Post by cooksferry on Oct 24, 2019 11:27:59 GMT 12
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Member
Post by logic6 on Dec 17, 2019 12:27:23 GMT 12
Sol had been in development since July 2017. That is a long time. To make a quality turntable at a budget price is no easy task. When beta testing is finished, the Sol will be the next AR turntable.
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Post by Owen Y on Oct 23, 2020 14:26:39 GMT 12
After this inauspicious start last year, SCHIIT finally might have their SCHIIT together.... Michael Fremer (ANALOG PLANET, 22 Oct '20) reviews the SCHIIT SOL turntable: "... I strongly recommend replacing the supplied cork mat! " " It is a fascinating design, incorporating many good, fundamentally sound ideas priced to bring vinyl lovers on a budget, both tech and sound quality otherwise out of their reach, but... getting the most out of the SOL requires more than a casual set up... " " (With the Funk Firm Achromat). deep, full and well controlled bass you simply do not get with most similarly priced turntables " " ... producing a timbrally believable piano in my room, or more accurately transporting me to the Berliner Studio space that I've been in more than a few times. "
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Post by Owen Y on Oct 27, 2020 10:31:52 GMT 12
After Michael Fremer's review above, Michael reports that SCHIIT Audio today announced a pulley update for the SOL turntable, which will produce better speed accuracy and will go into production within the next 3-4 weeks. All current SOL owners will receive one in the mail free of charge. How is Sol different than every other entry-level turntable?
- Die-cast aluminum vs MDF and acrylic. Sol is made of large aluminum die-castings, which are heavy and dense when compared to the typical MDF and acrylic starter table.
- Giant bearing, vs baby bearing. Unless you’re talking cost-no-object turntable designs, the critical platter bearing is usually, well, somewhat anemic. Frequently based on the 0.28” record spindle, they may only have an effective 0.5-1” height. Sol’s is a ridiculously overdeveloped 0.5” diameter, 2.5” long inverted bearing with Igus bushings, for much higher performance.
- Giant arm vs baby arm. In turntables, tonearm length is all-important. Sol’s 11” arm beats the living crap out of other entry turntables with 8-10” arms.
- Easily swappable arm, vs arm that’s permanently attached. Have more than one cartridge? Get additional (very affordable) Sol tonearms and set them all up, for cartridge swaps in seconds. - True unconstrained unipivot vs other schemes. Other entry turntables use constrained unipivots, kinda killing the advantages of a unipivot—namely, the unique freedom of motion it provides—or conventional designs, which don’t work like a unipivot.
- Totally isolated motor, vs bolted to the plinth. No entry turntable can match Sol’s freedom from rumble, because the motor is completely separate.
- On-the-fly adjustable VTA, versus, well, maybe some VTA adjustment when the table isn’t moving. Sol is the only turntable anywhere near its price to include this insanely high-end feature, allowing you to precisely dial in the performance—while listening.
- Complete adjustability, vs limited adjustability. Since literally every parameter of the Sol turntable is adjustable, it can accommodate virtually any cartridge, including those that are thicker or thinner than usual.
- 5-year warranty. On a mechanical product? For $799? GTFOH. Nobody is anywhere near that.
(From the SCHIIT Sol webpage.) (The SCHIIT Sol TT is not yet available with motor/speed controller suitable for 230VAC/50Hz countries.)
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Post by Citroen on Oct 27, 2020 10:38:50 GMT 12
Well, after the first stuff ups you'd have thought that getting the speed right was one of the basics to QC.
Dear oh dear oh me...
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Post by colinf on Oct 27, 2020 21:18:52 GMT 12
One could always use my new turntable speed controller. If the motor is an AC synchronous type it adjusts the frequency in 0.1Hz steps to change speed. You can set it for US 60Hz as well.
AMR-iFi R&D
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Post by Owen Y on Mar 4, 2021 9:15:06 GMT 12
STEREOPHILE (Ken Micallef) reviews the SCHIIT Sol turntable: Price is US$799 with Audio-Technica AT-VM95EN cartridge. A Grado Opus3 cartridge increases the price by $156. Additional tonearms, $200 (11-inch unipivots, easy to swap). Available as a package with the SCHIIT Mani phono stage for $928. Sold direct. Warranty: 5 years excluding belt. Still no 230VAC/50Hz option (as far as I can see). Despite being a little 'tweaky' Micallef concluded: " large-scale, complex soundstage, excellent attack, surprising sustain and decay, and depth-charge dynamics. " " Speed and slam are two of this 'table's consistent qualities. " " the included Audio-Technica cartridge put out stirring dynamics with squeaky-clean clarity and an intricate soundstage. " " t he Grado Opus 3 cartridge yielded better timbral balance, improved low-end attack, a more refined and palpable midrange, smoother transients, and a deeper soundstage. "
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Pundit
Post by peter0c on Mar 4, 2021 12:41:58 GMT 12
It looks to be very well engineered Owen and being a Schiit is probably going to be affordable. I am thinking of ordering a Schiit Bifrost 2 - do you have an opinion on this or how it compares to the comparably priced Denafrips Ares 11?
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Post by Owen Y on Mar 4, 2021 13:54:16 GMT 12
Hi peter0c - you may have spotted in Steve Guttenberg AUDIOPHILIAC's system thread, that he has both the DENAFRIPS Terminator & the SCHIIT Bifrost in-house. I believe he has reviewed both the Ares (on CNet) & the Bifrost (AUDIOPHILIAC youtube). We've got discussion threads on both the Ares & the SCHIIT Bifrost, in the Digital\DACs forum section.
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Post by andrewp on Mar 4, 2021 14:32:34 GMT 12
Im sure I saw one at K Mart last week when I was buying undies...
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Post by Citroen on Jun 20, 2021 15:02:07 GMT 12
Ken Metcallif's follow up review of the Sol with tonearm and Audio-Technica AT-VM95EN cartridge costs $799. This time with upgraded cartridges (and system), Hana ML is $1299, or about $500 more than the Schiit Sol turntable including tonearm and A-T cartridge, and Denon DL-103. www.stereophile.com/content/schiit-audio-sol-turntable-followup-june-2021"Though less solid-sounding and tonally and texturally generous than my 18-times-as-expensive Kuzma Stabi R turntable and 4Point tonearm, the Schiit Audio Sol need offer no apologies. The Sol revealed the nature of every mat and cart put on it. It's a time-measuring machine and a truth-teller. Plus, it's as dynamic as "all get out," as we still say down south whenever I go avisiting. Schiit infused the Sol with soul—and value, joined to adjustability and transparency otherwise unheard of at its $799 price. Schiit is still the Schiit."
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Post by Citroen on Jun 20, 2021 15:10:50 GMT 12
Some speculation that the Sol may be discontinued due to supply chain issues and/or cost/reliability in manufacturing processes. - "First, it's not certain yet, although it's very likely that the Sol will be discontinued.
Pure speculation here, on my part, but I suspect we'll see it again, or a version of it, once supply chains stabilize and they've had a bit more time to refine the design--not so much from a functional standpoint but from a sustainability standpoint: They need a 'table they can consistently and successfully build. Profitably, too.
Jim Austin, Editor Stereophile"
- "Mr.Stoddard explains that they are now selling 10X more than they forecasted and are experiencing acute Supply issues in every area.
They are also doubling in Factory Size with the two locations being 1,000 miles apart. ( I would NEVAH sign-off on an arrangement like that, these guys are designers not manufacturers)"
- "Today Mr.Stoddard said: looks like the Sol will not continue in production.I'm not giving a accurate quote here, just paraphrasing.Seems like the Sol is too much of a commitment (my summary)".
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Post by jon on Jun 21, 2021 7:33:27 GMT 12
It's called Minimum Viable Product and is all over the place...
Iron out the bugs after release!
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Post by michaelw on Jun 21, 2021 14:58:07 GMT 12
Yep, some companies are perpetual fails.
Compare the VW ID4 with the better thought out Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Jon - How did Saturday's session go ?
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