John Darko
The same for less – it’s marketing’s oldest tactic. Entire Internet pillars have been built on the concept. What audiophile wouldn’t want to think that his/her new US$279 pre-amplifier might offer the audible performance of a $2790 model?
Schiit Audio isn’t making that claim about its new Saga 2 preamplifier and with good reason: reality tells us that a) such price-to-performance overreach is exceedingly rare and b) only a side-by-side comparison with a 10x more costly model will confirm (or deny) its existence. No matter the outcome of that comparison – if it ever comes – the Saga 2 looks like a cracking deal:
From the product page: “US$279 for a relay-potentiometer, passive-or-active, Class A, zero-feedback, 100% discrete, differential, 75V linear power supply preamplifier.”
Note: “passive or active”. Earlier Saga models were passive only with no gain. Saga 2’s high- and low-gain modes can be switched in and out of the circuit. In my experience, gain can add dynamism and punch to the sound but with a potential hit to sonic purity.
On the Saga 2’s back panel, four single-ended RCA inputs are joined by balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs. The quarter-inch headphone socket on the front panel is, according to Schiit, “Booster based on OPA1656, 150mW typical max output”. The power supply is an outboard brick. An infra-red remote control is also part of the deal.
Measurements? Click here.
That price again: US$279 — and “Assy in USA” to boot.
Further information: Schiit
Photos: Lee Shelley
