Schiit Sol Turntable Review - Episodic.

Discussion in 'Vinyl Nutjob World: Turntable and Related Gear' started by purr1n, Sep 10, 2019.

  1. GoodSchiit

    GoodSchiit Acquaintance

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    Thanks for updating us Jason.

    I will stick with mine and work with your Customer Service as required. Besides shipping back from Canada is a PITA. Trying to get a refund of the $170 our Government took is next to impossible.

    This morning I bought a Denon 103R MC and will hold off trying to install it on the tone arm. I'd hate to damage anything.

    The rebate is a generous offer to get a table like this for $499. My first reaction was to apply that money to a Bifrost 2. So win win.
     
  2. Olor1n

    Olor1n Friend

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    Amazed that Schiit “failed” to this extent.

    Not surprised at their response though. Typical (awesome) Schiit.
     
  3. GoodSchiit

    GoodSchiit Acquaintance

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    1. The pics indicate the tone arm is too long to work with the setup. Maybe back it off to a 10" arm will allow more space for the cartridge? I just bought the Denon 103R so I'll wait for Schiit to update this tone arm.

    2. I've used a U Turn table since their Kickstarter in 2015. The belts on those tables do not stretch and even though I bought an extra, I've never had the occasion to replace the original belt.

    7. Didn't Mike Moffatt make reference in one of the youtube discussions that they were considering offering "Schiit Floaters" to take care of uneven tables?
     
  4. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    This sucks. I wanted Jason to go all “Steve Jobs iPhone 4 ‘Antennagate’” for once rather than “making it right”...

    F25345FD-736E-4262-9671-4BD70219CD66.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2019
  5. badf00d

    badf00d Friend

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    I just went to the Hoffman site. Wow, what a bunch of haters that haven't even ordered a Sol. Didn't take long to remember why I lurk here instead.
     
  6. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I think quite a lot of people thought they'd leave others to iron out the teething problems. The Schiit Beta offer is probably making them very jealous.

    And about not being in the market for a turntable but wanting to like the Sol vicariously? I'm now liking it a lot! :punk:
     
  7. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Some people get off on crapping on others. Pretty sad.
     
  8. allegro

    allegro Friend

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    I count four actual owners of the Sol in that thread. All like the sound very much but had problems with the tonearm. @Melted Townes could not get any Ortofon he had on hand to fit. He used both a Dr Feickert protractor and Acoustical Systems SMARTractor and does seem to know his way around a turntable; he did manage to fit an AT440MLA. Even the Nagaoka MP-110 did not quite fit according to another user.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2019
  9. badf00d

    badf00d Friend

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    I have an MP-110 and an MP-200. I'll start with the 110 this weekend, so I'll post about what my experience is. I would bet I will have the same issues with headshell v1.
     
  10. Dr. Higgs

    Dr. Higgs Boson - Member

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    I’ll test if an Ortofon 2M fits sometime tomorrow night.

    I eyeballed the headshell to see if my Soundsmith cart would fit, but I really doubt it would clear the back right corner without bending the leads.

    Guess there’s a reason why that corner is open on VPI headshells.
     
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It's forums. Everybody hates Disney, but keeps giving them their money.

    LOL, you should read the ASR thread on how they twisted a harmless Schiit PCB coaster (which can be made into a Vali amp) into a device of pure evil that would badly influence the minds of the unsuspecting into buying more Schiit gear.
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Not having adjustable feet is OK at the price range.

    As far as providing more room in the back of the headshell for the pins, that will not alter length of the arm. It's really a matter of bearing to spindle, which is 265mm, this I confirmed last night with a measurement. Maybe some minor changes in mass.

    FYI, I did print a new protractor and got the same alignment result. So unless I don't know something (the headshell to shaft alignment is unique and different from other arms), then the cart clearance issues remain.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2019
  13. GoodSchiit

    GoodSchiit Acquaintance

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    The head shell seems too short for any cartridge the size of your Denon. I won’t try to install the incoming Denon 103R if the size of the real estate isn’t increased.

    My thinking was make the headshell longer while shortening the tone arm.

    Needless to say, I’m no expert and will wait for Schiit to start giving me the steps to make my Sol usable.

    That forum sure does have a lot of haters. They are either frustrated design engineers or they have spent way too much on their own gear and have to do a thumbs down on more economical gear to feel good about their own purchase.
     
  14. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

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    Im up for buying a Sol to help out as part of the beta over in Europe, with the pro-ject speedbox and possible other options to get the Sol out worldwide along with iron out the current issues. I really don't want this product to die or fizzle out especially if it can be brought up to its full potential with some help from the community!
    If this is something you guys over at Schiit find useful/worthwhile, let me know!
     
  15. Ruby Rod

    Ruby Rod Facebook Friend

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    I should have a table here shortly to see what's going on, but my guess is we'll change the head shell design a bit. Part of the problem is the wire clips seem rather long in the photos; I used shorter clips in the prototype. Anyway, that will be sorted one way or other. I wanted to comment on the anti-skate a bit. I haven't seen the current parts, but the theory is the anti-skate rope should pull on the arm rod at the same height as the pivot point. That's why the arm rod is vertical, so you can move the rope. If the attachment point is higher or lower than the pivot point (OK, technically a plane that passes through the stylus too) it will make the arm rock. Tie the rope to the rod at the height of the pivot and use a small drop of something to hold it there. Just a small drop of any adhesive to keep it in place, but not anything permanent. Nail lacquer, shellac or white glue. The wire loop that the rope hangs over should be at a similar height. I haven't seen it, but there are a variety of tweaks that can be made to make that happen. Properly set up, the anti-skate works well and I'd never do without it. Hint- if you put your finger under the weight and gently bounce it, the arm shouldn't rock; then you know you've got it right. More to follow when I see what the production unit looks like!
     
  16. Dr. Higgs

    Dr. Higgs Boson - Member

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    [​IMG]

    Got mine set up with a Mani and 2m Red. Alignment went alright with the provided sheet (tiny bit short on the outer dot, tiny bit ahead on the inner), but as everyone else has mentioned there are clearance issues on the pins towards the back right corner of the headshell.

    Setup wasn't that much worse than my Classic overall, although my VTA adjustment knob doesn't work (yes, with the set screw fully backed out) so that was fun to adjust...

    I really wish the counterweight was threaded. Getting the VTF adjusted on my Classic is a PIA with the thumbscrew, but this is even harder considering the set screw is on the bottom.

    Haven't touched the azimuth adjustment at all because the screw and weight are very loose and will probably get knocked out of position every time I move the tonearm.

    Edit: Ignore my previous statement on muddiness, I had the loading wrong on the Mani like a moron.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2019
  17. Ruby Rod

    Ruby Rod Facebook Friend

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    An early version had a threaded post and counterweight. The problem was the threading weakened the post slightly and put a resonance into the system. One could use a shallow groove, but the most robust solution was the solid post. Can't remember if I put the set screw and flat up or down, but it's an easy change if everybody wants it that way. With set screw up, the hole can fill with schmutz.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Set screw up would be beneficial. Otherwise one would have to lift the tonearm to tighten the counterweight in place. And lifting the tonearm results in the counterweight shifting.
     
  19. badf00d

    badf00d Friend

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    I had a little time to do some setup of the table today. It was definitely a tight squeeze getting the MP-110 to fit the arc. I attached a photo of the result. Those leads are definitely too cranked for my liking, but I'm going to keep moving forward. I really want to hear it up and running.

    IMG_6715x.jpg

    The set screw on the counterweight is a real chore to work with. For me it's the fact that it's a tiny little hex head, underneath. that gets pretty deep and hard to lock onto, then the counterweight wants to move from where I had it, and when I finally tighten it, my VTF is jacked and I start over. Having no idea what has been tried or might cause sound issues, I was trying to think of what would help the weight stay in place with a little resistance so it's not trying to move while I tighten. Maybe some sort of plastic bearing between the weight and its mounting shaft, still allowing it to slide but requiring intentional force to do so. That way it won't easily slide while you tighten the set screw.

    Can the flat be done to one side, or both left and right sides if it affects balance? This would allow the set screw to be accessed easily, and with very little schmutz.
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Has anyone else had to massage how the arm rests on the unipivot arm? I finding that with either one of my two arms, I can get some bind on the bearing, either intentionally of accidentally (through normal use, lift arm, drop arm, etc.) where the azimuth will be tilted one way or the other.
     

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