Jim Creek
Jazz, Wine, Electronics
I was desiring a new audio toy without spending too much. So I decided on the Schiit Mani phono preamp for $140 shipped. It arrived today. I will post my early listening evaluation.
I already have a decent phono preamp built in to my Marantz PM8004 amp. The phono section in the PM8004 is all discreet circuitry ( no op amps) and has been reviewed to be very good. I will try to do an A-B comparison later on.
My Pioneer PL-41 plugs into the Mani including the grounding wire. The Mani plugs into the amp's "Record In 1" input. The cartridge is a Denon DL-110 HOMC cartridge.
For the listening evaluation I used Audio Technica ATH-M50X headphones.
The Mani has load dip switches for either 47K or 47.
Gain dip switches for 30db, 42db, 48db, 59db of gain.
I don't have a LOMC to evaluate yet.
I set the Mani to 42db of gain, 47k loading, for my Denon DL-110.
RFI: There have been reports of RFI with the Mani. I heard none, zero, nada. I cranked up the volume knob all the way with no music playing.
Hum/Hiss: I buried the volume knob all the way before I heard hum and hiss. This is very similar to the phono section on the PM8004. At normal listening levels and far far beyond, there is no noise. The Mani was dead quiet.
Sound: Right now, the treble is too bright for my ears. Hopefully that will mellow with break-in.
Music is very lively. My impression was that the Mani was more dynamic than the phono section in the PM8004. The volume of the musical material changes from soft volume to loud more dynamically. Detail was excellent. Bass went very low, and clean and detailed.
Build quality (aluminum case) is very solid but ordinary. The LED is insanely bright.
I will give another update after a week or two of listening. I hope the excessive brightness mellows over time.
I already have a decent phono preamp built in to my Marantz PM8004 amp. The phono section in the PM8004 is all discreet circuitry ( no op amps) and has been reviewed to be very good. I will try to do an A-B comparison later on.
My Pioneer PL-41 plugs into the Mani including the grounding wire. The Mani plugs into the amp's "Record In 1" input. The cartridge is a Denon DL-110 HOMC cartridge.
For the listening evaluation I used Audio Technica ATH-M50X headphones.
The Mani has load dip switches for either 47K or 47.
Gain dip switches for 30db, 42db, 48db, 59db of gain.
I don't have a LOMC to evaluate yet.
I set the Mani to 42db of gain, 47k loading, for my Denon DL-110.
RFI: There have been reports of RFI with the Mani. I heard none, zero, nada. I cranked up the volume knob all the way with no music playing.
Hum/Hiss: I buried the volume knob all the way before I heard hum and hiss. This is very similar to the phono section on the PM8004. At normal listening levels and far far beyond, there is no noise. The Mani was dead quiet.
Sound: Right now, the treble is too bright for my ears. Hopefully that will mellow with break-in.
Music is very lively. My impression was that the Mani was more dynamic than the phono section in the PM8004. The volume of the musical material changes from soft volume to loud more dynamically. Detail was excellent. Bass went very low, and clean and detailed.
Build quality (aluminum case) is very solid but ordinary. The LED is insanely bright.
I will give another update after a week or two of listening. I hope the excessive brightness mellows over time.
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