Schiit Saga Plus Preamp Review - Lots Of Options For A Great Price

[@ScottoGrotto]

Your review is spot on! I have the OG Saga, afaik sounds the same? It is very clean sounding in the best way possible in solid state. My original tube was defective, noisy hissy, but with a healthy tube you get a new flavor. I wanted to not give up resolution so I landed on a Raytheon 6sn7 which adds a light increase in note body and a hint of sweetness. While retaining 95% of resolution. The Saga is an excellent value, and a leap up in purity from a receiver. I actually have the Saga integrated into the front two channels of my home theater. One set of outputs going to a 2channel amp for the front stereo tower speakers, the other two outputs going to a Schiit Valhalla 2 headphone amp. I run front pre outs from the receiver into one set of saga inputs to complete the theater loop. I use other inputs for dac/streamer, cd, and oppo bluray. In my case the dac and streaming work perfectly. I should try the outputs from the Valhalla 2 to my stereo amp sometime! The Valhalla 2 is an excellent amp for my Zmf auteurs and sennheiser hd 650’s and an exceptional value!

[@ForeverAnalog]

Awesome! Thank you for sharing and watching!

[@manuzach]

Finally a proper review of this best kept secret! I have one I use with the Aegir and bifrost …CDs sounds great with the tube buffer

[@ForeverAnalog]

That’s an awesome set up. I hope to get my hands on an Aegir soon. Thanks for the kind words and for watching!

[@manuzach]

@@ForeverAnalogalso I put in a 6sn7 tube and threw out the stock which was not a JJ like they show on the website

[@skeen267]

Good review, thank you. I would add for those that are a bit confused, the Saga S/+ are not really preamps in the sense that they do not add a lot of gain. IE; if you are used to having a preamp that controls volume, you will need to turn the Saga up pretty high, even all the way, to get acceptable volume. Set that way, you will mostly be controlling volume with your source, not the Saga. Even the Active stage does not offer much gain.

[@jayman3575]

thanks

[@wolfmanjacksaid]

That's incredibly misleading. Most preamps do not add a lot of gain in fact. That doesn't mean you need to set the volume very high. The preamp passes the signal to a power amplifier with fixed gain and the volume is a result of the preamp's output impedance controlled by the volume knob. Furthermore, it is generally agreed upon that controlling volume "at the source" is inferior to an analog preamp. DACs or streamers with digital volume control are almost always worse than analog preamps. So add yourself to the list of people who are confused.

[@Gary_M]

That makes absolutely no sense. You can't control the volume with a CD player, turntable, or any analog sources really.

[@johnbrown4568]

Good honest review. Thanks...

[@ForeverAnalog]

Thank you for the encouraging words!

[@shawnsmusickorner2105]

Really enjoyed this video I’ve been looking at changing up my gear and this preamp is definitely one I’m going to look at.

[@ForeverAnalog]

Thank you. I’ve enjoyed all the Schiit gear I’ve purchased to date. Would love to get my hands on a Freya + one of these days. Thanks for watching!

[@joeslacker1020]

@@ForeverAnalog Is this tube cylinder at the top, fragile at all? I feel like I would bump something on it and ruin it

[@ForeverAnalog]

I don’t think so. It’s just a normal glass tube. Would take more than bumping it to break.

[@edwarddodge7937]

Saga+ also allows you to tube roll and figure out which flavor 6SN7 you want to use when you eventually upgrade to a Freya+. Stock tube is rather underwhelming.

[@muzammelhaquemukul7089]

You make great informative video. Thanks. But sound is pretty low, not sure if it is only in my end or not.

[@Mark-rw3kw]

Yes, it is ironic that some of the worst audio on KZbin videos is on audiophile videos. There is no excuse for this. I have to turn up the volume way up during the video and then get blasted when an advertisement starts playing.

[@ForeverAnalog]

Apologies but I corrected the audio issue on recent videos. Thanks for watching!

[@ItsElvis56]

I saw this video and thought: Dang, this is perfect for my desk, BUT then Jason, from Schiit, announced that the Saga 2 is in the making. Tube or no Tube, that is the question. Great overall review.

[@ForeverAnalog]

They have a lot of cool stuff on the way!

[@lanx0003]

I don't quite understand the host emphasizes on the ability to swith between passive and active modes? What kind of "fun" does it have? But I appreciate the host clarify the question I had in mind that adding the tube by going from Saga s to plus does not add distortion to give pleasant warmish sound that traditional tube preamp has.

[@ForeverAnalog]

Thanks for watching! This is an early video of mine so I probably didn't get my point across like I hoped! My goal was to explain that the tube doesn't provide a traditional "tube like" sound as you mentioned. I think at times we see a tube and automatically think "it will sound tube-y" without understanding that it's role is for distortion control more than "sounding like" a tube. Hope that helps!

[@MrDamonviolette]

Nice left channel review

[@smos63]

Hello my friend and thanks for your nice review! I have the original (first generation) Saga tube buffer. Do you know what is the difference between this one VS the new Saga+ ?

[@ForeverAnalog]

Hi, thanks for watching. Unfortunately I’m not familiar enough with the first gen buffer to know the differences.

[@mircobalzano2455]

Thanks!! Love your reviews :)

[@ForeverAnalog]

Thank you for watching and the encouraging comment!

[@DannerPlace]

Good review, thanks.

[@ForeverAnalog]

Thank you!

[@MrMightymind]

Hey, loving the videos... can I request you look at your audio levels in the videos? Normally on my Macbook I sit around 50% for video volume, I have to go 100% on yours. Just wanted to let you know :). Cheers from the UK, Fletch

[@ForeverAnalog]

You know, I've noticed something similar when playing the videos back myself - I wonder if I need to upgrade my microphone. I do bump up the audio levels when editing but that might not be doing the trick. Thank you for the kind note. I'm going to keep researching and try to figure it out!

[@MrMightymind]

@@ForeverAnalog What mic/interface do you use... plenty of us here in KZbin land that may be able to offer some free advice back :)

[@ForeverAnalog]

Amazing, thank you. I'm currently using a lapel mic that's plugged directly into an iPad. Do you think the issue is the mic is mono? Honestly, I'd love to upgrade to whatever works best so any recommendations is helpful.

[@MrMightymind]

@@ForeverAnalog So check the recording app to see if you can increase the input gain 1st as a quick fix for a free start! Next, If your after a slow upgrade path, then go for a USB to iPad connector with a decent USB Mic. If you want to go for something a bit more pro, try a Mac or PC laptop (use some free recording software and record the audio separately just do a clap to sync the video and audio) with either a USB mic or a cheap XLR USB interface and a mic with XLR (Rode or similar). There's plenty of options, just set a budget and do the research!

[@ForeverAnalog]

Thank you, again!

[@stevenboyce4136]

what about powered speakers...no amp

[@jd5787]

Hi! This vs Freya + vs Kara? (a couple of these 2nd hand in my neck of the woods). I have a NAD amp. I listen to music and I stream movies :) thanks!

[@ForeverAnalog]

I haven’t used the Freya or Kara models yet but I’ve enjoyed the Saga+ enough that I would upgrade to Freya for sure!

[@danisold]

Ive ordered one, but who knows when it will arrive since they keep pushing the delivery date and dont let the customer know its delayed. I need this gear for my system, but man this is some schiit customer service. Itll be the last piece i order from schiit.

[@danisold]

Still schiit customer service, but I really like this preamp. Tube stage is fantastic. Dang you schiit! I can't quit you, lol

[@soulfulfool]

yea I dropped my 1st and only order just because they pushed delivery date too far Im not patient

[@danisold]

Well, now I have a hum in the system... I've contacted customer support. Well see how it's resolved. It's really been a schiit saga so far lol

[@soulfulfool]

@@danisold maybe tube life is ending?

[@danisold]

So the tech recommended a plug to remove ground loop noise and.... it worked. So happy with that. Besides my speakers this is the single most expensive thing in my system and it doesn't disappoint. I recommend it for all that that is worth, lol.

[@Reeeepicheep]

Do you still use this unit?

[@ForeverAnalog]

Yep I’ve been pairing it with their Gjallarhorn amp

[@albeklik8055]

Hi can you tell me how to switch between A and B outputs

[@ForeverAnalog]

Try the button to the right of the volume knob.

[@annespellberg7173]

I don't understand, this says it is a preamp. But I can't use it to power my ampless turntable? What is if for then? Where does it fit in the line of Turntable to preamp to headphone amp? I have read the Schiit website and I just don't understand what does what, this is listed under the preamps, but you are saying no, it isn't a preamp. So frustrating. (Not buying speakers yet, living in an apartment, most listening will be done through headphones for now.)

[@ForeverAnalog]

This is a preamp, it just doesn't have a built in a phono preamp included so you will need to buy an external phono preamp to connect your turntable. Schiit customer service is very helpful. I bet if you reach out to them, they will guide you in selecting products that are suitable to your needs!

[@annespellberg7173]

@@ForeverAnalog No, actually they are not. I reached out to them as I wanted something more than the basic Mani/Magni setup and they just said to by that, the Mani/Magni amps for turntable and headphones. I wanted something a litte more sophisticated than the basic bare bones cheapest amps, but they were not interested in helping me learn. I almost bought this one thinking it would do double duty, a preamp for phono and headphones, but I guess not. I wish the website was a little more clear. Or they were a little more interested in helping someone out that is new to all this stuff.

[@lindsethnittisju797]

will this be good upgrade instead of using my intergrated phono stage in my yamaha as501?

[@ForeverAnalog]

No as the Saga+ does not have a built in a phono stage. You need an external phono preamp to pair the Saga+ with a turntable.

[@wrc51279]

I have Technics 1300 turntable and a Marantz 2275 reciever. I purchased the Saga+ without realizing there's no phono input. How would I connect an external phono preamp to the Saga+ (if possible) or connect the turntable to Marantz phono input while still using Saga+? I've tried every possible connection configuration and still unable to get any sound from my turntable. Thanks!

[@ForeverAnalog]

Once you remove the jumpers on the back of the 2275 that connect the amp to the preamp within the unit, you can no longer use the phono input on the Marantz. At that point you will connect the Saga+ to the Marantz as the preamp and then you will need to purchase a standalone phono preamp which can connect to one of the RCA inputs on the Saga+. I have some articles on my site at www.foreveranalog.net on how to hook everything up if you would like to check them out. Hope that helps!

[@richm4402]

@@ForeverAnalog great review, just curious why William couldn’t hookup his TT to the Marantz and run cables from the tape out to the Freya?

[@danisold]

Good news.... schiit saga + is on sale because they are prepping for a new one... there is a new saga by the way that is out out now. Bad news for me, i overpaid for my saga + and when i reached out to the company, they didn't give a schiit.

[@ForeverAnalog]

I saw the new Saga and am tempted to buy one!