@quincy Thanks for this thread, I happen to be shopping phono stages at this time. Do you have any criticisms, even minor ones, of this device?
Phono Stage_Skoll-by Schiit Audio
Following assessment of newly released Phono Stage by Schiit Audio.
I installed it today. It is replacing a Conrad-Johnson EF-1 phono stage I have owned since 2003. I have a tendency to hang on to quality components....
The first thing I noticed with the Skoll P.S. is zero noise floor with no music playing and the pre-amp and amp running open in the background! My C-J unit added a noticeable low frequency hum to my speakers. (not noticeable when music was playing.)
The second thing I noticed was how clean the music sounded. This was immediately noticeable. Instruments stand out like never before.
This Schiit phono stage is the real deal! I'm impressed and very happy I made this purchase! Your folks did a really nice job on the design and build of this unit, and it shows! This is the best $400 dollars I've spent on audio equipment! I believe it is worth more. Great value!
I could not leave any comments or an appraisal of this unit on your web site, but feel free to post this as you can!
Warmest Regards,
Lou Oniga
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Tom, I promised my youngest daughter (an aspiring audiophile) that I would gift the C-J unit to her. If not for that, I would have sold it to you . Schiit AI says it's ok to leave the phono on all the time. The C-J unit did not have any power switch and was on for 20+ years; and both utilize MOSFET's , as I recall, so most likely ok?? It (Schiit) runs on the warm side, not hot, warm, so I'm a little anal about leaving it on. It has a power switch on the back, which is hard to find. Really nit picky... I know. |
Another tid bit of discovery. I've been playing around with the gain stages. I prefer 70 dB of gain over all other settings. Yes, you get higher volume, but mids and highs are more pronounced. It could be a byproduct of my particular set up and equipment selection. It just sounds better. Now, I have capacitive loading at 50p. I'm not well schooled on this setting. The old C- J unit only had gain and resistive loading. Any one have recommendations? |
As it turns out, the old adage to experiment for yourself (i.e. from Eveanna Manley and her staff) may very well be true. Of all people it seems that ever-subjectivist Herb Reichert brought this to the fore recently while experimenting with a Denon 103. https://www.stereophile.com/content/dispelling-myth-about-phono-cartridge-loading |
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