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The Schiit Freya 2 is a balanced analog preamplifier with selectable tube and MOSFET stages, plus a passive mode. Schiit announced prices of $999 for black and $1,049 for silver on September 30, 2026, with four new-production tubes included. The five-mode breakdown below comes from ecoustics’ October 2026 overview; Schiit’s announcement describes the broader selectable architecture but does not enumerate those five modes in the same detail.
What the five modes do
Schiit calls its approach Fusion Architecture: users can choose how tubes and solid-state circuitry are assigned to the preamp’s stages. In its launch announcement, Schiit described all-tube, hybrid, all-solid-state, and passive configurations. The following five-mode enumeration and stage details are reported by ecoustics, a secondary overview.
| Mode | Stage configuration | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Passive | No active gain stage | Bypasses gain, according to Schiit and ecoustics. Whether this suits a system depends on the source level and the downstream amplifier’s sensitivity. |
| All solid state | MOSFETs for voltage gain and output | Uses no tubes in the signal stages described by the overview. |
| Tube Input | Tubes for voltage gain; MOSFET output stage | Places tubes in the voltage-gain stage while retaining a solid-state output stage. |
| Tube Output | MOSFET voltage gain; tubes on output | Uses solid-state voltage gain and assigns tubes to the output stage. |
| All tube | Tubes in both stages, using all four tubes | Selects the tube configuration across the stages. |
Schiit says only the tubes used by the selected mode are powered; it describes unselected tubes as completely off. That is the manufacturer’s description, not an independent measurement of power use or circuit behavior.
Connections and volume control
Schiit describes Freya 2 as differential and balanced, with both balanced and single-ended inputs and outputs. Ecoustics lists the connector count as two stereo XLR inputs and three stereo RCA inputs, plus one stereo XLR output and two stereo RCA outputs. Those counts are from the secondary overview rather than the launch announcement.
#1 Best Overall
- Enjoy passive or active modes with a fully discrete, Class-A, no-feedback design.
- Control volume, switch sources, add gain, and listen to headphones from this one device. Saga 2 is Forkbeard compatible, but the module is not included with this unit.
- Features a 64-step relay ladder volume for perfect channel matching.
- Can be used with headphones or speakers. 4 Inputs so you can hook up a DAC, CD player, TV, etc. and switch between them. Select inputs, change volume, and pick from passive, active low gain, and active high gain, all from the included remote control.
Schiit says the volume control is a relay-switched resistor ladder, with no potentiometers or ICs in the signal path. The overview reports 128 volume steps in 0.625 dB increments. Schiit also says passive mode bypasses gain; that description does not by itself establish that every connected system will have sufficient output level in passive operation.
Announced price and included tubes
Schiit announced Freya 2 at $999 in black and $1,049 in silver, including four new-production tubes. These are the prices announced at launch, not confirmation of current pricing or inventory. Schiit’s announcement does not specify replacement-tube compatibility; ecoustics reports 6SN7, 6N8S, and 5692 types, so check the current Freya 2 documentation before buying replacements.
Rank #2
- Featuring our unique Coherence output stage, Buf maintains absolute phase while providing a lush, harmonically rich tube sound that transforms cold digital audio into a warm, engaging experience.
- Buf gives you the flexibility of added gain if your system needs a boost. It runs a serious 100V on the tube plates with a 100% linear power supply. No noisy switching power supplies or op-amps—just pure, high-voltage tube sonics.
- Ships with a premium NOS 6N1P vacuum tube and rollable with popular 6922, ECC88, and 6DJ8 tubes.
- The super-small footprint fits great on any desktop or equipment rack. When you don't want tube sound, simply turn off Buf to return to your original signal path.
- Designed and built in the USA. 115VAC. USA Plug. Suitable for use in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Will not work in 220 – 240V countries.
Specifications reported by the secondary overview
Ecoustics’ October 2026 overview reports the specifications below. Schiit’s September 30 launch announcement did not include these detailed figures, so treat them as secondary-source specifications rather than figures confirmed in the launch notice.
| Specification | Reported value and attribution |
|---|---|
| Active-mode gain | 0 dB or 12 dB (ecoustics, October 2026) |
| Input impedance | 10 kΩ (ecoustics, October 2026) |
| Crosstalk | Greater than 85 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz (ecoustics, October 2026) |
| Typical power consumption | 40 W (ecoustics, October 2026) |
| Dimensions | 16 × 8 × 2 inches, plus about 2.5 inches for tube height (ecoustics, October 2026) |
| Weight | 11 pounds (ecoustics, October 2026) |
These are reported product specifications, not independent test results. No independent comparative listening test or measurement result is established here, so the mode choices should not be read as evidence that one configuration sounds better than another.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Desktop-friendly Magni Unity debuts our new, super-linear, high-precision current-feedback topology that increases performance by 10dB relative to previous discrete Magnis. Aaand it’s the first modular Magni ever, with the option to add an internal DAC later if you'd like.
- With 2.5W on tap from a standard single-ended output jack, plus three gain levels, including negative gain for IEMs, Magni Unity is set for pretty much every headphone out there.
- Overcurrent and DC correction systems—both, by the way, 100% transparent and out of the signal path—mean your most treasured headphones have the highest level of protection.
- Longer warranty: 3 years, not 1 or 2. We’ve been in business more than 13 years, we’ve built well over 1 million products, and we stand behind what we make.
- Designed and built in TX, USA. 115VAC only. USA Plug. Suitable for use in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Will not work in 220 – 240V countries.
Rank #4
- Vali 3 utilizes a fully discrete, Class AB bipolar stage in the Coherence current-feedback topology, delivering a unique and exceptional audio experience.
- The advanced-form chassis provides improved ventilation, resulting in lower operating temperatures for optimal performance.
- Vali 3 boasts a tube plate voltage of 100V, enhancing linearity and gain for a more dynamic and detailed sound.
- Comes with a really nice, tested, sorted, NOS 6N3P tube, but can be rolled to many interesting options.
- Designed and built in TX, USA. 115VAC only. USA Plug. Suitable for use in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Will not work in 220 – 240V countries.
Rank #3
- Forkbeard provides comprehensive control over multiple Schiit products and stacks, including volume, input selection, output modes, gain settings, mute functions, and more. It goes beyond basic remotes by delivering real-time system insights, such as real-time power output showing whether your amp is running Class A and telling you how hard it's working, temperature monitoring, fault alerts, and amplifier health metrics. Visual Volume shows how much headroom is on the volume knob.
- No pairing or accounts required—just download the app and add your devices to "stacks" for intuitive, multi-system control. No one-time app fees, no monthly vig. No sign-up, no account creation, no information collection. Ever.
- Create and control multiple Schiit product system stacks on the same app, from desktop setups to full home systems.
- Just install this compact Bluetooth module into the dedicated slot on the back of your compatible Schiit product, download the iOS or Android app, and add your Forkbeard-enabled Schiit products to one or more “stacks”.
- Can only be used with the following Schiit products: Mimir Mesh DAC, Gungnir Multiform DAC, Yggdrasil+, Saga 2 Class A Discrete Preamp, Kara F Nexus Preamp, Freya+ F Tube Preamp, Skoll F Balanced Phono Preamp, Stjarna Tube Phono Preamp, Gjallarhorn F Power Amp, Vidar 2F Power Amp, Aegir 2F Continuity+Halo Power Amp, Wotan Nexus Power Amp, Kraken 5-Channel Amp, Eitr 2 DDC, Lyr 5 Hybrid Tube Headphone Amp, and Loki Max F Equalizer (more coming soon)
Choosing a mode for your system
- Check gain needs first. Passive mode bypasses active gain. If your source and power amplifier need additional gain, consider an active configuration instead.
- Match the connection type. Count the RCA and XLR sources and outputs your system needs, then confirm the reported connector layout against the current product documentation.
- Choose which stage uses tubes. Tube Input and Tube Output differ in where tubes sit in the gain and output stages; all-tube and all-solid-state apply tubes or MOSFETs across both stages, as described by ecoustics.
- Consider tube use and replacement. Schiit says tubes not selected for a mode remain off. For replacement tubes, confirm compatibility with current official documentation rather than relying only on the types listed by a secondary overview.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
