Schiit Sol Turntable Review - Episodic.

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

  1. oneguy

    oneguy Acquaintance

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    Dayum. I may have to pour one out for Sol. I was praying it wouldn’t come to this.
     
  2. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    We got refunds on early parts. That's not the issue.

    We did this.

    We did this too.

    We also set up a dedicated production line.

    We also also brought in help to change processes and produce a great product.

    We also also also didn't hesitate to make changes when necessary to make an even better product.

    And, in the end, even with all the parts (except the casting) from one truly excellent machining company, it was slow and painful going.

    This is more an issue with our strengths and weaknesses than anything else. We are good at electronics. We became good at Sol, but with great effort that distracted from electronics. Right now, we'd much rather concentrate on trying to stay out of backorder on electronics than try to start up Sol again--and this includes everyone here, including the people who made Sol.

    I expect Sol won't be on the website much longer. Sorry to close this chapter, but it's the right thing to do.
     
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  3. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Honest and straightforward. Sorry it (probably) didn't workout.
     
  4. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    Relevant to Sol, but also to other discontinued innovative products like LISST..

    Would you consider open-sourcing the designs / schematics of discontinued products?
     
  5. SuperRoo

    SuperRoo Acquaintance

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    Will us beta folks eventually be able to purchace spare tonearms, belts etc.?
     
  6. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    Darn. I was still (slightly) hoping that a 230v Sol would end up showing itself someday.
     
  7. haywood

    haywood Friend

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    This is why I like Schiit, they’re straight shooters who want to make great products. Steve Jobs once said something like “deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do”, more companies would benefit from that mindset.
     
  8. oneguy

    oneguy Acquaintance

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    Adding a Pro-ject Speed Box allows you to use 230v if you ever find a used Sol.
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2021
  9. ripblade

    ripblade Acquaintance

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    Forgive me, but when did I imply that companies who sub out parts are fly by night operators? I also did not compare them to multinational corporations that routinely source parts from independent contractors. What I wrote was, well established TT manufacturers do their manufacturing in house for quality control reasons. Companies like Linn, Michell Engineering, Kuzma, Oracle....among many others...many of whom actually began as machine shops and moved on to building turntables. These companies don't build turntables with platters that don't fit the bearings. They may have other issues, but parts fitment is not among them. Schiit's business model, as it pertains to building TTs, is obviously quite difference and, as I speculated, is a major reason why the Sol roll-out was a disaster. I'm not here to attack Schiit, but rather to defend it with what I consider reasonable speculations for the failure of Sol.
     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2021
  10. ripblade

    ripblade Acquaintance

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    That's almost never the case. Acquiring the machinery to produce parts is an expensive proposition, as is hiring the help to setup and operate the machinery, many of whom in large companies will be highly paid trade union members. Outsourcing manufacturing to small operators already skilled in the production of parts is cheaper from the very outset. Not just off-shore, but local as well. This is beneficial from a competitive standpoint especially for large multinationals as outsourcing parts to smaller, in many cases non-union, operators is cheaper than building in house. Any subcontractor that produces deficient parts or at an uncompetitive price will lose a very lucrative contract and possibly their business as well. This is why Chrysler was able to dictate price reductions to their suppliers...eat the loss or go fly a kite. Most chose to eat the loss.
     
  11. winders

    winders boomer

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    Uh-huh....defending the failure of Sol....right.
     
  12. nlitworld

    nlitworld Acquaintance

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    As a current Sol owner, the news of a possible total stop to the project is sad. This is a phenomenal turntable that really hit it out of the park on performance even before the price was considered. That was just total icing on the cake. Please look at continuing the project down the line, even if it requires that dreaded +$1,000 price tag, because the product is worth it. I know the main Schitt bread and butter is the electronics, but that's not all you guys were good at designing. Keep it alive, and maybe make a few extra tonearms for me while you're at it.

    Keep up the good fight,
    -Lloyd
     
  13. JackG

    JackG New

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    I would really like an extra arm, I truly love this table.
     
  14. oneguy

    oneguy Acquaintance

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    Sol webpage deleted. RIP.
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  15. ripblade

    ripblade Acquaintance

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    That's not at all what I wrote, but if that's how you interpreted it, so be it.
     
  16. NationOfLaws

    NationOfLaws Friend

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    Man. I wonder what ongoing support's going to look like if, say, the motor pod craps out.
     
  17. oneguy

    oneguy Acquaintance

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    Well it says 5 year warranty so I would assume they are beholden to that. I was able to buy a new platter and bearing after Sol was listed as out of stock so they probably have some components on hand. Not sure how deep that well runs though so if they ran out they’d have to order new parts to fulfill the warranty.
     
  18. lehmanhill

    lehmanhill Almost "Made"

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    I just want to thank Schitt and everyone who worked on the Sol. It is a really nice design and a huge value. It was cool how you included folks like on this forum in the development through the beta program. I also appreciate the explanations of how you were designing/solving issues, even up to the most recent post. I feel like I have a much greater appreciation for the difficulty of designing and manufacturing a turntable. It is clear that the manufacturing part of the equation is a whole 'nother thing than with electronics.

    I am reminded of a forum post (another site) not that long ago that was lamenting VPi's production variability. Somehow, I think we need to be a little less of the pissy-assed perfectionist consumers when it comes to vinyl.
     
  19. nlitworld

    nlitworld Acquaintance

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    I guess now is as good of time as any to start a GoFundMe for designing aftermarket replacement parts to keep these running? Not quite as marketable as new fenders to a 55 Chevy but it would make this small community happy. With vinyl such a huge craze right now, it's hard for companies to ignore the potential market. I'm sure Schiit lost a decent amount of money in this venture up to this point between the production issues and extensive R&D. Also I really appreciate the straight forward non-sugar coated answers from the Schiit team on issues and workarounds and good old fashioned customer service. For that the team gets a serious A+. I guess I was just hoping they'd stick it out to see the project through a bit longer knowing the product itself was a success. Then again, so was Betamax. Perhaps they will bring the project back eventually:rolleyes: but I know that just means my table became that much more special to me. But for now, I'll get back to spinning more records :D.
    -Lloyd
     
  20. ripblade

    ripblade Acquaintance

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    I'm not sure if sales of the Sol has reached the critical mass needed for such a venture. Personally, I was hoping it would, not just for maintenance but for a source for upgrades or other tweaks. A big brand like Rega can support dozens of such cottage businesses, but not Sol. For the number of them built it would be more of a labor of love than a profitable business opportunity.

    Schiit could recoup some of their investment by selling the design, tools, jigs and castings to the highest bidder. We won't know the full story until they decide to sell it, lock, stock and barrel. I have a feeling they want to keep it for now.

    In the meantime, it's not a complicated player. Some enterprising individual could fabricate arms or belts or stock motors and wall warts, but not at factory prices.
     

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