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tubesforhifi VTA sp14 or shiit freya

any thoughts on a VTA sp14 for about $1,000 or a shiit freya preamp for $700?  I would be using it with a hafler 500 that has been restored with new caps and dahlquist dq10s or dq20s with the thought of buying a pair of magnepan .7 or 1.7s in the fall.  I have a marantz 8005 cd player or pandora as a source.  My room is 18 by 24  thanks, alex
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ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,279 posts
 
Another very happy Freya owner here.  A $1000 budget would get you the  Freya with $ left for some decent ICs and NOS tubes.  The Freya is very responsive to changes in cabling and tubes.  I've been using 1950s-era NOS RCAs and GEs in the gain stage.  With noise-tested tubes it is dead silent, even with volume full up and ear only inches from drivers.  Good luck in your decision.     
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
"The Freya gets criticism simply for being too inexpensive "

wolf, I see you mention this often that its inexpensive. $700 is not as inexpensive as you may think given the other options out there. You can get a brand new two chassis tube preamp from Mapletree Audio for $800 or the Unlimited preamp from Aric Audio for a little more. And if you go used many more options including preamps from Conrad Johnson.
Not saying its a bad choice just that not as inexpensive as you think.

wolf_garcia
6,595 posts
 
I can clarify my thinking for you kalali...For a NEW preamp it's less expensive than everything you noted, and if I see a great sounding balanced tube preamp out there with the interesting and unique pile of features the Freya has for 700 bucks, I'll maybe change my thinking. Somebody may start making something to compete with it, but so far there's nothing I've noticed...Otherwise, it seems to be exactly as inexpensive as I think it is. 
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