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Schiit announces Kara: a sensibly-priced & practical pre-amplifier

  • Picture a new pre-amplifier…

    Balanced XLR and single-ended RCA inputs.

    Balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs.

    Separate balanced and single-ended signal routing with 64V high voltage rails that reportedly echo the “golden age of solid-state”.

    1x gain mode.

    4x gain mode.

    “Nexus discrete, differential current feedback stage”.

    128-step relay attenuator.

    A front-panel headphone output backed by a discrete headphone amplifier.

    A remote control.

    This pre-amplifier is a new model from Schiit Audio and it’s called Kara. Think of it as the successor to the tube-less Freya S.

    Quoth Schiit co-founder Jason Stoddard: “Kara is a new beginning. It’s come out of the shadow of Freya+, and it deserves its own name. Now, it’s an extremely capable, super high-performance preamp in its own right, without the need for tubes. It also provides a headphone output that delivers amazing performance for a wide range of headphones.”

    The Kara will sell for US$699 in black (available now) and US$749 in silver (available in 3 – 4 months).

    Further information: Schiit Audio

    Photos: Lee Shelly

    Written by John Darko

    John currently lives in Berlin where he creates videos and podcasts for Darko.Audio. He has previously contributed to 6moons, TONEAudio, AudioStream and Stereophile.

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