Schiit Skoll Phono Preamp Review

Skoll is the highest performance, most flexible, least expensive balanced phono preamp available today. Put it in your system, sit down in your chair, and adjust everything with the included remote control. You’ll give up nothing to the big-boy phono preamps out there-while keeping a much fatter wallet!

[@DavidParker-jr5bd]

Schiit is the Schiiznit

[@NoFrillsHi-Fi]

Schiit yeah it is!

[@Apocrypha303]

Thanks. I don't currently own any Schiit products, but I'm in the process of picking out all my end game gear. The Freya+ preamp and Loki max eq look really nice. Maybe if I add a turntable some day, the skoll will be my phono amp.

[@NoFrillsHi-Fi]

You’re very welcome! I’m working on getting a Freya+ to try out before I have to give the Vidar back.

[@tonyvaldiconza3914]

I looked at the Skoll as I was needing a new phono preamp for the Hana EL moving coil cartridge. The Skoll didn't have correct input loading (>400 ohms) for the Hana EL. I bought a Parasound Zphono XRM (50 - 1050 ohm pot adjustable) and it has Balanced outputs into my Freya+. I own a few Schiit products, Modi, Modius, Bifrost 2/64, Freya+, Freya S, Mani, Magni and Magni Heretic. I guess I have a "Schiit" load 😎

[@NoFrillsHi-Fi]

You do have a Schiit load! I love it. I hate that they didn’t have the correct load though, that sucks. It seems like it has a wide range, but I have yet to see a phono stage that can cover everything. That is a killer cartridge and I certainly wouldn’t change it just to get a preamp!

[@chrislj2890]

You don't need a knob to control gain on a phono pre-amp, as you can see on the Skoll. It seems you are getting confused with the different hifi components. An amp or mono amps are simply for boosting the input to the speakers. They will need a pre-amp to control the volume of the source components and add features like balance and tone controls. An integrated amp has the amp and pre-amp combined into one unit. A receiver is an integrated amp that includes a tuner for AM/FM. A phono pre-amp is simply to boost the low output of a turntables cartridge to line level like you get from other components, such as CD or cassette. A phono pre-amp is often included in a pre-amp, integrated amp or receiver. I hope I'm not coming off as insulting, just trying to clarify.

[@NoFrillsHi-Fi]

Not insulting at all. I appreciate the feedback. The only issue was that I ordered a Skoll and Vidar, phono preamp and amp, without realizing that I had neglected to get the preamp(Freya). Preferably, I would have ordered all three. The phono stage that I used didn’t have volume control, but I have plenty that do. I prefer for them not to so I can get more control with a preamp, but for the purposes of the video I would have liked it. I also do like it when the phono stage has it built in because I can choose to use it if needed and not if I don’t need it. It simply gives it more versatility. The preference for volume control on the preamp depends on the application. I have a Freya preamp coming in to test, but I have to send the Skoll back before it arrives. I usually can only get two components at a time to test, making it impossible for me to test their components without adding another component to the system. Hope that explains my comment about the volume knob a little better. I should have better described the reason I would have preferred it in this application. That being said, both performed flawlessly.

[@chrislj2890]

@@NoFrillsHi-Fi A guy could devote a channel just to reviewing Schiit products, lol. Have a great day.

[@NoFrillsHi-Fi]

That’s so true! You too!

[@sopasadena1499]

If you want a volume control add a schiit sys

[@NoFrillsHi-Fi]

Thanks, I should be testing one of those soon. I just overlooked it when I was ordering products for review.

[@zounds13]

Except you still wouldn't have what I consider to be a crucial feature of a home stereo system: remote control. Who wants to have to get up out of their listening chair every time the volume needs to be adjusted? I sure don't. Incidentally, the Schiit Freya has the best remote I've ever used; a wonderful, chunky little block of aluminum (not the craptastic plastic one that comes with the Skoll and Syn). I even put my headphone amp downstream from the Freya just so I could control it with a remote. I don't know if you are "supposed" to do that or not, but it works for me.

[@NoFrillsHi-Fi]

If it works, I wouldn’t worry about what I’m “supposed to do!” I love the Freya remote, but I honestly wouldn’t get much use out of it. I mostly play records so I have to get up a lot anyway. It is certainly nice to have though!