I agree with you and am amazed by how good this realtively inexpensive device is performing! I fully expected the stock tubes to be less than optimal and that's why I had that quad of tung sols waiting though one is bad. Even with a pair of the Tung sols in and the stocks on the left this thing...

Ok, I figured out which Tube was defective and this helped me see that my new manual is incorrect. The front row is left channel back is for the right. Right side is the gain where the better Tubes should go?

That's what the online PDF states but here is the text from my manual: http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x263/svetkt88/1496430207777671619852_zpsxjm2k96x.jpg

Hi guys, I am a new member here and received my Freya yesterday. This is a great little pre! I have some questions regarding the Tube positions. My manual states that the front two slots are the gain stage while the posterior two slots are the buffers! This contradicts the PDF on the Schiit...