I watched this video while high using the Kefq350 and and Klipsch sub. The schiit sounds warmer and fuller, Cambridge is more detailed but rolled back. I have this exact turn table and stylus so I will go with the Cambridge cuz iam high and bought on impulse
I have the Mani 2, running my Rega P3 50th through it. The phono stage on my Pioneer SX-1080 sounds almost the same as the Mani 2. Dang good built in Phono on this vintage receiver! Sound is so subjective, it's like wearing socks. No 2 people would get up and put the exact same socks on, everyday. Your listening room, equipment, time of day and even your mood can give you different listening experience. At the end of the day, try a few different things and settle on what sounds good to you...enjoy! ✌
Everyone listening to this video should know that the frequency response of moving magnet cartridges is affected by the input capacitance of the phono preamp plus that of the interconnect. The Mani 2 allows you to choose between 4 different settings 47, 100,150 or 200 picofarads. The Cambridge Audio preamp does not allow this parameter to be adjusted. In addition the Mani can be used with moving coil cartridges while the Cambridge is for moving magnets only.
For me Cambridge Audio is more analogue and pleasant with very good/ perfect timing. Schiit Mani is more digital. After half an hour it tires. With Mani it seems that I’m listening to a cd not a lp record.
Quite interesting reading the comments on here, it's around 50/50 I would say, one thing it does prove however, is that it's all down to personal taste !
@vascoernesto78 and how - did you manage to compare? 🙂 I'm asking because I have Ifi Zen Phono Air and tomorrow I'll be testing (every 3-4 days) CA Solo and Pro-Ject Phono Box S2 alternately - I'm excited because Ifi seems very flat to me...
This was the first test I could find that even sounds good, for A or B. Compressed audio is a funny thing. It *can* sound good but you need to do everything right. In this test, the Nami 2 sounds brighter, but I can tell if it was more detailed. They seemed to have the same sound stage, and very similar in teh mids and bass.
Thanks for sharing. I need a suggestion for my setup. I currently use a Denon PMA-520 amplifier and a Technics SL-1500 mk1 turntable. Will the Cambridge Alva Solo be an upgrade on the phono stage of the Denon? Thanks in advance.
It's really hard to say as some of these older amps have pretty good phono stages. It might be worth ordering one off Amazon. If it's not an improvement, you can send it back.
What about the Cambridge vs the internal phono preamp on this turntable? Do you spot a big difference? My order on the Cambridge was cancelled and I'm reconsidering the purchase since the internal AT preamp is already decent
If i just listen, without watching screen..i dont know when is one, when is other one...no difference....no neds to search those thiny differences....it seems lot of people forget music....music is important....90% is enjoy in music, not in counting kilohertz or microhertz.... :-) both are fantastic sounding pieces...listen the music, and relax... ;-)
Agreed 100%, when I didn't look at the tv screen and just listened, nothing between them, maybe on my Hi-Fi system would make some difference I suppose, but listening on UA-cam nothing between them !
When listened to on my playback system, virtually indistinguishable. seriously, try it with your eyes closed and jot down a check mark on a piece of paper for every time it switches from one to the other. And if its that close its not worth the worry and I'd follow the money on the best deal. And then put what you saved into something else like maybe the cartridge.
Via UA-cam there is no discernible difference using high quality headphones with my eyes closed I cannot tell the difference. If I open my eyes I start to “think” I can hear a difference. I tried a similar test with an external headphone amplifier and a built in one on a budget Marantz amp, I did it blind and couldn’t tell which was which. Unless you do blind tests bias will enter the equation!
I watched this video while high using the Kefq350 and and Klipsch sub. The schiit sounds warmer and fuller, Cambridge is more detailed but rolled back. I have this exact turn table and stylus so I will go with the Cambridge cuz iam high and bought on impulse
😄
I have the Mani 2, running my Rega P3 50th through it. The phono stage on my Pioneer SX-1080 sounds almost the same as the Mani 2. Dang good built in Phono on this vintage receiver! Sound is so subjective, it's like wearing socks. No 2 people would get up and put the exact same socks on, everyday. Your listening room, equipment, time of day and even your mood can give you different listening experience. At the end of the day, try a few different things and settle on what sounds good to you...enjoy! ✌
Cambridge is better - it has a richer and nicer sound
Everyone listening to this video should know that the frequency response of moving magnet cartridges is affected by the input capacitance of the phono preamp plus that of the interconnect. The Mani 2 allows you to choose between 4 different settings 47, 100,150 or 200 picofarads. The Cambridge Audio preamp does not allow this parameter to be adjusted. In addition the Mani can be used with moving coil cartridges while the Cambridge is for moving magnets only.
Great test thanks. I wish you test the Fosi x2 tube phono preamp that seems to have a strong reputation!!! Schiit sounds better to me more open.
For me Cambridge Audio is more analogue and pleasant with very good/ perfect timing. Schiit Mani is more digital. After half an hour it tires. With Mani it seems that I’m listening to a cd not a lp record.
Quite interesting reading the comments on here, it's around 50/50 I would say, one thing it does prove however, is that it's all down to personal taste !
Should compare them to the ifi zen phono now
@vascoernesto78 and how - did you manage to compare? 🙂
I'm asking because I have Ifi Zen Phono Air and tomorrow I'll be testing (every 3-4 days) CA Solo and Pro-Ject Phono Box S2 alternately - I'm excited because Ifi seems very flat to me...
@@phunkeyI currently have ifi zen phono 3 and it sounds amazing. I tried a few before but didn't like them
This was the first test I could find that even sounds good, for A or B. Compressed audio is a funny thing. It *can* sound good but you need to do everything right. In this test, the Nami 2 sounds brighter, but I can tell if it was more detailed. They seemed to have the same sound stage, and very similar in teh mids and bass.
Thanks for sharing. I need a suggestion for my setup. I currently use a Denon PMA-520 amplifier and a Technics SL-1500 mk1 turntable. Will the Cambridge Alva Solo be an upgrade on the phono stage of the Denon? Thanks in advance.
It's really hard to say as some of these older amps have pretty good phono stages. It might be worth ordering one off Amazon. If it's not an improvement, you can send it back.
@@UTILITARIANTVUKIs there a way to compare them from a technical standpoint?
SOunds like Schiit is brighter while CA is flatter across the entire spectrum
Glad I listened to this before buying a Mani. The Alva Duo it is, when it comes back down to 199! I assume it will sound the same as the solo?
What about the Cambridge vs the internal phono preamp on this turntable? Do you spot a big difference? My order on the Cambridge was cancelled and I'm reconsidering the purchase since the internal AT preamp is already decent
In my opinion, the Cambridge is better than the internal preamp.
mani is brighter sounding. some people prefer that kinda thing, not me. will go for alva if i hv to choose 1
If i just listen, without watching screen..i dont know when is one, when is other one...no difference....no neds to search those thiny differences....it seems lot of people forget music....music is important....90% is enjoy in music, not in counting kilohertz or microhertz.... :-) both are fantastic sounding pieces...listen the music, and relax... ;-)
Agreed 100%, when I didn't look at the tv screen and just listened, nothing between them, maybe on my Hi-Fi system would make some difference I suppose, but listening on UA-cam nothing between them !
Hard to tell on my laptop speakers but the Schiit sounds the crisper of the two whilst the Cambridge sounds warmer
An excellent buy, but I can't hear any differences between them.
I can hear a difference,
What Martin says is what i hear too. 👍
When listened to on my playback system, virtually indistinguishable. seriously, try it with your eyes closed and jot down a check mark on a piece of paper for every time it switches from one to the other. And if its that close its not worth the worry and I'd follow the money on the best deal. And then put what you saved into something else like maybe the cartridge.
Your ears or your system doesn't work well 😂
For me bit better guitar on alva while better voices, basses and detail on mani
Mani has more punch in the bottom end apart from that they are the same. I’ll try headphones later. But I’d say Mani is the Schiit
Those voices on the CA, wow
Via UA-cam there is no discernible difference using high quality headphones with my eyes closed I cannot tell the difference. If I open my eyes I start to “think” I can hear a difference. I tried a similar test with an external headphone amplifier and a built in one on a budget Marantz amp, I did it blind and couldn’t tell which was which. Unless you do blind tests bias will enter the equation!
Cambrige
Schiit sounds more realistic. Cambridge sounds a bit veiled and for me, uninvolving.
MONEY for nothing sounds a little SHITTIER than the other one!