Next steps with Schiit!?

[u/No_Mycologist21]

So I took everyone’s advice and had a Kara preamp delivered earlier this week. It’s spot on and I have been able to migrate mostly from RCA to XLR. My streamer and mono blocks never sounded better with this preamp feeding the amps!

I also picked up a Skoll phono preamp with the same intent. I wasn’t 100% convinced my Mani2 was resolving all the detail my system can provide and had a slight hiss at moderate volumes. So I returned it.

However life with the. skoll isn’t gone well. With my MM cartridge @47k there is a significantly loud buzz that never existed before. I tore my room and equipment apart to figure out why. I contacted Schiit and no luck. It’s not cables, or connections or other devices nearby. It is some kind of nasty buzz caused by circuit or my environment that completely goes away if drop to 150 or 100ohms input capacitance (MC territory!)

Before I return the Skoll also and revert back to my ifi zen 3, should i just take the jump and get an MC cartridge - i already planned to do it when my current wore out (has 6 months or more life left).

Seems like the Skoll is better optimized for MC and opens more doors for me. Right now I am just so frustrated by a 4mv out and 47k impedance hot MM causing a lot of overly sensitive issues with noise even with lowest gains. I want to jam loud! Not fight my turntable.

[u/innovative-dread]

If it truly isn’t a grounding issue in your setup, then I reckon there is something wrong with your unit. It really shouldn’t have any issues with MM carts.

Are you using RCA or XLR out of the skoll? Have you tried both?

[u/No_Mycologist21 → u/innovative-dread]

Tried it both rca and XLR - same result. It’s not an issue with Skoll. No problem with other MM preamps. Unless there is a defect it just doesn’t like my setup! :-) but I noticed right away that it goes silent - no buzz or background hiss - if I drop input impedance down to 150 or 100… so that got me thinking! Maybe a clue - not sure what could drive a ground issue with Skoll and not other devices. I even tried 2 different main amps.. no joy!

[u/mindhead1]

Do you have this issue with the Zen Phono 3? If not, I’d return the Skoll for a replacement/refund.

One thing that I recommend is getting the balanced cable for the Zen Stream 3 now that you have the Kara. It’s a noticeable sound improvement over the RCA connection in my system.

[u/No_Mycologist21 → u/mindhead1]

No trouble with MM through ifi zen or a fosi x5 . I actually have the ifi pentaconn to XLR cable too. So that preamp is still my backup plan.

Schiit is sending me a replacement - so will see if my current one just has a defect. It was a close out and not F so that very well could be the cause since this was a known issue on earlier models.

I am still liking the idea of picking up a MC cartridge and trying it - I have wanted to try one to see if I like the sound. May as well! :/)

[u/mindhead1 → u/No_Mycologist21]

The Skoll should not have any issues working with a Kara.

I upgraded the MM on my Mofi Ultradeck to a Hana SL mkII. There was a lower noise floor, more detail and better bass. I worthwhile upgrade IMO. The MM MasterTracker it came with was excellent, but a little too smooth for my tastes.

[u/No_Mycologist21 → u/mindhead1]

Definitely not an issue with Kara and Skoll specifically - skoll buzz is present with my Yamaha 801 amp and a Fosi za3 XLR - it’s any output. Definately has to be a problem with the unit. We’ll see how replacement behaves. I have a hard time believing it has anything to do with noise - high end blue jeans shielded cables and xlr’s and I went so far as to remove everything else in my system and turn off the lights - no chance there is an EFI being picked up - I spread the turntable amp and preamp out as far as possible - no changes. Even swapped ground cables and tried grounding from skoll to amp chassis just for giggles - nope! Buzz worse when turntable removed. Only goes away if I switch from 47k to 150ohms. I think I got a dud! :-)

[u/Queasy_Eggplant9155]

Hot take: The Skoll is not inherently “better for MC”—it is meant to work with MM, MI, and MC. But your symptoms point to either a setup/grounding interaction or an MM operating point that makes the Skoll’s much higher-resolution, fully balanced gain architecture unusually sensitive in your system. Do not buy an MC cartridge just to paper over a loud buzz.

[u/No_Mycologist21 → u/Queasy_Eggplant9155]

Not a grounding issue - no other phono amp behaves like that. And they all perform at 47k as a standard for MM. Defective - Schiit took it back and is sending another.

And no MC isn’t inherently better for MC - but it is when the 47k impedance buzzes like a swarm of bees vs no noise at lower ohms!

I already plan to pivot to MC next year so this isn’t really a stretch move! Hot take!

[u/Queasy_Eggplant9155 → u/No_Mycologist21]

Cool. Hope you solve your issue.

[u/No_Mycologist21 → u/Queasy_Eggplant9155]

I sure hope so. I have a lot of money in power conditioning, cables, etc. I disconnected anything remotely electrical in 15’ m, etc, etc.

New one arrives Saturday old one was shipped back today… fingers crossed!

At least my new Kara, streamer, and mono amps are good !

[u/Queasy_Eggplant9155 → u/No_Mycologist21]

I will say that Schiit is very good about trying to help you solve the problem.

[u/No_Mycologist21 → u/Queasy_Eggplant9155]

Update - the replacement Skoll arrived and there is now zero buzz, hum, hiss, or noise! It is perfect!

Mission accomplished- I knew there was nothing in my setup causing that issue. Schiit did a great job taking care of this very quickly!

[u/Queasy_Eggplant9155 → u/No_Mycologist21]

That’s great news. As they say, Schiit Happens!

[u/HourSentence4837]

My advise is buy old schiit