Well done Dave. I like your review approach and look forward to more in the future. I’d love to hear about your setup - I can see pieces of it in the background.
Hey Joseph, thanks for watching! I have a video showing my setup with a sound sample, check my channel. Basically Opus 3 turntable and Nagaoka cart, Synthesis and Doge preamps, Ashly power amp and Carver speakers. Not super expensive but I like the sound! What kind of system are you running?
@@davelistenstohifi I’ll check out your other video. As far as my setup goes, I have a bunch of “Schiit”. A Sol turntable (with Music Hall 2.0 speed controller, Sbooster BOTW power supply, and stock AT-VM95EN cartridge), Freya+ pre-amp (love rolling tubes), two Vidar mono-block amps, Bifrost DAC, and a Jotunheim Headphone amp (paired with Oppo PM-1 headphones). A Vincent PHO-701 acts as a phonostage. The Freya+ preamp goes to a Sublime Acoustics crossover that separates 80htz to a pair of REL 5T/X Subwoofers and Magnapan LRS speakers. My listening room is treated with GIK Acoustic panels & bass traps and various snake oil-ish accessories like nicer cables, IFI Powerstation, isolation devices, cable lifts, etc.
Hey Dave - Welcome to the youtube world. You bring some nice qualities to the community. I like how you talk about sound signature. Not all are willing to do that. I also appreciate are clear about what you are hearing and don'y use flowery language that is so subjective that I don't know what it means (I can guess usually but.._)I think your take on the Swagman was spot on. I have one on my Rega TT. Luckily they are not that much and cost wise it made more sense on the Rega. I also really am in line with your taste in music! How dare you wave that Paul Desmond Summertime album on A&M in front of me! LOL! (I've been looking for it as well as the CTI stuff on A&M) and I'm down with the Cult too (from the SMSL/MSB comparison) Keep it up!
Thank you Matt for the kind words! I started the channel because I didn't hear the type of coverage and opinions that I have and I thought others might also be interested. Yes the Paul Desmond was a great find, now on the lookout for my current holy grail 'the Blue Yusef Lateef'!
Waltz For Debbie, gorgeous album. I'm still waiting on my Darlington Labs MP-7 phono preamp to arrive... it's suppose to be the BEST phono preamp under $1k and isn't too far behind $2k-$3k phono preamp. Check out the audio forums for those comparisons.
Sorry, I missed if you said this is the original Mani or the Mani 2? If this is the original Mani, I'd highly recommend getting the Mani 2, it's was a dramatic upgrade in my system. It was like pulling a blanket off of my speakers.
I only have the original Mani, the tests were done with that. I would assume that you could have the same results with the Mani 2, it uses 16VAC as well and you should have the same improvements with the external power supply. Glad you heard a dramatic upgrade!
ahhh, very interesting video. thank you! But the question is really, Mani + Swag = 400$. Compare that 400$ with other phono amp costing 400$ what would you chose?
I have heard $500 phino stages that dont have the same fullness and spaciousness as the mani/swag combo, i think the combo is competitive at the combined price!
I just bought the Mani 2, because the Mani 1 was so damn good! I'm hoping your talking about the Mani 2? I put the old Mani up against the Parks Puffin, the Mofi Studiophono, Rogue audio Sphinx V2, and Lounge audio. I thought the Mani destroyed them.😂
Ok, but if you are going to spend 2x what a Mani costs, then you are in a different price range and need to consider other options. So I agree with your assessment. Thanks!
Just found your channel. I like your outlook and your delivery. Thanks for taking the time to do it !
Thanks TM, i appreciate you watching and leaving a comment! Working on more content, hope you also enjoy them.
Love the video dave! I totally agree with your standpoint.
Thanks Ris! External PSU rocks!
Well done Dave. I like your review approach and look forward to more in the future. I’d love to hear about your setup - I can see pieces of it in the background.
Hey Joseph, thanks for watching! I have a video showing my setup with a sound sample, check my channel. Basically Opus 3 turntable and Nagaoka cart, Synthesis and Doge preamps, Ashly power amp and Carver speakers. Not super expensive but I like the sound! What kind of system are you running?
@@davelistenstohifi I’ll check out your other video.
As far as my setup goes, I have a bunch of “Schiit”. A Sol turntable (with Music Hall 2.0 speed controller, Sbooster BOTW power supply, and stock AT-VM95EN cartridge), Freya+ pre-amp (love rolling tubes), two Vidar mono-block amps, Bifrost DAC, and a Jotunheim Headphone amp (paired with Oppo PM-1 headphones).
A Vincent PHO-701 acts as a phonostage. The Freya+ preamp goes to a Sublime Acoustics crossover that separates 80htz to a pair of REL 5T/X Subwoofers and Magnapan LRS speakers.
My listening room is treated with GIK Acoustic panels & bass traps and various snake oil-ish accessories like nicer cables, IFI Powerstation, isolation devices, cable lifts, etc.
Hey Dave - Welcome to the youtube world. You bring some nice qualities to the community. I like how you talk about sound signature. Not all are willing to do that. I also appreciate are clear about what you are hearing and don'y use flowery language that is so subjective that I don't know what it means (I can guess usually but.._)I think your take on the Swagman was spot on. I have one on my Rega TT. Luckily they are not that much and cost wise it made more sense on the Rega. I also really am in line with your taste in music! How dare you wave that Paul Desmond Summertime album on A&M in front of me! LOL! (I've been looking for it as well as the CTI stuff on A&M) and I'm down with the Cult too (from the SMSL/MSB comparison) Keep it up!
Thank you Matt for the kind words! I started the channel because I didn't hear the type of coverage and opinions that I have and I thought others might also be interested. Yes the Paul Desmond was a great find, now on the lookout for my current holy grail 'the Blue Yusef Lateef'!
The scales make me think of the famous scene from the Holly Grail…..
Hey Truman, ill have to get a duck for comparisons!
Waltz For Debbie, gorgeous album. I'm still waiting on my Darlington Labs MP-7 phono preamp to arrive... it's suppose to be the BEST phono preamp under $1k and isn't too far behind $2k-$3k phono preamp. Check out the audio forums for those comparisons.
I had a look on the Darlington Labs site, I'm really curious to hear one of them! I'll reach out and see if I can arrange it.
Sorry, I missed if you said this is the original Mani or the Mani 2? If this is the original Mani, I'd highly recommend getting the Mani 2, it's was a dramatic upgrade in my system. It was like pulling a blanket off of my speakers.
I only have the original Mani, the tests were done with that. I would assume that you could have the same results with the Mani 2, it uses 16VAC as well and you should have the same improvements with the external power supply. Glad you heard a dramatic upgrade!
ahhh, very interesting video.
thank you!
But the question is really, Mani + Swag = 400$.
Compare that 400$ with other phono amp costing 400$ what would you chose?
I have heard $500 phino stages that dont have the same fullness and spaciousness as the mani/swag combo, i think the combo is competitive at the combined price!
I just bought the Mani 2, because the Mani 1 was so damn good! I'm hoping your talking about the Mani 2? I put the old Mani up against the Parks Puffin, the Mofi Studiophono, Rogue audio Sphinx V2, and Lounge audio. I thought the Mani destroyed them.😂
Yes, I compared it to the Mojo Studiophono as well, the Mani came out on top for me also. Did you find the Mani2 was a big step up from the Mani?
@davelistenstohifi It has some extra functions on the bottom. But, no. To me it sounds the same.
@@scottdavis0801 I believe the Mani 2 has more options to include more cartridges. And the power supply for the 2 is upgraded to 1A from 0.8A.
I almost bought it myself !
Worthwhile upgrade it seems!
For sure that just EMI filtering.
Ferrite bead would give the same improvement for inder $10 because its only A/C power into the MANI
Do you think that ferrite on the low power AC lead from the wall wart would be as effective as on a 120v lead?
Ok, but if you are going to spend 2x what a Mani costs,
then you are in a different price range and need to consider other options. So I agree with your assessment. Thanks!
Thanks for watching and agreeing!
Patreon not for me, ciao
Thanks for watching though!