Schiit SYS is pretty amazing

[Idontknow]

I've been spending more time with the SYS to reduce coloration from my tube preamps because one of my rooms isn't completely treated as well as it should be. What's interesting though is how amazingly quiet the Schiit SYS is since it is basically nothing but a small Alps volume control with no complicated circuit.  Connected to my Heresy II and my Dynaco ST70 for example, I can place my ear to the tweeter and the floor noise is literally non existent compared to the average tube preamp.

 

Since the SYS has no gain, it requires a bit more volume but it's not an issue on speakers with high sensitivity. Even while playing with various amps and phono stages, I haven't had any impedance issues so far and I'm extremely impressed with the neutral clarity which allows the actually sound of the ST70 to remain as faithful as possible as the SYS doesn't introduce any coloration or sound signature other than just a volume control. It's just dead quiet. 

 

This can easily compete with preamps costing literally thousands of dollars. I just ordered a Nobsound volume control to see how it does as well. Passive volume controls are an excellent option for amplifiers if you don;t have the money to spend on an actual preamp. So far this Schiit SYS which I've had for several years now sounds amazing regardless of cost. Doesn't matter if you spend $15,000 on a preamp. Sometimes it's hard to beat the sound of nothing. 

[SWL]

Yeah, with my Schiit Aegir or Vidar I've used my SYS with great results like you described. I also have one of those Nobsound passive preamps as well and it works just as well. I use the Nobsound simply because it has a nicer volume knob and it's smooth.

[rmlowz]

Until a few years ago I always left the tone controls flat. I guess I was on the purist band wagon for some reason? I really was missing out not using tone controls. SYS, 7 band EQ etc.

 

[Idontknow]

3 hours ago, SWL said:

Yeah, with my Schiit Aegir or Vidar I've used my SYS with great results like you described. I also have one of those Nobsound passive preamps as well and it works just as well. I use the Nobsound simply because it has a nicer volume knob and it's smooth.

Glad to hear you like the Nobsound. 75% of the reviews are very positive while a few had issues where most of the volume occurred near the end of the rotation of the volume. I like its sleeker design and build quality much more than the SYS and I too like the larger volume control. Thanks for sharing.

[Shakeydeal]

If you think that sounds good, listen to a higher end passive with some high quality resistors.

https://www.hattor.com/dualmono_preamp_the_big.html

 

I am a big proponent of passive line stages when the planets align. They certainly won’t work in every circumstance, but when they do, it’s very hard to beat them.

 

[Idontknow]

Shakey thanks for sharing. I’ll take a closer look at this. Have you messed with any of the Luminous Axiom models? They seem to get some really good praise as well. 
Best,

Daniel

[Shakeydeal]

I have not. But I’ve dealt with Tim Stinson, the owner before. He’s only about two hours away. He is a good guy and I’m sure the luminous is a good product too.

[Idontknow]

On 12/28/2023 at 8:43 AM, SWL said:

Yeah, with my Schiit Aegir or Vidar I've used my SYS with great results like you described. I also have one of those Nobsound passive preamps as well and it works just as well. I use the Nobsound simply because it has a nicer volume knob and it's smooth.

 

I've acquired the Nobsound and it's dead silent to my ears with my Dynaco ST35 and ST70 amps as well as my Schiit Vidar 2. Even when I place my ear up to my Heresy's and Forte's I can't hear any high pitch frequencies so the floor noise is dead silent  I'm posting a review on it today. BTW, the volume is smooth and solid and the build quality is first rate. The volume increases perfectly as I rotate it and so there's no impedance issues. Definitely a much nicer build than the Schiit SYS and I prefer the larger, more solid rotating knob. Wow, really amazed. Thanks, Daniel

[NOSValves]

Pretty hard to design a passive preamp that's noisy! No gain = no noise... pretty simple. Much of the noise you experience with an active tube or SS preamp is caused by a system mismatch. Using the wrong preamp with an amp or the reverse. One of the largest headache of putting together a separates system is picking components that play well together. I personally have never liked passive preamps but LP's is a big part of my serious listening...

[KT88]

That's just me, but whenever I tried passive preamps or connected an adjustable output, e.g. from a Bluesound Node or a CD player, directly to the power amp, I found the sound to be very open and full of resolution. But on the other hand, I missed the "meat", the punch of the sound, the timing and that authority that makes the sound for me. Of course, this only applies to pre-power combinations that match each other in terms of impedance, etc.

[Idontknow]

On 1/12/2024 at 10:58 AM, NOSValves said:

Pretty hard to design a passive preamp that's noisy! No gain = no noise... pretty simple. Much of the noise you experience with an active tube or SS preamp is caused by a system mismatch. Using the wrong preamp with an amp or the reverse. One of the largest headache of putting together a separates system is picking components that play well together. I personally have never liked passive preamps but LP's is a big part of my serious listening...

 

Yea, probably impedance issues. 

[Schu]

Ive also never been quite happy with a passive attenuation set up... and I have tried a few, topping out at a Hattor that was by far the best build quality I have seen for a long time.

it's not that I couldn't live with one if I needed to, but they all seem to do similar things... that is the reduce the impact and transients. Not terribly, but ever so slightly that it is annoying to me personally... this also makes the sound more  'ruler flat' and less dimensional.

it's just a personal preference as many of those passive are really great at what they do... 'attenuate' if you catch my drift.

[NOSValves]

15 hours ago, Idontknow said:

 

Yea, probably impedance issues. 

 

  Not just impedance the big problem usually stems from too much gain. Amplifier with too low signal to full power rating coupled to preamps with more available gain then require to drive the amp to full power. 

[Idontknow]

Thanks for the comments guys. Good info. 

[Ho_Leung]

Try the Truth from the Horn Shoppe, it is an active pre, possible the best any where.  hard to beat.  Funny volume, but the remote is the bomb.  it should be called the naked truth. 

[KT88]

10 hours ago, Ho_Leung said:

Try the Truth from the Horn Shoppe, it is an active pre, possible the best any where.  hard to beat.  Funny volume, but the remote is the bomb.  it should be called the naked truth. 

Interesting, I never heard about it before.

 

https://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/the_truth_e.html

 

[Idontknow]

On 12/28/2023 at 8:43 AM, SWL said:

Yeah, with my Schiit Aegir or Vidar I've used my SYS with great results like you described. I also have one of those Nobsound passive preamps as well and it works just as well. I use the Nobsound simply because it has a nicer volume knob and it's smooth.

 

Thanks for the recommendation. I love the Nobsound so much, I don't even bother with the SYS either now. I reviewed it here. 

 

[Shakeydeal]

On 1/22/2024 at 2:30 PM, Ho_Leung said:

Try the Truth from the Horn Shoppe, it is an active pre, possible the best any where.  hard to beat.  Funny volume, but the remote is the bomb.  it should be called the naked truth. 

I almost bought one of those. But it’s not an active preamp, it has no gain. I’ve heard really good things about it. I spoke with Ed on the phone, really nice guy.

[KT88]

Active in the sense that it makes the output impedance low.

[Shakeydeal]

Yeah, just no gain.