An Amazing Value and Great Sounding Preamp: Schitt Saga S
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- Опубліковано 14 тра 2023
- In this video, I do a long term review on the Schiit Saga S, an amazing value and great sounding preamp.
My recent review on the Geshelli Labs JNOG2 [J2] external DAC:
• My New Favorite Sub $3...
My review of the Schiit Vidar:
• Schiit Vidar: My New R...
All music excerpts are from my ambient guitar channel:
/ @drippingbeets
My first ambient guitar EP is available here:
drippingbeets.bandcamp.com/al...
instagram - / nadiraudio
#audiophile #hifi #schitt #preamp #preamplifier
I got my saga s Saturday this weekend and what you say about it is pretty on point. The sound is fairly neutral I don’t think it adds any color to the sound. Although initially I thought the highs might’ve been a little grainy but I am not sure. I am using it as a a preamp to a parasound 2350 zone master.
The unit itself feels hefty well built. The power toggle switch in the back feels good to turn on nothing flimsy or loose in the toggle switch. The saga s will take about 60 secs to actually turn on. The volume dial feel nice with some good resistance when turning. You will hear clicks as you mentioned. The only think I found that was odd is that if you turn the knob or hit the volume up or down too fast the volume is literally stepping up or down in increments rather than gradually rising in volume. I put on the dial strip of blue painters masking tape on the notch if the volume dial to know where I am in terms of volume.
There are some comments about the saga s having to turn up the volume indicator halfway to get audible sound from it. I feel like this mirrors my Yamaha rn803 receiver when the volume is below 50% i can hardly hear it. On my Sony avr from the 90s the analog barely needs to be turned to get volume. I prefer the saga s - volume I have been listening 1-2 o’clock depending on if im using. The elac unifi ub5 or my jbl 4312g.
The sound with passive mode seems a bit more laid back only when toggling between active - passive seemed mellow wheres as active was more in your face- it’s definitely a little louder and the highs seem like that have more of a edge to them. Mids also sprang forward. I’m not sure if this is because it just boosted volume a bit or it really is pushing the mids and highs basically all the sound more forward. So far I have been listening it with the active switched on.
When I turned off the saga s - a pop sound from saga s comes
Out from my speakers now I know to turn off my amplifier first before I turn off the saga s. It prob won’t hurt the speaker but why take chances! Someone people leave the saga s on all the time but I rather just turn it off when not in use.
I chose saga s instead of the saga plus was because I don’t think the tube does anything and since my vali+ developed a buzz prob due to the tube stage I opted for 100% solid state.
Just wanted to share my experience.
great review. thanks
The Saga S might just be the perfect Noob hobbyist starting point...........................
Volume control is the core of every system & where can one get a 64 step relay-switched attenuator with discrete thin-film resistors (whew) for $299?
All source signals run into it & all audio signal comes out of it. One can't have a better system than the quality of the volume control. One would need to spend thousands on an "all-n-one" box & still not get more accurate volume hardware. Know the chain. 🔈🔉🔊
I just ordered a saga S I was using the vali 2 as a volume controller / preamp but it has a buzz after it’s on for a few hours - I also tried a nobsound passive volume knob it was waaaay to low in volume so Im stepping up to saga s. So I looked at your video to see what your experience was. Thanks
Thank you so much! It's helpful to hear your thoughts on the Saga S / Vidar pairing. If you ever have the chance to compare the Saga S to the Freya S or to Schiit's other preamps or headphone amps used as preamps, I would be very interested in your impressions!
Thanks! Will do!
The freya S has more connectivity options like balanced. Sonically? Not much different from saga S. Both are pretty neutral, slight warmth.
Did you try using it in passive mode in the chain connected to a tube preamp. My idea is DAC - >schitt saga in passive-> tube pre - > power amp. This way you get a remote with the tube.
Thank you for the clear review. I now use a Sabaj headphone amp as preamp, but consider getting a “real” preamp.
Does anyone know the range of the remote? I need 5+ meters (17 feet).
Very nice video! Thanks! But what always bothered me is how to hook up all components with this pre-amp - cd player, turntable, phono pre-amp, DAC, cassette deck and if I want to listen with headphones - headphone amp. Not to even mention the equalizer & the tuner. So confusing!
All your music sources (cd player, turntable phono pre amp, DAC, casette deck, tuner) should go into the Saga S inputs, then from Saga S output go to the equalizer, to the headphone amp, to the speaker amp. Like this
all sources into ----> Saga S --> equalizer --> headphone amp --> speaker amp --> speakers
If you only want to listen on headphones then just dismiss the speaker amp and speakers.
Hi, are both the a and b outputs functional at the same time? So lets say the A set can go to an amp and the B set can run down to a subwoofer? Thanks appreciate it
Both outputs are always on and can be used at the same time, so you could run one to your amp and the other to your subwoofer. Schiit recommends that you don't leave devices connected to the output that short their input when turned off, though, as this can cause distortion.
Can you please tell me how to switch between A and B outputs😊
Both outputs are always on and can be used at the same time.
If you look at the spec sheet. It says you can switch by the front switch.
Im confused you say that active mode sounds better but earlier in your video you say passive sounds a little more open with more soundstage. Which is it?
Earlier in the video, I talk about the Saga running in passive mode sounding a little better than the Magni headphone amp I was previously using as a preamp. The Saga itself, though, definitely sounds better in active mode than passive.
@@nadiraudio ok gotcha. Thank you.
I hope you meant to say 60 seconds for warm up and not 60 minutes. Why would ICs need a warm up time?
Yes, I meant 60 seconds. Not very long, but good to be aware so you don't think it's broken when you first fire it up.