Preamplifier from the American company Schiit. The amplifier supports both passive and active operating modes.
As a passive preamp, the Schiit Saga provides the ability to switch devices and control the volume level. The volume value can be set step by step and with great accuracy thanks to the step (64 steps with a step of 1 dB) attenuator, which operates under the supervision of a microprocessor.
Switching is carried out using relays included in the regulator circuit, so turning the volume knob is accompanied by characteristic clicking sounds. You can be sure that in passive mode, the Saga does not introduce distortion into the sound and does not allow the volume levels of the channels to be skewed.
As an active buffer, the Saga works according to a hybrid scheme, using a tube stage built on a single vacuum tube (6H8C) and an amplification stage on field-effect transistors. In passive and active modes, the gain of the Saga is 1 (0 dB).
The predecessor's case is made in the typical "Schiit" style: bent aluminum with dimensions of 229 by 152 mm, the height of the aluminum box itself is 51 mm. The lamp sticking vertically upwards adds approximately 65 mm to the vertical dimensions.
"Saga" is a compact preamp weighing 2.7 kg, the lion's share of which is occupied by the transformer (24 VA) of the built-in power supply and the case itself.
On the front panel, to the left of the volume control knob, there are LED indicators numbered from 1 to 5. There are the same number of inputs (RCA jacks) on the rear panel. Switching between inputs can be done with a button on the front panel of the device or from the remote control.
Design features
- relay potentiometer,
- passive or active operating modes,
- pure class A,
- zero feedback,
- discrete, differential, linear preamplifier
- remote control
- Designed and manufactured in the USA The vast majority of the total cost of Saga production — chassis, boards, assembly, etc. — falls on American companies. The chassis are made in California. The printed circuit boards are made in California or Nevada, and all this is assembled together at the Corpus Christi factory.
Specifications
Inputs: 5 RCA
Outputs: 2 RCA
Frequency range: 20Hz - 20kHz (-0.2dB); 3Hz – 200kHz (-3dB) (active mode)
Harmonic ratio: <0.002% (20Hz – 20kHz) at 2V (RMS) (active mode)
Intermodulation distortion: <0.002%, CCIR weighted (active mode)
Signal-to-noise ratio: >108dB, A-weighted
Channel crosstalk: -75dB (20Hz – 20kHz)
Input impedance: 10kΩ
Output impedance: 180Ω
Gain: approx. 1 (0dB) in active and passive modes
Maximum output signal: 10V (RMS) (active mode)
Power: 25W
Dimensions (HxWxD): 51x229x152 mm
Weight: 2.7 kg