Schiit Sol Turntable Sneak-Peak

Discussion in 'Vinyl Nutjob World: Turntable and Related Gear' started by purr1n, Jul 19, 2017.

  1. baldr

    baldr Schiit-sterer

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,758
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Cast and finish machined.
     
  2. baldr

    baldr Schiit-sterer

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,758
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Some really good news. The one design aspect of the arm/table I absolutely hated has been fixed: In order for arms to be truly interchangeable, there needs to be a provision to adjust arm height for proper VTA. The problem was I couldn't originally come up with a solution that was not complex and expensive to allow this operation on the fly. It has been solved in a brief discussion with Jason. This truly makes arms interchangeable quickly with proper and complete adjustment! The adjustment will be a gnarled edge horizontal wheel around the unipivot bearing. Now, the TT (nor any other) will still NOT be a product for audio priss spigots who are unwilling to learn anything about their systems and invest such learning/sweat into their system. It will, however, allow for adjusted/optimized cartridge changes as close to instantly as possible. Further, I will be making a base and arm holder to make this a universal arm suitable for other TTs. Target price is somewhere between a Jil and 4490 Bifrost. Yeah!
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2017
  3. deniall83

    deniall83 Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Melbourne
    I am so f@#king pumped for this! I'll be buying one as soon as they're available. I just hope we don't get screwed on price in Australia like we do everything else. I'd love a Rag in my system but $3k AUD is a bit steep.
     
  4. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,425
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Peoria, IL
    I'm glad the tonearm is being released on it's own. That will make an apples-to-apples comparison with other turntables extremlely easy.
     
  5. Rotijon

    Rotijon Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    261
    Trophy Points:
    63
    If this table is comparable to a kuzma ref 2 or stabi M, ill have to thank schiit for saving me thousands upon thousands of dollars.

    I dont mind paying 2k with the options all in for a table comparable to at least the classic 4.
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    It's not - that would be wishful thinking. This table is supposed to be a Project / Rega killer. The arm might be a giant killer though. Well that's relative. Maybe not against $30,000 arms, but might be as good or better than the VPI JMW arms, especially the latest 3D printed garbage.
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2017
  7. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    980
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Eindhoven
    I don't know where you got $2k from, it's clearly aimed to be between $199 and 399 as per the information we have. Could be without a cart at this price but still.

    I don't get why you keep expecting schiit to do a fully high end device, then once it's out you sit back and complain that their offering doesn't beat stuff 10x-20x more expensive.

    Edit: made a mistake with pricing. See posts below. But my second statement still stands
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2017
  8. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,425
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Peoria, IL
    A decade ago you could step up from your Rega or Music Hall to a Tecnodec, Space Deck or Scout for about $1000-$1200 setup and out the door from your local dealer. Now all those tables cost at least twice that, dealers are stingy as hell with discounts and setup is extra.

    This Schiit table can't come fast enough. The entire table will cost less than a decent tonearm.
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2017
  9. winders

    winders boomer

    Banned
    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,596
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    San Martin, CA
    That's just for the tonearm without cartridge. The target price for the Sol, without cartridge, is between $599 and $1249 according to Mike.
     
  10. winders

    winders boomer

    Banned
    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,596
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    San Martin, CA
  11. baldr

    baldr Schiit-sterer

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,758
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Just some comments on my upcoming Schiit TT design philosophy and practice. It all begins on philosophy, since anything I build is first and foremost built upon my experience as a user. That is whether it is an idea for a totally new product I feel a need for, or whether it is a "better mousetrap" idea. In the case of the TT, it is of course a "better mousetrap". This TT experience is based upon my having owned dozens (yes dozens) of turntables over the last several decades.

    I know enough about metal processes and fabrication absorbed over the last forty years or so of manufacturing, and I have the willingness to call people like Conrad when I get in over my head. My experience tells me that turntables sound different, most of them have bass which sounds like ass. Isolation from the rest of the world, inverted bearings, stable and stiff arms, belt drive, are some factors which I have found I like over my listening experience. This is where the the design philosophy ends and the design practice begins. This is the arena which ends up separating Schiit from the rest.

    The design practice that runs through high-end audio like the plague is you build a prototype, cost it out for 10-100 pieces, get quotes on jewelry looking machined metal built in 10-100 piece quantities. Add your profit and then double it for dealers. Out pops automobile unit pricing.

    My practice (since the original Modi) is to figure out ways to save $$$ for significant quantities. In the case of the TT it was to make both the plinth and the platter cast and finish machine only parts. Saved a f**k ton of money, and as a bonus sounded much better than the original/wood plinth-acrylic platter alpha concept prototype. The advantage to something like a cast approach is it forces the maker to scale up. In fact, the first thousand units will cost us an extra almost hundred bucks per unit just in tooling costs. This means we have a big bet on selling a thousand of these. The point is that in the long run, we build waaay better Schiit for waaay less money.

    This is the point where we know what it will sell for, and it pops out at appliance unit, not car unit pricing. Up until then we can try for whatever price we want, but we never know. This is when Jason starts rubbing his hands together and gets into his marketeering mode. In many cases I never tell him exactly what I am doing until it gets to this level, not to keep secrets, but to keep from distracting him, as at any one moment I am playing with up to a dozen projects, from concept to half built. The last thing he needs as busy as he is are things which aren't yet real from cluttering him up.

    One point I want to make here is we may have (Jason in particular) "magic" price points as guides, and guides only. My focus is to build the f'ing thing, scale it up, and see where you actually end up. I will not remove a super accujack best performing circuit element for the sake of a price point. Never. Plans are like horseshoes and nuclear weapons. Close when you are good. As a religious friend of mine says, "The best way to get God to laugh at you is to make plans." The electronics/electromechanical God is no different.
     
  12. Dino

    Dino Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2016
    Likes Received:
    3,332
    Trophy Points:
    113
    This reminds me of what Rega did with the RB300 tonearm. I think it worked out very well for them (and the buyers).
     
  13. Rotijon

    Rotijon Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    261
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Because Schiit may not make the best stuff, but they tend to be unbeatable value (they are better chinese ones, but the chinese love cutting corners).

    I know the real cost of producing a Kuzma or VPI turntable. With schiit's direct sale margins and high volume, it would be possible to make a Kuzma ref 2 at 2 - 3k. And the top of the line ones for 5k or so. A barebones setup can come below 1k or so, but one will full options can come above 2k. Dont see whats the problem.

    I did not complain. I gave critique. Schiit's marketing can be in some ways disingenuous, but it errs on the side of over-expectation instead of over-paying. Which is a good thing.
     
  14. deniall83

    deniall83 Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Melbourne
    Do we have a rough ETA on when this will be coming out? This year?
     
  15. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,637
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    If anybody is going to the Schittr today for their event, could you check out the Sol prototype and see if there have been any changes made?
     
  16. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    Likes Received:
    163
    Trophy Points:
    50
    Location:
    Australia
    Can't wait to try this TT. I am still using Pro-Ject Debut Carbon that I got 2 years ago and was going to get Rega Planar 3 but might get this SOL instead. Just hope it comes out by end of this year and it will be my Christmas Present from Santa. :)
     
  17. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    Likes Received:
    163
    Trophy Points:
    50
    Location:
    Australia
    This got me really peaked my interest and try to search internet what hi end turntable manufacturers use skeletal design. Other than SME Model 10 and Rega RP8 model (hybrid design?), I could not find many others. Why most of hi end TT such as VPI Classic uses Solid heavy hardwood plinth instead of Skeletal design? Can I say that Skeletal design is better than some cheap MDF plinth if designed correctly but still solid heavy mass plinth (granite, solid thick timber) is better at the end?
     
  18. khragon

    khragon Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2015
    Likes Received:
    37
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Very interested in schiit TT. However I wanted to get a TT but the music I listen to is not available on vinyl. What are my options? I noticed there are a number of companies that offer vinyl recording service, is this a viable means to get my music converted for TT listening?
     
  19. Dino

    Dino Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2016
    Likes Received:
    3,332
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Under your circumstances @khragon I cannot imagine a reason for you to get a turntable.

    Your only viable option is to see if there is music available on vinyl that you could enjoy, but are not yet aware of.
     
  20. ohmaigulay

    ohmaigulay Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2016
    Likes Received:
    204
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    California
    Was able to visit the Schiitr earlier and listen to the Sol.

    I'm coming from a U-turn Orbit with TC-750 and Grado cart at home. It was definitely a step up in feel and sound.

    I really liked the way it played less than perfect record surfaces with ease. I feel like my orbit has more trouble with them.

    I don't have the same speakers, Ascend Sierra Towers vs Salks at the Schiitr, but it seems like with the Sol everything is blacker and with more detail. It made the Yggdrasil which was also there clearly sound digital when used with the CD transport and Spotify.
    IMG_5720.JPG IMG_5719.JPG
     

Share This Page