New phono preamp from SCHIIT - the Skoll

[willie-aspen]

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

A very nice tonal balance, but not quite there with my Fosgate Signature Phono, which is 6 times the price. The attacks and decays are well protrayed and it has plenty of dynamics as well. While it is quiet without the needle down, surface noise can be prominent.

I tried it with an Ikeda 9C2 and an Accuphase AC1. The AC1's darker tonal balance was a better match. The Ikeda needed all of the gain the Skoll offered.

I'm using it single-ended for now. Will try balanced in/out this weekend.

Thumbs up so far!

 

[willie-aspen]

At least it's black

Comes in silver too...for the heretics!

 

[MisterDK]

Skoll will probably be offered in silver, later on.

 

[GChief]

Skoll will probably be offered in silver, later on.

We need a barph emoji

 

[Ken Mitchell]

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

I searched their website, downloaded the manual, read the specs, checked a few reviews, can cannot find the gain specs anywhere. About the only thing mentioning gain is the "+6dB" button.

Does come in silver, which would work with the Luxman integrated amp I have, but I would really like to know what the gain numbers are.

 

[markd51]

The "Skull" sounds like a nice piece of gear that's not too hard on the bank account.

 

[Ken Mitchell]

We need a barph emoji

I used to have all black stuff, I prefer silver now. I need to get a Node X in silver or a Lumin server/streamer in silver to replace my black Bluesound Vault 2. I can move that anywhere and as long as it's on my home network via Ethernet, it's accessible.

 

[GChief]

I used to have all black stuff, I prefer silver now. I need to get a Node X in silver or a Lumin server/streamer in silver to replace my black Bluesound Vault 2. I can move that anywhere and as long as it's on my home network via Ethernet, it's accessible.

I am all black except for my AR and PAS2 and ST. For some reason I have never been a silver fan

Just siting around talking audio with "buddy's" and busting the boys

But my barf emoji reference sometimes triggers people.

At least you don't have a bunch of freaking knods, switches and meters to go with that silver

 

[MisterDK]

A very nice tonal balance, but not quite there with my Fosgate Signature Phono, which is 6 times the price. The attacks and decays are well protrayed and it has plenty of dynamics as well. While it is quiet without the needle down, surface noise can be prominent.

I tried it with an Ikeda 9C2 and an Accuphase AC1. The AC1's darker tonal balance was a better match. The Ikeda needed all of the gain the Skoll offered.

I'm using it single-ended for now. Will try balanced in/out this weekend.

Thumbs up so far!

I believe your Ikeda 9C2 has an output of only around .15mV (?). It’s nice to know the Skoll has enough gain for that cartridge..!
If using Skoll’s balanced in/out, I think you’ll get just a bit more output from it..

 

[willie-aspen]

I believe your Ikeda 9C2 has an output of only around .15mV (?). It’s nice to know the Skoll has enough gain for that cartridge..!
If using Skoll’s balanced in/out, I think you’ll get just a bit more output from it..

I've seen specs quoted for that neighborhood. The Accuphase doesn't have much more output, spec'd at 0.2mV.

I also have a Fidelity Research PMC-1 and AT ART-1 waiting on deck. The ART-1 will let me back off the volume control a bit.

 

[GChief]

I need to stay out of this kind of thread, now I am looking at these...

 

[Gigantic]

Comes in silver too...for the heretics!

Apart from my Mani, and the Modi3+ that I just sold, I've gotten all of my Schiit used and it was all silver. If they sold black case covers separately, I'd be all over that.

 

[krautmaster]

Looky what the FedEx man brought this morning, a piece of Schiit, the new Skoll Phono Preamp (took 3 days, not 2-3 weeks as advertised on their website).

 

[Ken Mitchell]

Looky at what the FedEx man brought this morning, a piece of Schiit, the new Skoll Phono Preamp (took 3 days, not 2-3 weeks as advertised on their website).
View attachment 3026095View attachment 3026096View attachment 3026097

That a Bluesound Node X next to it? Those are EXCELLENT! Quite a good DAC in them.

 

[Mr Boochie]

We need a barph emoji

Minion Barf gif.

 

[Mr Boochie]

Looky at what the FedEx man brought this morning, a piece of Schiit, the new Skoll Phono Preamp (took 3 days, not 2-3 weeks as advertised on their website).
View attachment 3026095View attachment 3026096View attachment 3026097

Very nice! How do the ribs taste?

Thanks!

 

[krautmaster]

I'm using RCA input from the Azure and XLR output to the Parasound P6. The little thing is the same size as my Bluesound Node X (9"x6") and sounds pretty good right out of the box. I played around with different gain and capacitance settings and for now have settled on 50db gain and 100 pF since my AT-VM740ML likes a capacitance between 100-200pF. At 40db gain and 50 pF the volume was pretty low and the sound was a bit constrained (had to turn the P6 volume up to 70-75).

At 50db gain and 100pF the volume was perfect between 40 and 60 (over 66 and my eardrums wanted to explode), and the 100pF capacitance really opened up the cart. With my Incognito tonearm wiring the total pF is around 160pF, right in the middle of the carts sweet spot.

So how does it sound?- It does not have the "strength" of my $2400 Parasound JC3+ but I fixed that by turning up the volume a bit. It is just as quiet and has the same dynamic range as the JC3+. The soundstage is getting wider/deeper with every LP, it will probably need 20 hours or more to come to its full potential. Due to the adjustability of the input capacitance the overall sound of the VM740ML is sweeter. The capacitance on the JC3+ is not adjustable, you're stuck with 150pF, and that is just a tad too much for the VM740ML cart, making it a bit bright /brittle on some LP's, the Skoll does not have this issue, it is sweet with zero sibilance when set at 100pF... at 150pF the brightness comes back, and at 200 it is bright and brittle.

Now for the bad: I hate the size of the dual voltage output wall wart (24V / 6V) - it takes up way too much space in my Furman power filter. That is all the bad. I'm thinking of buying the Lokius EQ if I can figure out a way to make its smaller 16V wallwart fit in with the rest of the stuff plugged into the Furman.

Overall this little piece of Schiit is a keeper- it works perfectly with a mid-fi/entry level audiophile system like mine... The JC3+ is pure overkill. When they eventually offer the Skoll in silver I'll get one of those for the main system and move this black one into the office system (all black equipment in there).

Tomorrow morning I'm heading to London/Edinburg/Dublin for two weeks, so I won't get to play with this little "POS" for awhile, I think I'll leave it turned on the whole time I'm gone (barely gets warm). Looking forward to Guy Fawkes day/night celebrations and consuming several adult beverages...

 

[krautmaster]

That a Bluesound Node X next to it? Those are EXCELLENT! Quite a good DAC in them.

Yep, the new "X" model, very sweet sounding

 

[Ken Mitchell]

Yep, the new "X" model, very sweet sounding

I do wish they made a Vault X like that! I'd replace my Vault 2 in a heartbeat.

 

[willie-aspen]

Now for the bad: I hate the size of the dual voltage output wall wart (24V / 6V) - it takes up way too much space in my Furman power filter. That is all the bad. I'm thinking of buying the Lokius EQ if I can figure out a way to make its smaller 16V wallwart fit in with the rest of the stuff plugged into the Furman.

Go to Home Depot and buy a 1ft extension cord. Plug the wallwart into the extension cord and plug the cord into the Furman. Should only cover one outlet that way.