Schiit Saga 2 - CLASS A, ZERO-FEEDBACK, DIFFERENTIAL PREAMPLIFIER

Just out from Schiit:

"Hey all,

Let's play an audio version of The Price is Right.

As in, what would you expect to pay for a passive, remote control, relay-ladder preamp...oh that also has a switchable, fully differential, fully discrete, 75-V rail, Class A gain stage...oh and that is made in the USA?

If you said $2790 or $27900, we wouldn't be surprised.

But that's not us. And that's why the all-new Saga 2 is $279. 

If you want to know more, here's the product page: https://www.schiit.com/products/saga_2 

Jason Stoddard"

Though my Yggy has worked perfectly through its lifetime and through the upgrades, my less expensive Schiit stuff has been plagued with problems. My Modi multibit is currently a paperweight as it refuses to be recognized when plugged into anything via any input. It has also gone through two of the external power supplies. The Vali, scratchy volume, cuts out intermittently in either channel. Both are no longer being used and not worth it to fix or replace.

So my enthusiasm for the lower end of Schiit gear is tempered a bit by my experiences.

23 minutes ago, firedog said:

Based on the specs, probably a very good sounding (meaning no sound of it’s own) pre.

Add a matching $229 Schiit DAC, and for about $500 you have a balanced pre/DAC with a remote.

 

See, excellent hi-fi doesn’t have to be expensive. 

No one should look down their nose at this. Based on what I’ve heard from other Schiit products (including their $129 DAC), pretty much anyone would be happy with the sound from this (at least before they knew how cheap it/they are).

Except with the passive mode, there should be absolutely no sound of its own, based on my experience with the Freya + passive mode. Impressive stuff they managed to make for $279

8 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said:

Though my Yggy has worked perfectly through its lifetime and through the upgrades, my less expensive Schiit stuff has been plagued with problems. My Modi multibit is currently a paperweight as it refuses to be recognized when plugged into anything via any input. It has also gone through two of the external power supplies. The Vali, scratchy volume, cuts out intermittently in either channel. Both are no longer being used and not worth it to fix or replace.

 

So my enthusiasm for the lower end of Schiit gear is tempered a bit by my experiences.

Sorry for you.

My $129 Modi3E DAC has been on 24/7 for several years and works perfectly. 

I don’t see any reason that will change, but for that price I won’t complain if it stops working at some point. 

My not so cheap Freya pre works fine, but the volume knob comes off. 

On 8/14/2024 at 3:44 AM, firedog said:

in some cases (not all) that  retail price was 70% due to cosmetics - knobs, design, case, finish, engraving/lettering etc. //

When you want a case with rounded edges and no visible screws, cut from a solid block of metal, knobs that are solid metal hand milled one offs, etc. it’s very expensive. What if manufacturer’s cost per knob is $50 or $100?  Retail can be as much as $400 for the knob.

 

7 hours ago, firedog said:

 

No one should look down their nose at this [$279 Pre-amp]

 

Well, so much for the knobs (yeh I know, not solid knobs ?) and rounded edges theory costing a small fortune.It even has lettering and a couple of buttons!😅

11 hours ago, firedog said:

Sorry for you.

My $129 Modi3E DAC has been on 24/7 for several years and works perfectly. 

I don’t see any reason that will change, but for that price I won’t complain if it stops working at some point. 

My not so cheap Freya pre works fine, but the volume knob comes off. 

Don't turn it off. Turning off my Modi is what killed the first PSU.