Owner's manual [PDF] (8 pages)
- Updated: 23.07.2026
Document Preview & Text Transcription
AUDIO EQUIPMENT
ITEM
FOR
MODEL NO
OWNER’S MANUAL
SCH-21
BALANCED PASSIVE, ACTIVE, OR TUBE REMOTE PREAMP
DESCRIPTION
NOTES
REVISION A
RANDOM NUMBER AA06
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
WELCOME TO FREYA
Freya is a no-compromise, ultra-high-end balanced preamp cleverly
disguised by a low price tag. You won’t find 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.
ONE Freya
ONE Power cord
ZERO Stick-on feet (they’re pressed in)
IN THE BOX
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 qualified 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 traffic 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 qualified 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.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE
OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE
THIS DEVICE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
Application for Council Directives 72/23/EEC
Conformity declared for EN60065, EN50082-1
GETTING STARTED
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 exact
type (6SN7, or, for Russian NOS tubes, 6N8S).
2. Ensure tubes are well-seated. Push down firmly
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 tube will glow after a few seconds, and the
microprocessor will connect the output after about 30 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 first 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.
If you’re curious, 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 firmly until the tube is
seated.
4. Plug the preamp back in and turn it on.
NOTCH
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