a blackout. Then email us if it still doesn’t work.

5-Year warrantY
Schiit Audio warrants to the original purchaser that the product shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for ve (5) years from
the date of purchase. Exceptions: Tubes and remote controls. Tubes are covered by a 90-day limited warranty with the same terms, and remotes
are covered by a 1-year limited warranty with the same terms. If a defect covered by this warranty occurs during this warranty period, Schiit
Audio will repair the defective product, free of charge. Date of purchase will be based on customer-submitted receipts, otherwise date of manu-
facturing will be used to determine warranty period.
OBTAINING WARRANTY SERVICE
If you believe you need warranty service, contact us rst. There may be a simple solution to your problem. Schiit Audio products sent back to
us without a Return Authorization (RA) will be returned to the sender without repair. To contact us and obtain an RA, email [email protected]. We
will respond quickly to email inquiries.
WARRANTY LIMITATIONS
THIS WARRANTY SHALL NOT APPLY IF THIS PRODUCT: (a) IS MODIFIED OR TAMPERED WITH; (b) IS DAMAGED BY NEGLIGENCE, ACCIDENT,
UNREASONABLE USE, COFFEE, OR BY OTHER CAUSES UNRELATED TO DEFECTIVE MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP; OR (c) HAS HAD THE SE-
RIAL NUMBER ALTERED, DEFACED OR REMOVED.
ANY APPLICABLE IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE
HEREBY LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD (5 YEARS). IN NO EVENT SHALL SCHIIT AUDIO BE LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL
OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE BREACH OF ANY IMPLIED OR EXPRESS WARRANTIES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW
LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS OR EXCLUSION OF CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE
LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
This warranty gives you specic legal rights. You may also have other rights which vary from state to state or province to province.
sChiit.CoM
[email protected]
Application for Council Directives 72/23/EEC
Conformity declared for EN60065, EN50082-1