[nlitworld]

Have a listen and tell me what you count?
Basket balls, ping pong balls, marbles, pebbles, playing dice, exercise balls, just to name a few that I hear.

Definitely the rubber kickball/dodgeball was in there. I'd know that sound anywhere.


Definitely a cool track for testing and geeking out on our systems. 

[fredgarvin]

Like! I'm using the N version of the Freya+, nine pin triodes. I totally agree with Stereophile on the A rating. Thanks for the informed thread, you make it look very doable.

[Presb4]

Very cool. This is all reaaallly fascinating to me. On a 1-10 scale, how easy/hard would you estimate the modifications were to do?

Sorry, goggle1824,
I just noticed your question from a couple weeks ago.
Well I think I covered what you need to know in my pics, if your are still uncomfortable, I would say you might not want to try it. The Schiit Freya+ is not cheep, and I would hate to see someone damage theirs with a soldering iron, easy to do if you don't have a fair bit of experience tinkering with this kind of thing.

The aim of my post was to publish the parts needed, and to show how I did it and what my results were. None of this is rocket science and I recommend the learning of new things, so if you want to, have at it. But, if you have some old junky stuff laying around the house, maybe start with taking that apart and removing some soldered parts to make mistakes there first.

[Presb4]

Like! I'm using the N version of the Freya+, nine pin triodes. I totally agree with Stereophile on the A rating. Thanks for the informed thread, you make it look very doable.

Without looking at the Freya N pics online, they pulled them from the website, I dont know how much room is in the N vs + models. But from what I remember reading the Freya N was the same Pre-amp but with the nine pin tube. Did they use 6N1P's? 

Other than the tube socket change, they might have dropped the plate voltages 50vDC. Many of those 9 pin driver triodes like to run between 200 and 250vDC where the 6SN7 and 6SL7 run around 300vDC. If that is what they did, it might explain why many liked the sound of the 9 pin tube more than the Freya+ octal tubes. Tubes run at lower plate voltages often have the side effect of more distortion, even order distortion. AKA, more tubey sound.

BTW, I'm rocking my Freya+ right now with some NOS 6SL7 Sylvanias from 1962, and I think I like them better than my Bad Boys 6SN7's from 1952. Even sweeter, the 6SL7's were less than half the price 

[AllanS]

Thanks much for sharing your experience Presb4.  It’s inspiring.  I have a 30 year old Optimist receiver needing some help that I’m considering restoring.  Given your advice I think I’ll scrounge up some old pcb’s to practice on first.
As a place to start would you please share what you use as your soldering kit?  I have basic skills that are out of practice.

[aricml]

Presb4,

I just want to drop in and say thank you for a beautifully put together modification thread.  I will be saving this for inspiration for my own Freya+, but even if I didn't own one I would have loved your write up on this.  Top shelf work!! 

[Presb4]

Presb4,

I just want to drop in and say thank you for a beautifully put together modification thread.  I will be saving this for inspiration for my own Freya+, but even if I didn't own one I would have loved your write up on this.  Top shelf work!! 

Thank you for the kind words. 

[Presb4]

Thanks much for sharing your experience Presb4.  It’s inspiring.  I have a 30 year old Optimist receiver needing some help that I’m considering restoring.  Given your advice I think I’ll scrounge up some old pcb’s to practice on first.
As a place to start would you please share what you use as your soldering kit?  I have basic skills that are out of practice.

AllanS, any iron that runs 650-750F temp will work. So dont think you have to have a super nice iron to have fun modding.
I use a HAKKO 1 Channel 70 W, Soldering Iron.

[AllanS]

AllanS, any iron that runs 650-750F temp will work. So dont think you have to have a super nice iron to have fun modding.
I use a HAKKO 1 Channel 70 W, Soldering Iron.

Many thanks.

[ChubbyChiFi]

Wow!  Grateful for you sharing this amazing mod info.  The cap and resistor upgrade is what tipped the scale for me to go Schiit Freya+ instead of MP-701.

I just got my Freya+ and am planning to do these mods too.

I think the V-CAP Odams are a no brainer.  I saw another model go for AudioNote resistors instead of the Amtrak's that you chose.  Did you also consider audio note?  What lead you to your choice?

Thanks!

[ChubbyChiFi]

I'm a noob, so please disregard my questions.

After a little more research, I see the enormous price disparity between the two...

I wonder if the AudioNote are worth the price...the silver non-mags are even more expensive.

Anyone have any insights if the squeeze is worth the juice?

[Tam Lin]

Anyone have any insights if the squeeze is worth the juice?

I don't think Audio Note passive components are worth it. The same with V-Caps. I prefer Duelund.

[bardamu]

Hello,
I would surely try to use Mills mra5 22K resistors.. Probably the 12 watt will be to big. If you spend a few hundred $ on coupling caps it would be weird to not replace the 22K. kind greetings, eduard

[Presb4]

I use Mills resistors for cathode bias resistors in my single ended power amps and I can tell you the 5 watt or 10 watt you named above will not fit in the Freya. Heck the leads wouldn't even fit through the pcb holes. The resistors I took out were 2 watt resistors any way, there is no need to use 5 watt resistors in there place.

On the topic of resistors and my experience, the cost of them don't have any affect on how they sound 

But the type of resistor construction can:

I don't like or use carbon comp resistors as they drift with age, and don't care what they sound like if they drift.

I do like carbon film, as they provide much of the sound that carbon comps have, but drift much less over time. BTW, the carbon resistor sound that is described as "vintage sound" is increased noise in the signal path, this is measurable. Think of the sound a dirty record hiss or low level surface noise vs a record that is quite. That's what carbon resistors bring to the table in micro doses. Is that better?, not for me to say what you like, but I like it in small doses. But be warned, just replacing all resistors with carbon type, might be too much of a good thing and expensive.

Then there are wire wound resistors, they don't really have a sound, but are very stable at different temps / current levels, and don't age. This is your typical Mills resistor.

Then there are metal film resistors, they are lower cost, last a long time, and are smaller than the other resistor types. They are very stable, but can sound bright or sharp if used in the signal path. I like to use metal film resistors in the power circuits, where they don't affect the sound, and lower the cost of the build.

Trust me, just swapping out all the resistors in an amp or what have you, without a plan, is a waste of money and time. And even when done right and in the correct locations, the change in the sound you hear is slight, (2% change or less).  If you hear a big change, it most likely has to do with the wrong value being use in the wrong place which resulted in the tube operating point changing or worse clipping now.

[Presb4]

I don't think Audio Note passive components are worth it. The same with V-Caps. I prefer Duelund.

Big thumbs up on the Duelunds, I love the warm full bodied sound they have. But they were not an option for this mod, as they are too big and will not fit in the Freya.

[nlitworld]

Thanks for the heads up on the resistor sound & placement suggestions. I'm in the process of buying parts for a tube amp kit and that info really helps with questions of what types and where. Much appreciated. 

-Lloyd

[Presb4]

My go to resistors for tube amp builds are Kiwame Carbon Film Resistors in the signal path, best sound for a modest cost, and Takman metal film in the power supply circuit. Both can be purchased at https://diyhifisupply.com/resistors/ with ease. If I want to use something special, I buy the Amtrans AMRG Carbon Film resistors from https://partsconnexion.com/amtrans-resistor-collection/

[lokie]

Good info. Thx.

[Markwatkiss]

Hi everyone,another Freya owner here.Does anyone have contact information,preferably a ph# for service at Schitt.My unit needs repair and I would like to discuss issue.
Send me a personal message or post reply.Please and thank you.

[nlitworld]

Hi everyone,another Freya owner here.Does anyone have contact information,preferably a ph# for service at Schitt.My unit needs repair and I would like to discuss issue.
Send me a personal message or post reply.Please and thank you.

https://www.schiit.com/contact/help-support
Usually best way to get ahold of them. Works the couple times I needed to contact. Just put good details in when describing your issue.