New phono preamp from SCHIIT - the Skoll

[krautmaster]

Would you say the Skoll sounds as smooth and natural as the JC3+? Tight, clean bass?

Thanks, again!

Just started listening again this morning (we were in Scotland and Ireland for the last two weeks). I like the Skoll, mainly for the adjustability. That is the one draw back of the JC3+: you are stuck with what John Curl wants you to have, not what you want... sort of like owning a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright- beautiful beyond comparison but everything is built in where he wanted it and you can't change it.

No, the Skoll is not as smooth and natural as the JC3+ but it does have tight clean bass once you find the proper setting for your cartrige. It is compleyely silent in my system and I can turn down the damn gain (my one complaint with the JC3+: way too much gain)- I love the sound of the Skoll !

 

[MisterDK]

Mind you, that the Sys isn't a pure switch-box, but a switch-box with a volume control. Due to that, you wouldn't only get superfluous contact transitions, but also a different load impedance, if the Sys would be used on the input side of a phono stage. Iirc, that pot is 10 kOhm, so with the volume control in fully turned up position you'd get 10 kOhm in parallel to the input impedance of the phono stage - and hence a combined load impedance of more than 10 kOhm isn't possible anymore -> no good for regular MMs and MIs.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

Manfred, thanks for pointing that out. I hadn’t considered the additional impedance.

Duane

 

[adnick]

Duane:

I’ve not been very active the last few days so didn’t get around to replying…There’s plenty of plain old switch box options, however they can be fussy. Use 2 different types, just different numbers of connections, and interconnects that work in the system may be too noisy connected to the switch box. On occasion, depending on which SUT, a ground from the SUT to switch box works….

Andy

 

[rothwellaudio]

Mind you, that the Sys isn't a pure switch-box, but a switch-box with a volume control. Due to that, you wouldn't only get superfluous contact transitions, but also a different load impedance, if the Sys would be used on the input side of a phono stage. Iirc, that pot is 10 kOhm, so with the volume control in fully turned up position you'd get 10 kOhm in parallel to the input impedance of the phono stage - and hence a combined load impedance of more than 10 kOhm isn't possible anymore -> no good for regular MMs and MIs.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

And there's another problem (potentially). If the earth sides of the phono connectors are all commoned together there could be ground loops created. The L-ve and R-ve of cartridges should be kept separate until they reach the phonostage.

 

[MisterDK]

Duane:

I’ve not been very active the last few days so didn’t get around to replying…There’s plenty of plain old switch box options, however they can be fussy. Use 2 different types, just different numbers of connections, and interconnects that work in the system may be too noisy connected to the switch box. On occasion, depending on which SUT, a ground from the SUT to switch box works….

Andy

Thanks, Andy.

What do you mean about the interconnects being too noisy connected to the switch box - and how did you fix that?

Duane

 

[adnick]

Thanks, Andy.

What do you mean about the interconnects being too noisy connected to the switch box - and how did you fix that?

Duane

In my experience it’s sorta hit & miss, you may not have an issue….

 

[Bill Ferris]

I have my dog bless all extension cords.

Fido.

Canine ram air version ?!

 

[ktm_2000]

I received my Skoll a few weeks ago but life got in the way and just got around to hooking it up tonight.

I put the first record on and blah............... I switched to a good copy of Dave Brubek time in and it sounds better but not what I am used to.

background - I am used to tube yaquin preamp/phono, lexicon amp and KEF104/2 speakers. Last year I sold my primary house looking to relocate to near the coast. I am in a smaller place temporarily while we look for the right house and I have no place to put my full 2 channel setup so I am using a bose surround setup purchased long before I knew what good sound was and a pioneer elite receiver.

I am guessing that this is more the bose being good enough for surround sound and watching TV but crap for any listening than any statement about the skoll. I am going to try to check out the alignment of the cartridge and see if I can get more out of it.

 

[MisterDK]

I received my Skoll a few weeks ago but life got in the way and just got around to hooking it up tonight.

I put the first record on and blah............... I switched to a good copy of Dave Brubek time in and it sounds better but not what I am used to.

background - I am used to tube yaquin preamp/phono, lexicon amp and KEF104/2 speakers. Last year I sold my primary house looking to relocate to near the coast. I am in a smaller place temporarily while we look for the right house and I have no place to put my full 2 channel setup so I am using a bose surround setup purchased long before I knew what good sound was and a pioneer elite receiver.

I am guessing that this is more the bose being good enough for surround sound and watching TV but crap for any listening than any statement about the skoll. I am going to try to check out the alignment of the cartridge and see if I can get more out of it.

I still think my Skoll sounds very nice. It’s clean, quiet and smooth - but I agree about the Skoll not sounding like a tube phono pre; mine doesn’t either. I wonder though, if it isn’t more accurate sounding than a lush tube phono.. (?).
I actually prefer the richness of my 834 clone (tube) and I was just working on one today which has some modifications and a few upgraded parts…





I’ll probably put the power supply PCB together for this 834 clone tomorrow.

@ktm_2000 - you may want to try your Skoll in a system you like better than the Bose surround-sound. Also, after it has some hours on it, you may find that it sounds better than it first did…

 

[Mr Boochie]

I received my Skoll a few weeks ago but life got in the way and just got around to hooking it up tonight.

I put the first record on and blah............... I switched to a good copy of Dave Brubek time in and it sounds better but not what I am used to.

background - I am used to tube yaquin preamp/phono, lexicon amp and KEF104/2 speakers. Last year I sold my primary house looking to relocate to near the coast. I am in a smaller place temporarily while we look for the right house and I have no place to put my full 2 channel setup so I am using a bose surround setup purchased long before I knew what good sound was and a pioneer elite receiver.

I am guessing that this is more the bose being good enough for surround sound and watching TV but crap for any listening than any statement about the skoll. I am going to try to check out the alignment of the cartridge and see if I can get more out of it.

Thanks, for the review!

What is the sound like with the Skoll? Good and not-so-good.

 

[MisterDK]

Thanks, for the review!

What is the sound like with the Skoll? Good and not-so-good.

I know you’re not asking me..
Mine is very quiet with a ”black” background and no hiss or hum. It’s also very smooth, unlike a couple of op-amp phono pre’s I’ve heard. It has good detail without sounding bright.
It does not sound as rich and lush as most tube phono preamps so going from tubes to the Skoll, may explain “blah..” (?).

 

[wushuliu]

So to summarize the thread so far: Schiit Skoll is an excellent phono preamp for its price point, punching above its price class but don't expect it to sound like a tube pre, because it's not a tube pre.

Seems like the most appropriate competitor would be the $1k Ifi Phono 3...

 

[MisterDK]

So to summarize the thread so far: Schiit Skoll is an excellent phono preamp for its price point, punching above its price class but don't expect it to sound like a tube pre, because it's not a tube pre.

Seems like the most appropriate competitor would be the $1k Ifi Phono 3...

Hard to say just what phono pre it compares with. I do like how mine sounds and also the convenience of remote controlled settings. It looks good and seems well made. I’ll be hanging onto mine for awhile, I think.

Meanwhile, I don’t mind swapping components around now and then - which is why I’m putting together an 834 clone tube amp..

 

[wushuliu]

Hard to say just what phono pre it compares with. I do like how mine sounds and also the convenience of remote controlled settings. It looks good and seems well made. I’ll be hanging onto mine for awhile, I think.

Meanwhile, I don’t mind swapping components around now and then - which is why I’m putting together an 834 clone tube amp..

In terms of adjustable features, ease of use, and target market. That's why I say iPhono 3 (unless there's a cheaper pre that has similar degree of versatility).

 

[krautmaster]

Mine sounds a bit better than the built in phono section of my Parasound P6 preamp, due to the adjustability of the gain and capacitance to better match with my VM740ML cartridge. It does have a nice black background, good bass and soundstage, but it cannot compare to the bass production and wide/deep soundstage of my Parasound JC3+, but that costs 8 times as much as a Skoll.

The Skoll sounds nothing like a tube amp, and I don't know why people would expect it to. I find most tube amps/preamps a bit too mellow for my taste, almost like the old Marantz signature sound described as listening to Dean Martin after you and he had a three martini lunch.

 

[wushuliu]

Mine sounds a bit better than the built in phono section of my Parasound P6 preamp, due to the adjustability of the gain and capacitance to better match with my VM740ML cartridge. It does have a nice black background, good bass and soundstage, but it cannot compare to the bass production and wide/deep soundstage of my Parasound JC3+, but that costs 8 times as much as a Skoll.

The Skoll sounds nothing like a tube amp, and I don't know why people would expect it to. I find most tube amps/preamps a bit too mellow for my taste, almost like the old Marantz signature sound described as listening to Dean Martin after you and he had a three martini lunch.

Skoll: $400 vs. P6 $1600 and short of JC3+ $3K. Sounds like a winner for Schiit.
Seems like one could just add a tube linestage after the Skoll as well. The feedback so far across different forums has been very very positive and I'll probably get one. I mean, it comes with a remote! I have diy phono kits I can build when I'm ready for something endgame/higher end.

 

[Mr Boochie]

I know you’re not asking me..
Mine is very quiet with a ”black” background and no hiss or hum. It’s also very smooth, unlike a couple of op-amp phono pre’s I’ve heard. It has good detail without sounding bright.
It does not sound as rich and lush as most tube phono preamps so going from tubes to the Skoll, may explain “blah..” (?).

Thanks, for the review!

 

[Mr Boochie]

Hard to say just what phono pre it compares with. I do like how mine sounds and also the convenience of remote controlled settings. It looks good and seems well made. I’ll be hanging onto mine for awhile, I think.

A phono pre-amp should sound neutral. Good imaging and spacing of vocals and instruments. I like clear, natural sounding vocals.

 

[ktm_2000]

I'll be honest that I am not the best reviewer at this point. Turntable came out of storage yesterday with an ortofon OM-10 and I've only listened to 3 records. What I did hear is that some rumble (manual says rumble filter won't work unless you use XLR) and mids to upper there was some mush and wasn't terribly clear.

The interface to the unit is not terribly clear and all writing needed my phone on magnification to see (I've got 20years in IT)

I'm sure it will be fine once I check the alignment of my cartridge and some where down the line get it into my better system, I am hoping that putting a tube preamp in the mix will get some of the sound I like.

 

[Gigantic]

I'll be honest that I am not the best reviewer at this point. Turntable came out of storage yesterday with an ortofon OM-10 and I've only listened to 3 records. What I did hear is that some rumble (manual says rumble filter won't work unless you use XLR) and mids to upper there was some mush and wasn't terribly clear.

The interface to the unit is not terribly clear and all writing needed my phone on magnification to see (I've got 20years in IT)

I'm sure it will be fine once I check the alignment of my cartridge and some where down the line get it into my better system, I am hoping that putting a tube preamp in the mix will get some of the sound I like.

Unfortunately, even the best phono pre, tube or ultra high end SS, isn’t going to make a middling entry level cartridge and home theater speakers sound good. It’s always going to be limited by what is up and downstream from it.