Schiit Happened: The Story of the World's Most Improbable Start-Up

[Verde And Black]

glad to hear that you resolved the TT hum issue, and are enjoying your system (with mostly-free upgraded speakers) as it is now.

for a DAC, I would wait for a few more Mimir reviews & comparisons vs (now-discontinued, last-call) MMB2 and Bifrost 2. or look for a second-hand Skoll as others replace it with Stjarna. also a Forkbeard-capable Bifrost is in the early planning stages (maybe 25Q4, maybe sometime in 2026, with Jason's rule in effect here) but likely to remain in the $799 or so price tier.

+1

I had an unscheduled electrostatic discharge that permanently disabled my Mani 2.
Skoll F helped me get over my loss quickly.

Skoll F is as good as, if not better, than my Avid Pellar. There's a big price difference between those two.

Skoll F is one of Schiit's very best price-to-performance components. Mani 2 is a great little preamp, but Skoll swims in much deeper waters and has an absolutely black background for a phono preamp.

+2. I've owned both, and going from mani 2 to the skoll felt like a bigger jump than going from modi multibit to any version of bifrost (I've tried all multibit versions up to the 2/64).

All great thoughts!

But to be clear, I want to upgrade, but I need to make sure we have enough $$$ on hand to cover some unexpected, but thankfully seemingly not as serious as it could’ve been health related business (aside l, Aetna/CVS Health and EviCore can take a long leap off the world’s shortest pier) without incurring debt. So disposable cash for DAC or phono-pre updates is on hold.

But good info to have when this health basiness clears.

I clipped the thread I quoted, but when I initially decided on the Mani 2 over the MB2 as my upgrade choice, I asked, “Which of these would give me more joy?” I settled on the Mani then, and it was the right choice, for us, at the time.

I don’t know how I’d answer that for Skoll vs Bifrost right now.

 

[Bowmoreman]

Stjarna question: nothing is in its final place yet, but.... have some speaker hum that goes away in mono mode. Any ideas what is going on there?

That would imply a ground differential between the two channels between cartridge and Stjarna. Presuming you have already tried the ground cable connected/disconnected; always the first thing to try with LP related hum… [Edit: oh Rega. Nvm]

Several things to try, in rough priority (and increasing amount of effort) order:

1. Examine your leads from arm to Stjärna, is perhaps the “hum one” nearer and/or parallel to an AC/power line/cord? Move these about whilst listening. If they must be near (physics), then make the cross at a virtual 90 degree angle. Also, and far more important, have you made them as short as possible? (Anything more than 18” in my experience is borrowing trouble, especially with low output MC’s)

2. Physically re-connect (multiple times) at both ends - yeah #because. Sometimes this fixes weird hum Schiit… IYKYK

3. Swap the leads L to R at the cartridge itself. Yeah - a ton of faff/time; but highly instructive. You’ll then know for certainty: it’s the cartridge, or it’s the arm wiring/cabling. (It does not, of course, eliminate the root cause being inside Stjärna). But, given your experience of putting Stjärna in mono and it’s gone… seems unlikely.

Other thoughts: is there an AC power cord anywhere near Stjärna (other than it’s dedicated?)

Good Luck

 

[DACattack]

Listening to this tonight. Some beautiful, elegant jazz.

 

[mks100]

I'm sure you can set $2,200 on fire. On the other hand, you can buy a Grado S950 and listen to Phosphorecent's "Revelator" via a Lyr+ w/ a Mimir and understand why this hobby rocks.

 

[feelingears]

+2. I've owned both, and going from mani 2 to the skoll felt like a bigger jump than going from modi multibit to any version of bifrost (I've tried all multibit versions up to the 2/64).

Thanks - all of you who posted recently about Skoll - I need a "back up" phono pre that maybe needs to replace the tubes failing in my current pre. Nice when the jump lands farther than expected!

 

[DACattack]

Two very large and complex spreadsheets beckon, as well as 110 pages of technical documentation. I have a large and steaming cup of coffee to sip on as I plow through both. Happily to help get through both tasks this morning I have this splendid early 90's pop masterpiece playing on headphones. Prototypical Thomas Dolby production is simply <chef's kiss>...

Good morning all!

 

[ArmchairPhilosopher]

Prototypical Thomas Dolby production is simply <French kiss>...

Gosh, I sincerely hope you meant to write "chef's kiss" because your post is taking a seriously awkward turn otherwise…

 

[MindBreak]

Two new things on the Valhalla 3 front:

First:
I found the limit of the Valhalla 3 when it comes to my planar collection. After 1 hour + of powering my Starry Night V1 (first run) the Valhalla 3 went into protection mode (music cut off twice). It was a longshot, but it sounded great up until that point. Horizon Open which is also SJY Audio's, has yet to have any issues on the Valhalla 3 at least.
*It happened again with another headphone, I think it might be running a little too hot, I just repositioned the amp, and I will report back.

I was listening to this album when it happened:

Second:
I saw a matched pair of 1940s Raytheon 6SN7 tubes on Lowtechelec's Etsy storefront for $60, and I couldn't resist (also ordered a pair of adapters). Hopefully they get here by next week.

 

[Ripper2860]

Gosh, I sincerely hope you meant to write "chef's kiss" because your post will have taken a seriously awkward turn otherwise…

 

[ArmchairPhilosopher]

I found the limit of the Valhalla 3 when it comes to my planar collection. After 1 hour + of powering my Starry Night V1 (first run) the Valhalla 3 went into protection mode (music cut off twice). It was a longshot, but it sounded great up until that point. Horizon Open which is also SJY Audio's, has yet to have any issues on the Valhalla 3 at least.
*It happened again with another headphone, I think it might be running a little too hot, I just repositioned the amp, and I will report back.

I'm curious; Are you using the impedance multiplier?

Since you're saying that you like to roll tubes, please make sure you're not exceeding 2.7A in total heater current draw.

 

[Paladin79]

One of my Micro-Seiki tonearms arrived so I will work with it soon.

 

[MindBreak]

I'm curious; Are you using the impedance multiplier?

Since you're saying that you like to roll tubes, please make sure you're not exceeding 2.7A in total heater current draw.

Multiplier and High gain are on.

I have yet to roll tubes on the Valhalla 3, so all stock at the moment.

It seems to happen with my planar headphones once I go past 50% volume attenuation.

 

[ArmchairPhilosopher]

Multiplier and High gain are on.

I have yet to roll tubes on the Valhalla 3, so all stock at the moment.

It seems to happen with my planar headphones once I go past 50% volume attenuation.

That's how I'm using mine; high gain, impedance multiplier on, with DCA Noires. But I never get above, like, 40% volume, so…

 

[MindBreak]

That's how I'm using mine; high gain, impedance multiplier on, with DCA Noires. But I never get above, like, 40% volume, so…

I might try reseating the tubes later, maybe they are not making full contact.

Edit: Well Horizon Open is 15 ohms and 88db Sensitivity, so it needs a little more volume than the DCA Noires.

 

[biodigitaljazz]

Skoll F is one of Schiit's very best price-to-performance components. Mani 2 is a great little preamp, but Skoll swims in much deeper waters and has an absolutely black background for a phono preamp.

Love my Skoll to pieces. I haven’t used a ton of phono stages, but of the ones I have Skoll is in fact the best, and no doubt goes toe to toe with $1k stages.