Предусилители — Schiit Audio SYS

SYS is the smallest and least expensive preamp from Schiit Audio, priced at USD 49. The name stands for switch your schtuff, and Schiit presents it as a simple 2-input passive preamp with no electronics and no power supply, just a two-way switch and a potentiometer. Finish options are black or silver, and the package contains the unit plus four stick-on feet and nothing else.

Key specs that matter

On the back sit RCA jacks for IN 1, IN 2 and OUT, each a left and right pair, and the panel is marked Valencia, CA and Made in USA. Input impedance is 10 kohm, and output impedance reaches 5 kohm at most. The case measures 127 x 89 x 32 mm and weighs 0.45 kg. Because the unit contains no electronics, it needs no power connection of any kind and adds no gain to the signal. The product carries CE compliance for sale in Europe.

Engineering and use context

A front pushbutton picks the source - with the button out the unit plays IN 1, and pressed in it plays IN 2. A front knob sets the level. Schiit built SYS to add external volume control to a DAC or any other fixed-output source, for example when a DAC feeds powered monitors, and to let one of its headphone amps take two sources, such as a DAC and a phono preamp. The unit works with any line-level source, including tablets, computers, phones, DVD and Blu-ray players, cassette decks, tuners and digital radio receivers, and gear with a 3.5 mm jack can connect through an adapter cable. If only switching is needed, the volume can be left fully up, and a single input turns it into a plain volume control. With the volume at maximum it can even run in reverse, splitting one source to two destinations, though Schiit points out that Y-cables do the same job. The trade-off of having no active stage is a limited ability to drive long cables. Chassis are made in California, while boards, assembly and testing are handled at Schiit's own Corpus Christi facility. SYS carries a 2-year limited warranty covering parts and labor, and it can be returned within 15 days minus a 15% restocking fee.

Pairing

Outputs go to powered monitors or to any power amp with RCA inputs. Schiit sees no problem with runs of about 1.8 m to desktop speakers, advises caution beyond 4.6 m depending on the cable type, and says SYS is not the right choice for 10.7 m runs to a power amp.

Alternatives

The Schiit Saga 2, priced at USD 279, is an active preamp from the same range with four inputs, balanced outputs and a remote.