Schiit Mani review, how good is it really?
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- I checked out the original version of the Schiit Mani to see how this entry-level phono preamplifier stacks up.
Equipment used: Nagaoka MP-500-Origin Live Silver-Opus 3 Continuo turntable. Doge 8 preamplifier, Ashly FTX-2000 amplifier, Carver Amazing silver speakers.
Check out my patreon at patreon.com/davelistenstohifi for sound samples and other info.
love the setup and the lighting! very impressive for a first video ^^
Glad you enjoyed it, lots more to come!
Thanks for the great review of the Mani. I am reviving my dad's old JVC QL-A7 turntable and was thinking of adding the Mani 2 once it is back in stock here in Europe. Planning to pair it with a Nagaoka MP-110 as the JVC needs a new stylus, as some young kid (me) ruined the old one back in the late eighties.
Yes, do it, that should be a great combo! Do you have something that you can play the MP-110 through in the meantime while you wait for the Mani 2 to become available?
@@davelistenstohifi I can go through the built in phono on my Onkyo amp. Looks like I’ll get the Mani 2 before the MP-110, so all is good. Even made an emergency plan if the JVC needs new caps and have ordered a complete new set so I can swap if need be :-)
I started in 2001 with an NAD PP 1 phono preamp, then upgraded to the Mani in 2020. In 2021 I upgraded to a Lounge Audio LCR mkIII Silver when I bought a Mofi StudioDeck turntable. Enjoying your audio musings. I've subscribed 😎
Hey Tony, thanks for the subscription! Did you find much of an improvement going from the Mani to the Lounge? Enjoy the music!
@@davelistenstohifi definitely more detail with instruments in space and a bit more shimmer in the highs without being too shrill or edgy.
I just picked up the Mani 2 and it is the best of the bunch I have tried. The contenders are my LP3 turntable's built-in, Onkyo receivers phono input, a Fosi Box X2 and a DJPre-II preamps. The Mani 2 is by far the best sounding, at least in my set up. Highs are open and clear. Lowes are tight and not muddy and the mid tones and voices seem to be ok too. It costs as much as my turntable! but I think I have a nice foundation for pre-amp just in case I upgrade my cartridge or even the turntable. Pricy is a relative term. For me it is pricy but well worth it.
Congrats on the Mani 2! If it sounds great to you, then it's pricy and worth it. I'm using the Mani with a more expensive turntable and cartridge, and it sounds great there so I think you have a good base to build on with the Mani 2. Thanks for watching!
Nice Video Dave. Don't worry about the pronunciation. There are a lot of reviewers who pronounce it as it should be and have not been blocked by YT.
Thanks Boris, I am working on the video for the Swagman Lab power supply for the Mani, I'll be sure to pronounce it right there!
New to the channel. Really appreciate your passion and thoroughness. It’s neat to see an audiophile comparing entry level gear to the rarefied stuff and giving credit where it’s due. I just ordered a mani 2 for my first turntable and am curious if you’ve ever sampled the new one.
Hey Americansafarico, thanks for watching! No, have not tried the Mani2 yet, hope to get to it before too long. I'm buying most of this on my own dime so mostly it's things I find very good deals on that show up on my channel. Let me know what you think about the Mani2 when you get it!
Man, I LOVE watching hifi guys say Schiit trying to keep a straight face. There's always a twinkle of humour in their eye and a supressed smile.
I'll maybe say it the right way next time, I think I can get away with it!
Quite expensive used here on eBay in the UK. They seemed to be more expensive here used than the new price in the USA so I went for the Rega Fono mk5 which was £220 new and think it is brilliant. Very detailed and wide sound stage, a big improvement on the budget Pro-Ject phono box that I was using previously.
Hey Tony, thanks for the info, crazy that they would be more expensive than new! Enjoy the Rega fono, I should pick one up here, the mk3 are going for about $350 CAD used.
Nice job, don't be shy about the pronunciation of the brand-Jason and Mike are brilliant and they don't take themselves seriously, hence the brand name. Amazing company and wonderful USA made products.
Thanks Jeffrey, I was more worried about UA-cam striking me for uttering swearwords, I'm fine to shout out SHIIITTT in person! Yes, I agree, wonderful company with strong values and great sounding products.
It's as heavy as three bananas!! This is a great review so far.
Yes, the bananas were pretty ripe, not sure if they are lighter than unripened ones though.
@@davelistenstohifi . HA!! Thanks for a bonus laugh, Dave.
And thanks for the review.
I've been thinking about trying one of these phono stages.
Take care.
Mark.
Thanks Dave, I've been meaning to get one and im now convinced
Sonically, worth the money. Let me know how it works for you!
I got the Mani 2 a few days ago and love it. From everything I have read and the YT reviews I have seen, it is an improved version of the original Mani. Cost wise, they are within $20 or so of each other which is not much of an increase at all. I picked mine up at their retail store outside of Los Angeles. I had a great time talking to Will who is the front desk and the main guy at the store. He is a no nonsense musician with deep knowledge of audio equipment and their internal components. He was telling me he was very impressed with the components they are using in the Mani and their other products. Components that are used in much more expensive audio equipment.
Have a Schiit Mani , had improved it with a Swagman Limited edition ( Nuvotem Talema transformer, Polypropylene capacitors, Dale resistors, Furutech IEC socket, EMI filter, Silver plated copper internal wiring...) PSU and have to say it's a lovely tiny phono preamp that mostly with MM cartridges sound extremely "musical" and nuanced...had it first for my heavily tweaked Technics SL1500C....but finally i realized its voicing is more"tuned" for belt drive turntables ...so i have it on an AudioTechnica AT LP7....have to admith sinergy with that (mostly if you use Nagaoka cartridges) is pretty spectacular....
Loved your review, vey informative...also for i had a Syntesis Roma 96DC integrated amp, now i've moved to Unison research, but you know music lovers are a strange club of fanatics...
Thanks Gale! Yes, I have the Swagman signature power supply for the Mani here now, working on the video for that. Yup, MI Nagaoka being used with it, setting up the second TT with replaceable headshells soon so I can easily try AT mm cartridges and MC soon as well.
Thanks for watching, and enjoy the music!
I purchased a Vincent Audio Pho-701 assuming it would be an upgrade over the Mani 2 and because I really like my Vincent integrated. In my system, the Mani outperforms the Pho-701 by a hair with a Project Debut with Ortofon Black and it absolutely destroys the 701 with a Thorens TD 145 Mk 2 Grado Prestige Red combo. I’m selling my Pho-701.
Wow, speaks well of the mani! More money to buy records 😉
I have a Mani. It can't be beat. I use a Yamaha Aventage receiver, Paradigm speakers and a TEAC turntable with a Nagaoka MP-110 cart. Sounds amazing. But gotta clean your vinyl, like spotless clean. I'll say it again, the Mani can't be beat, unless you want to spend 10x its price.
I agree it is quite good, but I think but within the 10x price barrier there are some valid contenders.
@@davelistenstohifi The 10x comment was just literary embellishment on my part 🙂
I have had the Mani in my system for a little while and I agree, it is a fun and engaging phono preamp. Nice video.
Thanks Fred, I appreciate it! Yes, the Mani is pretty complete for what it is.
GOOD review..............! Thanks ...
Thanks for watching !
For some of the good Ortofon cartridges the Recommended load capacitance 200 - 500 pF (OM Super 40), Recommended load capacitance 150-300 pF (2M Blue). ifi zen phono offers 110 pF for MM. Schiit Mani 2 offerings get you into the recommended range. I don't have balanced capability that you get from ifi zen phono.
Well, maybe I'll have to get both of them here and put them to the test!
So good!!
Thanks Nina, appreciate you watching!
I have two Manis and bought the Mani 2 since it has more DIP settings for MC carts. I enjoy my Schiit Manis since they are affordable and sound great to me. There's no way I could afford the tube phono preamp you mentioned as I don't have deep pockets.
Nice...what cart are you using?
@@davelistenstohifi My MC cart is the Denon DL-103R and it's the only MC cart I have. I have 6 MM carts that I rotate through. I just recently bought the Nobsound Little Bear tube phono preamp that I'm going to be upgrading with better resistors, caps, and tubes. This is a project inspired by Skunkie Designs.
Have fun with that!
So 50 you say. Here is the comment. I would really like a review on Mani 2 with MM cartridge. Mani 1 vs Mani 2 and add power supply. That would make my day.
At this point it may have to be the Mani 3! What cartridge are you running?
@@davelistenstohifi Ortofon 2M Blue
Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec. - 5.5 mV
Channel balance at 1 kHz - 1.5 dB
Channel separation at 1 kHz - 25 dB
Channel separation at 15 kHz - 15 dB
Frequency response - 20-20.000 Hz + 2 / - 1 dB
Tracking ability at 315Hz at recommended tracking force - 80 µm
Compliance, dynamic, lateral - 20 µm/mN
Stylus type - Nude Elliptical
Stylus tip radius - r/R 8/18 µm
Tracking force range - 1.6-2.0 g (16-20 mN)
Tracking force, recommended - 1.8 g (18 mN)
Tracking angle - 20°
Internal impedance, DC resistance - 1.3 kOhm
Internal inductance - 700 mH
Recommended load resistance - 47 kOhm
Recommended load capacitance - 150-300 pF
Cartridge colour, body/stylus - Black/Blue
2MR cartridge weight - 6 g
2M and 2M Verso cartridges weight - 7.2 g
2M Premounted cartridge weight - 16.7 g
I ordered the Mani 2. Reason being that the Mani 1 has some good value for money reviews. Also on paper the Mani seems to suit the Ortofon 2M Blue better. As you pointed out not the best but you are comparing to 10 x more coin that should be better.
I also looked into the power supply. Mani 1 16VAC 0.8A. Mani 2 16VAC 1A. Swagman Lab 16VAC 2A. I actually found Linear transformer C-Core type. Low noise with No SMPS RF.
Specifications:
Volts 16VAC
Size 2.5mm
Current 2500mA
Type AC
Should be a good upgrade. Cost was about AU$40 + shipping. So pretty cheap. Made in China of course. It is about 3 times the weight. 16VAC 2.5A Desktop Power Supply. Wiltronics Research Pty. Ltd. Should be easy to Google.
Let me know if you have used your new power supply and did it make a difference?
I have a Mani 2, it's very good, however I notice some details are a bit too far back in the mix, still very good though, here in the UK it was £160.
Yes, for £160 you have to expect some shortcomings, but I found that the Mani did so much well that it was easy to live with despite the negatives. You likely have to spend several times that to get significantly better.
I see in your description you're running a MP500 cartridge. I'm currently loving the MP200 on a restored / hot rodded Thorens TD160 and noticed a very significant improvement over my old MP110. Curious if you've ever listened to the lower level Nagaoka carts (110,150,200) and how much of an improvement the 500 is or are we flirting with diminishing returns? In regards to the Schiit Mani, also owned one for 5 or so years and changed to a Darlington Labs MP7. It's not a 5 figure phonostage but for under a grand, it's a very nice unit from an up and coming company. Check them out if you have a chance.
Thanks Blue360, I have not had experience with the lower Nagaoka carts, but moving from a aluminum/conical stylus on the 110 to a boron/eliptical on the 200 would be a good step up. I've heard eliptical and line contact stylus on the same AT cartridge and it does make it quieter and more detailed. The 500 is likely not twice as good as the 200, but it is a very detailed cart that tracks very well. Not as warm as I expected, but still full and fun to listen to. I'm looking for a Denon 103 to try next, that will be good to compare to the MP-500.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Mani2 or more importantly Darlington Labs MP-7.
Hey Connah, yes I have my eyes open for a Mani 2 to check out. Not familiar with the Darlington Labs MP-7, but it's on my radar now, thanks!
why would anyone care that it is built in the USA???
Usually if you find something at an exceptionally low price you will be able to resell it without a loss.
Ladies. gents, and everybody else... Who are the everybody else??
Where did you find the "a" at the end of the Schiit name?
gee this video was funny.
Anyway, thank you for the video. Some "good" information in there.
That's actually a great question-I guess supporting manufacturing in a certain country also endorses the philosophy and values of that society, national pride as well. Important for some people. I see high quality products come out of many different areas, but not many low-cost, high quality products from the USA. Everybody else is anyone who would be insulted if I called them ladies or gentlemen, like to be inclusive if I can! The a at the end of the name refers to a blurb on the Schiit website about the pronunciation, toungue-in-cheek as well I'm sure. Thanks for watching!
@@davelistenstohifi Excellent reply!
My post was being facetious to. I have been binge watching your channel and I quite enjoy it.
Why a review of the old Mani if there is already a successor that is better, namely the Mani2
Hey Habana, I happen to own the original Mani, and since the new one came out I figured that the original Mani would become available on the used market and people would be looking at them again. Wanted to revisit this phono stage and see if it really stacks up.
@@davelistenstohifiThat’s exactly what I just did!!! I’ll get a Mani 2 as well at some point.
Great job not pronouncing it till 3:03 lmao
I'm just working on the Swagman power supply video, I think I will not hold back this time!