Turntable Reviews

Schiit Audio Sol turntable Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Belt-drive turntable with half-inch (12.7mm) inverted steel Igus bearing and 11" carbon-fiber unconstrained unipivot tonearm with adjustable horizontal and vertical tracking angles and antiskate. Tonearm effective length: 11" (279.4mm). Effective mass: 13.0gm (without cartridge). Overhang: 14.65mm. Supplied with either Audio-Technica AT-VM95EN or Grado Opus3 (Timbre Series, high output version). Platter: 11.75", 3lb (1.36kg), diecast aluminum alloy. Speeds: 33 and 45rpm, selected via pulley size. Rumble: –74dB. Signal/noise: >72dB. Wow and flutter: <0.11%. Power: 16VAC, 60Hz, 8VA via included wall wart.
Dimensions: 16.5" (419mm) W × 14" (355mm) D × 6" (152mm) H (depending on orientation and settings). Weight: 9.5lb (4.3kg).
Finish: Black.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 1700248. Made in USA.
Price: $799–$955 depending on cartridge. Sold direct. Warranty: 5 years excluding belt.
Manufacturer: Schiit Audio, 22508 Market St., Newhall, CA 91321. Tel: (323) 230-0079. Web: schiit.com.

COMMENTS

Additional tonearms for $200 ?

Submitted by tonykaz on March 3, 2021 - 12:36pm

I was gonna bitch a little because the darn thing doesn't have switchable headschells but geeze an entire Arm for $200 seems like 1980 pricing, doesn't it? So, have a few Arm & Cartridge combinations.

Is it possible that the Schiit guys could build a solid Mechanical Device ?, I'm hoping a follow-up series of commentary about how this machine handles one of the beautiful MC transducers that Mr.Moffat suggests it's capable of scaling-up to.

Thinking mechaniclly, those LINN people came up with a dam nice design build right from the very beginning even though they had the little AR turntable to copy and improve. What did Schiit Copy and Improve ?

This device has me thinking that our Stoddard & Moffat team are a later day version of the brilliant workings of LINN-NAIM. Now they might just present their own versions of the KANN,SARA & ISOBARAK line of tri-amped Loudspeakers.

I've known these guys for 10 years, their Ideology has never been a veneer. I've been delighted with every piece of Schiit gear I purchased .

Tony in a opened-up Venice Florida

ps. I'm not buying one of these players, my future is shirt pocket.

Nice review, but, ummm...

Submitted by CG on March 3, 2021 - 3:04pm

Nice review, but, ummm...

https://www.amazon.com/Harpo-Hi-Fi-at-Work/dp/B0000507YW

Nice review but....

Submitted by dclark2171 on March 4, 2021 - 4:38am

I watched the Schiit set-up video on youtube when the TT was first released. For people like myself, who do not like to fiddle with such, looked too complicated to set up than it should have been. I'm sure the setup is much better now (I believe the setup video was for beta users at the time). If I were a "tinkerer" I'd probably be attracted to this.

Phobia or No?

Submitted by Old Audiophile on March 4, 2021 - 7:18am

I've always had an aversion to turntables with (even heavy) outboard motors that had to be positioned in the right spot during set-up. My fear (maybe illogical?) was/is that, over time, vibration or belt tensile strength could have an effect, however small, on that "right spot" and, hence, speed accuracy. Seems this would be especially important with a tonearm like this one. I assume some kind of adhesive could be used to anchor an outboard motor but why chance marring a nice rack or surface? I understand the advantage(s) of decoupling the motor but this can be achieved without an outboard, no? Physics was never my strong suit. So, is this just one of my irrational, illogical phobias?

No offense, but...

Submitted by Glotz on March 4, 2021 - 10:15am

Yes. The Analog Planet did a speed test on this TT. It is negligible.

One should always replace their belts once a year.

I have a trick for outboard motors that allows me to replace the belt once every two or three years. If you 'remove' the belt when it is not being played, by pulling the belt off the pulley and letting the belt rest completely on the platter sides when not in play, it drastically reduces the large angle 'sit-time' of the belt in the 'pulled' position.

A belt stretches less when it's closer to it's original shape!

Generally, it takes a great deal of isolation effort to mate/mount a motor housing system onto/into a TT effectively. Connected vibration of all related parts is substantial. It takes even greater effort to isolate now more 'intimately-related' parts.

Stand-alone motors also suffer from their connection to the support (and to the rest of the table). Many mfgs. do improve their products by continually addressing the isolation of their outboard motor housings. VPI is an excellent example in the Prime 21.

Music Hall, with their $700 MMF-3.3 model, uses ...

Submitted by Ortofan on March 4, 2021 - 6:44pm

... a split-plinth design to isolate the motor from the tonearm and platter while keeping everything together as one unit.

It also includes electronic speed change, a dustcover and an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. Adding the optional acrylic platter brings the price up to about the same as the that of the Sol.

https://musichallaudio.com/product/mmf-3-3-turntable/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPDqRrL3pa0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br2QmmtHGDg

Some nice features at a value price here

Submitted by jagwap on March 4, 2021 - 7:18pm

But 1.5 minutes? That is not long. Many factors are involved beyond the baring, but Roksan managed > 40 minutes 25 years ago with an aluminium platter.

Glotz

Submitted by Old Audiophile on March 5, 2021 - 9:48am

Glotz, certainly no offense taken! And, yes, that is a nice trick with the belt. I've been doing that for years with my TTs. Also, I couldn't agree more with dclark2171! Too much fussin' & tweakin' for my tastes. However, I have to say this is certainly an interesting TT, especially that tonearm. I would love to have the opportunity to hear it sometime. If I were inclined, I'd be the type to set it up properly on something rock solid, stop tweaking, approach that tonearm with caution and just enjoy the music. Stay safe, everybody!

He and you are right as well!

Submitted by Glotz on March 5, 2021 - 1:39pm

It does look like it takes some additional attention without a doubt. Michael Fremer also spoke to that caveat in his Analog Planet review.

If my current 'table took a dirt nap and I was without extra spending cash, I would certainly get this table (after listening to several Rega and Project tables too, lol)!

And since I've bought the solid-sounding Schiit Modius for streaming, I do note that there will surely be a 15% restocking fee applied to returns.

Without ruffling anyone's feathers, that alone may be cause for concern.
Perhaps all mechanically-complicated products (many moving parts/sub assemblies) from online / mail order manufacturers could have prospective customers suffer from 'restocking-fee' fear. It would give me pause for sure- unless there were excellent reviews here (and there) easing my trepidation.

Still, it's inherent tweakiness coupled with a restocking fee makes me glad you and Clark brought this up! It is important for customers to know.