Schiit Mani 2 Review (Phono Stage)

[knownothing]

It would be nice to know how it compared to the Audiolab's built-in phono.

Sorry for long delay in responding. In short, it sounds great. The Mani 2 has more detail, better dynamics, better space and pace than the built in phono section on the Audiolab. At least pairing with Nagaoka MP110.

 

[anmpr1]

Sorry for long delay in responding. In short, it sounds great. The Mani 2 has more detail, better dynamics, better space and pace than the built in phono section on the Audiolab. At least pairing with Nagaoka MP110.

Ummm, exactly (or approximately) how much better is the space and pace? Is there enough space to allow for all the pace, or is the pace spatially restricted?

And how much more detail and dynamics are there? Do dynamics overshadow detail, or is it the other way around? Would you say it is dynamically detailed, or detailingly dynamic? Or are the two pretty much balanced?

These are important things to know, before asking anyone to pony up one hundred and forty-nine dollars. Help is appreciated.

 

[knownothing]

Seriously.

 

[anmpr1]

Seriously.

I'm laughing with you, not at you. You are laughing? Right?

 

[Owl]

I'm unbalanced and that's funny as hell. I use the Lehman Black Cube, and it does provide a black background.

 

[Angsty]

Ummm, exactly (or approximately) how much better is the space and pace? Is there enough space to allow for all the pace, or is the pace spatially restricted?

And how much more detail and dynamics are there? Do dynamics overshadow detail, or is it the other way around? Would you say it is dynamically detailed, or detailingly dynamic? Or are the two pretty much balanced?

These are important things to know, before asking anyone to pony up one hundred and forty-nine dollars. Help is appreciated.

Let's just say for $149, he likes it better! That's a little less than 4 new BN Tone Poets, by my reckoning.

 

[Laserjock]

Just wishing @amirm would be able to test it again with the better power supply

 

[knownothing]

I suggest you might try the iFi Power X. Nearly as expensive as the Mani 2, but I and others have had good results with it in multiple applications.

 

[Laserjock]

I suggest you might try the iFi Power X. Nearly as expensive as the Mani 2, but I and others have had good results with it in multiple applications.

Mani 2 is AC input.

 

[knownothing]

Mani 2 is AC input.

Not the last time I looked. https://www.schiit.com/products/mani

 

[Laserjock]

Not the last time I looked. https://www.schiit.com/products/mani

Power Supply: “wall wart” style 16VAC transformer, dual-filtered, regulated +/- 16V rails

 

[GPJ]

Not the last time I looked. https://www.schiit.com/products/mani

Look at the photo of the back of the unit. Says AC in. You typically would think all barrel connectors are DC in but you have to be careful. Usually it is marked like it is with the Mani.

 

[Laserjock]

Look at the photo of the back of the unit. Says AC in. You typically would think all barrel connectors are DC in but you have to be careful. Usually it is marked like it is with the Mani.

Yeah, AC doesn’t automatically mean Main 120-240V AC line in.

 

[dr0ss]

Look at the photo of the back of the unit. Says AC in.

That's not "RC" in? That Schitty font fooled me.

 

[hutt132]

Just got my Mani 2 today and compared it to my original Mani 1 with a decibel meter to compare the background noise they produce.
Using my Teac TN-400S turntable with AT100E cartridge, both pre-amps are in their original configuration (gain input H/output L) which matches the cartridge.
Using a Monoprice 1.5ft RCA cable from the turntable to the pre-amp.

With the turntable off and AV receiver on full volume, the Mani 2 produced 3db less noise from my speaker's tweeter than the Mani 1.
Both were using the Mani 2's 16V 1000mA power supply. This was a direct swap so the cable runs did not move. The units were not stacked during testing.
That's a significant improvement in noise in my opinion.

 

[narud]

the mani 2 was a huge disappointment for me. it may be more quiet than the 1, but it still produced more hiss than every other phono pre that i have (clearaudio nano, emotiva xps-1, art dj pre). the capacitance settings were a bust as well. i bought it purely for the 47pf setting which i thought would mate well audio technica carts. it ended up being brighter at the 47pf setting than the clearaudio nano with its 220pf. id be interested in seeing the mani 2 tested for how much capacitance is actually in the circuit.

 

[Spotlight Vinyl]

I have heard of this from other, never had that at all here. For what it's worth tough, Most people I know in my city can get like 5 TV channels out of an Antenna... In my building I get one... So I may not be the average.

What cables are you running Petel?

Super shielded and separate (dual not bound together with the Y at each ends) should help the problem.

I had similar issues with my original Mani. Mostly solved with cable upgrade! Same can be said of M2 to a degree even with cable upgrade there is some very minor interference present at higher gain levels.

Have not used other pre-amps so i can't provide a comparison. Cables > WBC Amphenol from Phono to Mani 2 > Chord Clearway Analogues > AVR

Note the WBCs are about 1/3rd the cost of the Chords and IMHO are as good if not better both interference wise and sonically. The Chord's ABS outer shell is already breaking down (sticky) with a little bit of sun exposure which i will eventually replace with a second set of the WBCs. Amazing value on those vs shielding/acoustic outcomes.

 

[Spotlight Vinyl]

the mani 2 was a huge disappointment for me. it may be more quiet than the 1, but it still produced more hiss than every other phono pre that i have (clearaudio nano, emotiva xps-1, art dj pre). the capacitance settings were a bust as well. i bought it purely for the 47pf setting which i thought would mate well audio technica carts. it ended up being brighter at the 47pf setting than the clearaudio nano with its 220pf. id be interested in seeing the mani 2 tested for how much capacitance is actually in the circuit.

Narud i am not experiencing that at all. Just a little more clarity at high end. I upgraded my cartridge recently to the Nagaoka MP200 though, about the same time as i switched to the M2 so that might explain things a little.

Am hearing elements of old LPs (well used) that i hadn't noticed previously as well as superb spacing, broad sound stage, bass response is excellent, voices are clear without being harsh. Brass etc is a little bright but certainly not harsh and a slight step up from the M1 imv. Yes there is slight brightness at the top end but i would think that's more to do with the speakers (it's tweeters are known for that a little)

Having said that i've only been through about 12 LPs since i upgraded to the M2 (plus new cables at the Phono > pre-amp stage) so much more listening / running in ahead before being able to fully compare the two units.

 

[PeteL]

What cables are you running Petel?

Super shielded and separate (dual not bound together with the Y at each ends) should help the problem.

I had similar issues with my original Mani. Mostly solved with cable upgrade! Same can be said of M2 to a degree even with cable upgrade there is some very minor interference present at higher gain levels.

Have not used other pre-amps so i can't provide a comparison. Cables > WBC Amphenol from Phono to Mani 2 > Chord Clearway Analogues > AVR

Note the WBCs are about 1/3rd the cost of the Chords and IMHO are as good if not better both interference wise and sonically. The Chord's ABS outer shell is already breaking down (sticky) with a little bit of sun exposure which i will eventually replace with a second set of the WBCs. Amazing value on those vs shielding/acoustic outcomes.

I use BJC but I think that you may be answering to someone else. As I said I personally don't have that issue.

 

[Spotlight Vinyl]

I tried 2 of the Mani 1s and both exhibited radio interference in my system. A local station would come through no matter what volume I had my preamp at. Only phono preamp I've owned that did this, through 2 samples. Has anyone else had this experience with the original Mani and could any fixes in v2 address this issue?

Same but new intorconnects pretty much solved it.

Then went Mani 2 FTW. Noise floor is slightly better, virtually zero interference (the new wal wart probably helped also) and the overall performance is spectacular for the price point (provided you match up with a very decent warmish to neutral cart!)