ELEVATE TO A NEW PERSPECTIVE OF HOME AUDIO WITH SAGA S DISCRETE SOLID-STATE PREAMPLIFIER

In 2010, Schiit was formed when two seasoned audio industry professionals decided it was time to change the status quo. The two audiophiles are Mike Moffat, formerly of Theta, and Jason Stoddard, formerly of Sumo. They worked together to produce numerous audio and video products. Audiophiles have long favoured Schiit as a source for digital converters, headphone amplifiers, speaker amplifiers, and preamps. When you listen to music, it comes to use without any noise, only because of preamps. Without a preamplifier, it would sound weak and noisy and can sometimes lead to distortion. Electrical waves or signals pass through several phases. Like through the air and start to vibrate or bounce sometimes. The result is a harsh and underwhelming tone resulting in noisy and distorted sound. The experts at Schiit developed the Saga S, a discrete solid-state preamplifier considering these aspects. The Saga S transforms a weak signal into a clean and voluptuous sound.

FEATURING A DISCRETE JFET BUFFER STAGE DELIVERING CLEAN AND PRECISE AUDIO

The Solid-State Saga S is a solid-state preamplifier with a discrete JFET (Junction Field Effect Transistor) buffer stage in its circuitry. JFET input stages have comparable bias currents, and JFET devices have much better noise performance. Moreover, JFETs have higher gain (transconductance) than CMOS devices. A discrete JFET does offer a way to achieve high input impedance and low noise with flexible biassing. Saga S provides clean and jitter-free audio reproduction thanks to a dedicated JFET buffer integrated into its circuitry. It brings the subtle nuances in the recording to life. Apart from this, Saga S also boosts the volume level and makes the sound quality better. No colouration is applied while enhancing the sound; instead, the music is as natural as you can perceive. Saga S's flawless circuit architecture makes for a promising performance.

EFFICIENT PREAMP WITH PASSIVE OR ACTIVE MODES THAT YOU CAN CONTROL WITH A REMOTE

Saga S gives you all the uber-high-end, no-compromises features you need in a preamp, including relay-switched volume control, a switchable DC-coupled discrete JFET buffer, and a custom remote control. If you want a convenient preamp that you can control with a remote, run the Saga S in passive mode. You can also switch this to active mode if driving long cables is necessary. All you have to do is change it to the discrete, DC-coupled JFET buffer mode. The remote has the same controls as the preamp itself. You’ll find the input selector, volume up & down, output selector and mute buttons. When you use the remote, the motorised potentiometer adjusts to match the remote’s settings.

PERFECT CHANNEL MATCHING DELIVERED WITH RELAY-SWITCHED MOTORIZED VOLUME KNOB

The benefits of a relay-switched stepped attenuator for volume are clear. Compared to a potentiometer, they give you perfect channel matching and near-unmeasurable distortion. Using Saga S's volume knob is as simple as grabbing and turning it. And if you use the remote control, the motorised potentiometer changes to match the remote setting. The relay-stepped attenuator is an adequate inclusion to the Schiit Saga S. It provides superior channel matching at the lowest degree of its volume knob; when compared to the potentiometer. The Saga S's front-mounted knob works like a conventional volume knob. When you turn the knob, it stops immediately at the bottom and then at the top. With it, there won't be any encoders spinning endlessly in this place. You will have a simple knob and superior microprocessor control. Saga S offers 64 1dB steps for volume control thanks to its discrete thin-film resistors and relay-switched stepped attenuator.

METICULOUSLY DESIGNED AND BUILT IN CALIFORNIA WITH NUMEROUS INPUTS AND OUTPUTS

Saga S's build is smooth yet elegant with high-quality metal housing. Saga S houses one 24VA transformer with regulated +/-18V rails, plus 5VDC for the microprocessor. There are two discrete JFET buffers with DC offset corrections in their circuitry. The Saga S has 5 RCA input pairs selectable via the front remote or switch. For its outputs, it has 2 RCA pairs that are selectable using the front switch or remote. The Saga S is designed and built in California. The vast majority of the total production cost of Saga S—chassis, boards, transformers, and assembly, goes to US companies manufacturing in the US. The PCBs are made in NorCal and the transformers in California. The Saga S is an ally when stacking Schiit DACs. A no-compromise remote-controlled system can be created by stacking Saga S and Bifrost (or any of Schiit DACs).

The Schiit Story

The story of Schiit Audio begins with two veteran audiophiles Jason Stoddard, formerly of Sumo, and Mike Moffat, formerly of Theta coming together to shake things up a bit. Both of them have extensive experience in developing lots of audio and A/V products including the Andromeda III, Cobalt 307, DS Pre and Angstrom 200. From power amplifiers, I/V conversion stages, D/A converters, relay-switched stepped attenuator volume controls in preamps to developing the first DTS home theatre surround processor on the market, Schiit Audio has developed a lot of audio products over the years.

Getting into Designing Headphones

Headphones are the need of the hour everyone who likes music uses a headphone. Therefore Schiit Audio moved to develop personal audio equipment while continuing to design a speaker-based system which includes the industry-leading preamps, amps and DACs. So right now Schiit Audio has a plethora of audio products ranging from personal audio to speaker-based systems. Schiit designs affordable audio products that bring happiness in your lives.

True Multibit DACs and Unique Digital Filter

Unlike ordinary DACs that use delta-sigma, NOS (new old stock) D/A chips, multibit chips, high-cost R2R ladders, Schiit uses unique DSP-based closed-form digital filter which improves the sonic performance of the multibit DAC. Therefore the Schiit's multibit technology brings all of it together using the current-production, medical/military grade D/A converters.

Innovation in Analog

Schiit has opted for an innovative approach for the analog side as well. Even the most affordable Schiit headphone amplifier is a miniature, fully discrete, DC coupled, current-feedback power amplifier. Schiit is credited for introducing Continuity output stage to solve the issue of transconductance droop which was common in Class AB amplifier design. Schiit has also developed balanced topologies like Nexus in Ragnarok 2 and a perfect combination of tube and solid-state with Coherence in Lyr 3.

Designed with High-End Materials for Durability

All the Schiit products are designed for solidity and durability. Even the smallest of the products are made of aluminium and steel while the larger products are made of high-end C core transformers, power supply filtering and low-noise control. All the products have to go through severe testing procedures including the latest APx555 audio analyzer and Avermetrics analyzers. Every product from Asgard and up goes through burn-in to address the issues faced during the initial period of usage. Schiit takes care of all the service and support requirements so that you can concentrate on great sound.

Handcrafted in the USA

Schiit believes that local control of all the aspects of production improves the delivering of the product. Therefore all the Schiit products are designed and made in the USA and most of the cost of the components are going to the US-based companies. Assembled in the USA means that Schiit's chassis guys are from San Fernando Valley, Schiit transformers are made in California, Schiit boards come from the east coast of the USA and all the designing, assembling and testing of Schiit products happen in Valencia, California.