New phono preamp from SCHIIT - the Skoll

[MisterDK]

I hope so! I like Schiit, they're a different kind of company, with their own rules. And most of their stuff actually sounds pretty decent! But, at $400, I'm hoping it sounds better than just pretty decent!

I sure hope so, as well.
My current, affordable “reference” is an 834 tube clone. The 834 may not be the ultimate in accuracy but it sure sounds nice!
If Skoll sounds as good - it’ll be a keeper.

Meanwhile - I should get back to work on the 834 “kit” I was working on..

 

[MisterDK]

Anyone receive their Skoll yet? Found any interesting online reviews of it, other than the one on ASR which to me, is just useless measurements?
Someone on “super best audio friends” says theirs is really quiet and sounds ”pretty good” but the soundstage is a bit flatter than that of the Mani. Of course, he only had it a few days so it wasn’t burned in for long.

I want to know how this thing SOUNDS..

Mine is scheduled to arrive tomorrow (10/27) so I should have it to play with this weekend..

 

[justjed2]

Specs are geat for comparisons, but tell you nothing about how a piece is going to sound, in YOUR room, with YOUR gear. It might not sound as good in my system, it might sound better. But, kudos for ponying up the cash, so the rest of us can get an idea of what this thing really is, BORing, or BOIIING!!!

 

[kbwhaaland]

Well, on a forum you’ll never get an idea of how things sound.
That’s why I buy my electronics and speaker drivers (my speakers are semi diy) on specs. That mechanical dinosaur called a turntable has some specs, but not enough and don’t get me going in tonearms and cartridges.

The Schiit Skoll has some fine features and measures well. That’s what matters.

 

[MisterDK]

It’s here!

Just put it in and listening now with the default settings - lowest gain, single-ended, 47k, 50p.
It is very quiet on low gain. Sounds nice but I’ll have to use it for a while to get comfortable with it and let it burn in for a bit..

Just bumped the gain up to 50dB to try it out..

 

[justjed2]

Using the remote, or manual? I'm already lazy, don't really need to make things any easier. But, then, I do listen to vinyl almost exclusively. And I have a full manual table. And I like switching between MM and MC carts. Guess I'm not terribly lazy.....

Quite interested in your take once you have some hours on it, and a better idea of its sound signature.

 

[Descartridge]

I sure hope so, as well.
My current, affordable “reference” is an 834 tube clone. The 834 may not be the ultimate in accuracy but it sure sounds nice!
If Skoll sounds as good - it’ll be a keeper.

Meanwhile - I should get back to work on the 834 “kit” I was working on..

How does one acquire the 834 tube clone?

 

[MisterDK]

Using the remote, or manual? I'm already lazy, don't really need to make things any easier. But, then, I do listen to vinyl almost exclusively. And I have a full manual table. And I like switching between MM and MC carts. Guess I'm not terribly lazy.....

Quite interested in your take once you have some hours on it, and a better idea of its sound signature.

I’ve only used the remote.
It will take some getting used to, BTW. You need first figure out what all the symbols mean; I would have preferred writing to symbols. Also, the load settings printed on the front are in a small font and hard to see without my glasses and some extra light. Neither thing is a serious issue - just stuff I noticed right away. I’m sure that once I’ve spent time with Skoll, changing settings will be simple. Using the remote sure beats dip switches, no matter where they’re located!

Sound is very nice; certainly clean and clear, with a quiet background. It doesn’t sound quite as lush and full as my tube preamp but I didn’t expect it to, either.
While I’ve read a few things about Grado cartridges not being affected by capacitance loading, I’ve also read other people saying that they indeed are.. I’m presently using a Grado Reference Platinum 1 “woodie“. I’ll play with capacitance loading later on and find out for myself. Anyway, so far - I like the Skoll.

I’ll have more to say about it after some burn-in time.

Duane

 

[MisterDK]

How does one acquire the 834 tube clone?

You can either build one from a kit which includes PCB, resistors and caps - in which case you’ll need to source several other items on your own. OR you buy one that’s pre-built, from several sellers in China. You can find both the pre-built and the kits on ebay or alibaba.
The main advantage to building your own is that you can upgrade many of the parts with higher quality and tighter tolerance pieces. The clones have no adjustability and are intended to be used with MM, MI and high output MC cartridges. If you use low output MC cartridges, you can use it with either a head-amp or a SUT.
The pre-built 834 clone that I have sounds super and I need to get going again on my upgraded, DIY version.

 

[Descartridge]

You can either build one from a kit which includes PCB, resistors and caps - in which case you’ll need to source several other items on your own. OR you buy one that’s pre-built, from a seller in China. You can find both the pre-built and the kits on ebay or alibaba.
The main advantage to building your own is that you can upgrade many of the parts with higher quality and tighter tolerance pieces. The pre-built that I have sounds super, though!

what is the specific product item on ebay? Is there one for MC carts?

 

[adnick]

You can either build one from a kit which includes PCB, resistors and caps - in which case you’ll need to source several other items on your own. OR you buy one that’s pre-built, from several sellers in China. You can find both the pre-built and the kits on ebay or alibaba.
The main advantage to building your own is that you can upgrade many of the parts with higher quality and tighter tolerance pieces. The clones have no adjustability and are intended to be used with MM, MI and high output MC cartridges. If you use low output MC cartridges, you can use it with either a head-amp or a SUT.
The pre-built 834 clone that I have sounds super and I need to get going again on my upgraded, DIY version.

I’d certainly recommend building an EAR clone with separate power supply and quality parts, the separate power supply is a requirement for quite operation….

Looking forward to further updates on your new preamp (-:

Andy

 

[MisterDK]

what is the specific product item on ebay? Is there one for MC carts?

Take a look on ebay.. I bought the one with the black/gold PCB and shielded toroidal transformer. It comes in a very nice case.
I’ve been using this one for a couple years now.

Here’s what it looks like:

 

[MisterDK]

I’d certainly recommend building an EAR clone with separate power supply and quality parts, the separate power supply is a requirement for quite operation….

Looking forward to further updates on your new preamp (-:

Andy

Andy, I’ll be sure to post my thoughts on this Schiit Skoll after I’ve spent time with it..

 

[MisterDK]

Left it turned on all night and listened to half a dozen records today. Skoll is sounding very nice. Had a chance to play with capacitance loading with the high-output Grado on this table:



Bumping capacitance up does change the sound, even though I usually read how MI cartridges are unaffected by capacitance. Not true! Increasing the cap. loading lowers the volume somewhat and rolls off the highs, as well. Sounds best at the lowest (50pF) setting.
Again, the Skoll is very quiet; probably one of the quietest phono stages I’ve owned and quieter than my 834 clone, tube phono. It’s also wonderfully easy to change settings with the remote, making comparisons immediate and distraction free. No getting up to play with dip switches and no going inside the preamp to do that, either.

I do have to say, sound-wise this Skoll reminds me of the Musical Surroundings Phonomenas I’ve had. Skoll also has adjustability, though not as much as Phonomena has. The original Phonomena needed the top removed to change dip settings inside but Phonomena II had the dips on the back, which was still a bit of a pain. Not as many settings with Skoll - but it’s much simpler to adjust!

My house was busy and noisy with family today so I couldn’t listen as closely as I wanted to.
I’ll leave it on again tonight and do more listening tomorrow..

 

[ktm_2000]

I got mine in yesterday and took it out of the box but haven't hooked it up yet. Feels much heavier than the size of the box. I would agree that the writing on the front is too small and I can't read it.

I've been working on adding a bar top out of 8/4 Mahogany and have 3 coats of marine varnish on it so far, 2 more coats and a day to dry and I'll be able to setup my turntable.

 

[Ken Mitchell]

Left it turned on all night and listened to half a dozen records today. Skoll is sounding very nice. Had a chance to play with capacitance loading with the high-output Grado on this table:

View attachment 3022228

Bumping capacitance up does change the sound, even though I usually read how MI cartridges are unaffected by capacitance. Not true! Increasing the cap. loading lowers the volume somewhat and rolls off the highs, as well. Sounds best at the lowest (50pF) setting.
Again, the Skoll is very quiet; probably one of the quietest phono stages I’ve owned and quieter than my 834 clone, tube phono. It’s also wonderfully easy to change settings with the remote, making comparisons immediate and distraction free. No getting up to play with dip switches and no going inside the preamp to do that, either.

I do have to say, sound-wise this Skoll reminds me of the Musical Surroundings Phonomenas I’ve had. Skoll also has adjustability, though not as much as Phonomena has. The original Phonomena needed the top removed to change dip settings inside but Phonomena II had the dips on the back, which was still a bit of a pain. Not as many settings with Skoll - but it’s much simpler to adjust!

My house was busy and noisy with family today so I couldn’t listen as closely as I wanted to.
I’ll leave it on again tonight and do more listening tomorrow..

Seems that the Skoll would be a nearly lateral move to my Phenomena II+, other than being more convenient for when I switch from a Grado M+ or Shure M97xE to a very low-output AT33Sa with a reworked microline stylus.

I'll keep looking for a good phono amp that has:

A) Two single-ended inputs that can be selected from the front, top, or a remote.
B) At least one balanced input.
C) At least one setting for 66-70dB gain for a (very) LOMC cartridge.
D) Variable capacitance, impedance, gain.

 

[MisterDK]

Seems that the Skoll would be a nearly lateral move to my Phenomena II+, other than being more convenient for when I switch from a Grado M+ or Shure M97xE to a very low-output AT33Sa with a reworked microline stylus.

I'll keep looking for a good phono amp that has:

A) Two single-ended inputs that can be selected from the front, top, or a remote.
B) At least one balanced input.
C) At least one setting for 66-70dB gain for a (very) LOMC cartridge.
D) Variable capacitance, impedance, gain.

What you want is likely going to cost more than $400 I think, even used.
Skoll doesn’t offer want “A)” but has the other things you’re looking for. It also has pleasant aesthetics, will probably be very reliable and judging from ebay listings over the past couple years, it should have good resale value. Schiit is popular stuff.

When Schiit announced the Skoll, I decided I wanted one. It sounds impressive so far and is a pleasure to use. It also has the same form factor as my Schitt tube-buffered, passive preamp. Happy to say, I’m slowly getting my system to sound a little more revealing with nearly every change.”

So, no regrets about Skoll yet - and I still have other phono pre’s to play with, too.

Really, your Phonomena is a very good phono stage; I liked both of mine. After I got the 834 clone and since I was wanting cash for other gear, the Phonomenas got sold.
_________________________________

Question for others who have received their new Skoll - what do you think of it?

I’m away from home ‘till the weekend so can’t enjoy mine. It has been powered on since I got it though, so should be well cooked by the time I return.

 

[Ken Mitchell]

What you want is likely going to cost more than $400 I think, even used.
Skoll doesn’t offer want “A)” but has the other things you’re looking for. It also has pleasant aesthetics, will probably be very reliable and judging from ebay listings over the past couple years, it should have good resale value. Schiit is popular stuff.

When Schiit announced the Skoll, I decided I wanted one. It sounds impressive so far and is a pleasure to use. It also has the same form factor as my Schitt tube-buffered, passive preamp. Happy to say, I’m slowly getting my system to sound a little more revealing with nearly every change.”

So, no regrets about Skoll yet - and I still have other phono pre’s to play with, too.

Really, your Phonomena is a very good phono stage; I liked both of mine. After I got the 834 clone and since I was wanting cash for other gear, the Phonomenas got sold.
_________________________________

Question for others who have received their new Skoll - what do you think of it?

I’m away from home ‘till the weekend so can’t enjoy mine. It has been powered on since I got it though, so should be well cooked by the time I return.

Yeah, I know it's going to cost and aesthetics mean a lot to me for my system. It's pretty, and I wish to maintain having silver colored components. Torn between getting an up-level Luxman integrated amp or going for a used EQ-500 phono stage.

 

[willie-aspen]

I'll keep looking for a good phono amp that has:

A) Two single-ended inputs that can be selected from the front, top, or a remote.
B) At least one balanced input.
C) At least one setting for 66-70dB gain for a (very) LOMC cartridge.
D) Variable capacitance, impedance, gain.

Here's what you're looking for (although I don't see the MC gain listed):

Musical Fidelity M6x ViNYL Phono Stage Review

David Price takes this versatile new audiophile phono stage for a spin…

www.stereonet.com

 

[GChief]

Here's what you're looking for (although I don't see the MC gain listed):

Musical Fidelity M6x ViNYL Phono Stage Review

David Price takes this versatile new audiophile phono stage for a spin…

www.stereonet.com

View attachment 3025197

At least it's black