u/Sivalon

Last question today, I promise:

How’s it sound? Are you happy with it? What speakers are you driving? And do the fans ever run loudly enough for you to hear?

Thanks again!

Hi all. I’m considering getting a Gigastack for my main system, with a Freya as the preamp. The only thing that concerns me - aside from wondering if I’ll like how it all sounds - is the longevity and reliability of the components.

I have seen many posts over the years of the smaller Schiit failing after years of service and past their warranty period. Fine, great, but I’m wondering about their larger, much more pricey stuff-stuff that you’d expect to last a decade or more with no issues.

And, if there are issues in the future and (heaven forbid) Schiit is gone, how easy or not would it be for a third party to repair them? Shoot, if Schiit is still around, how much trouble would it be for them to repair it?

Anyone who’s used OG Freyas, Tyrs, Folkvangrs even, please speak out and let us know what your long-term experience has been!

And thanks, as always.

At 12:47AM, in the East Coast of the USA. Hang in there everyone!!

Hi all. Does a 2021 Forester take 88 “octane?” I’m aware of its ethanol context but was wondering if the seals could tolerate it. Thank you!

And I have thoughts.

First: great car. Got it at 97K miles for a bit over $15K and the interior was well cared for, exterior had some scratches but no undercoat damage. Clean Carfax with good service documentation and tires with 6000 miles on them.

Second: some somewhat contradictory information here about the CVT. Drain and fill vs. flush and fill vs. “don’t touch the lifetime fluid!” The one thing I don’t see on the Carfax is any mention of transmission work, but it’s possible I don’t know what to look for.

And what about the diff? Any thoughts on that?

Third: the auto stop-start is harsh. I come to a stop and the car stops. When I start to proceed, the engine goes “whuh-whuh-start” which makes the car shudder a bit. On occasion it won’t start, which makes an alarm sound and all the lights on the dash illuminate. I can always start the car “normally” afterwards, but it’s irritating as hell. I’ve taken to turning the system off immediately.

Interestingly, the car always starts immediately from a cold start, and very gently too.

Fourth: it’s interesting what EyeSight “sees” and doesn’t see. I can have a car that I’m slotted behind move into another lane, and there’s another car right in front, but EyeSight doesn’t track it and behaves as though there’s no car in front. On occasion though, it locks right on to that other car and tracks immediately. I have no idea why the difference.

Turns and curves as well. EyeSight will usually track the car turning in front and maintain speed and distance, but sometimes it won’t and will accelerate. And occasionally it won’t see anything at all, even though there’s a car in front.

Fifth: steering/lane keep assist is perfectly fine, but sometimes the car alerts me to keep my hands on the wheel - even though my hand is on the wheel, turning it myself!

At the end of the day, I do love the car. It’s smooth riding, responsive, takes regular gas, has a very nice H-K sound system (with CD player!) and according to the dash I’m getting 27.5 MPG. A tad better than my old Soul. And I do like how it looks, a lot. But it has some real idiosyncratic features, I need to work around. And guidance on the CVT and diff would be welcome!

Thanks for reading. Have a better one!

Better pics of the standard edition and new pics of the Edition 1897 now up on collectorspreview.

The 1897 is amazing, what a cool idea for the barrel.

https://collectorspreview.com/stoker