Might the "Schiit Mani" be the "best bang for the buck" Phono Preamp ?

S

SixCats!

Super Member
Hi all,

I'm in the process of having a very basic/simple vintage Belt Drive Pioneer PL-514 Turntable set up which I'm hoping will suffice my TT needs. I don't often spin LP's however, I'm sort of excited at the prospect of once again having a TT back in my system(s). Since I developed "Tinnitus" over a year ago, my listening to Music has been somewhat minimal (having bad days Tinnitus and less bad days) at best. However, now that I'm retired and find myself home (due to the Covid thing) I'm trying spend more time listening to my Audio System(s). At any rate, might the Schiit Mani be the "best budget Phono Preamp for the money" for use with my simple PL-514 TT ? I plan on using this TT with several systems (one of which would NOT require the external Phono Preamp) : Classic NAD 3140 Integrated Amp-Acoustic Energy AEGIS ONE Speakers/Custom (John Eastman) MONO 2A3 (1.5 Watt) Amp-Mono with Stephens Mono Tru-Sonic Horn/Fisher 400 Tube Receiver-EMI 529 DLS Speakers.
My Cartridge choice is yet to be determined but will be a MM Cartridge. I have about a dozen (used) Cartridges I've acquired over the years and I'm hoping there might be one (or several) in the bunch that is in very good working condition. One Cartridge I have in the bunch that I'm HOPING that might be a good fit for the Tonearm (that appears to be in good condition) is a GRADO G1+ Cartridge. The Cartridge Headshell/Carrier that came with this budget vintage PL-514 Table (which I purchased years ago for chump change from a Thrift Shop in VERY nice condition) is a SHURE R25XL with a 3X style (which stylus is broken). A replacement stylus for the SHURE R25XL Cartridge is available and cost effective. I mostly play/spin Classic Jazz LP's. I do not (nor can I) listen too loudly any longer. So, all this being said, might the "Schiit Mani" be a good choice for this simple set up ? Thank you for any help/suggestions/recommendations you may offer.

Regards,
SixCats!
 
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I'll be following this thread. I also have my eye on : Pro-ject Phono Box DC (the one with MM/MC switch. sells for CAD $160/USD $100). I'm also looking for a nice entry level phono pre with MC.
 
Hi FB, I will be very interested in which Phono Preamp you decide to go with! I'm HOPING this (VERY budget) TT system will work as it will save me a lot of money! Funny, I acquired a LOT (and I do mean a LOT) of vintage Audio gear over many years. I've sold the bulk of the gear over the last few years. However, something in my Guts told me to KEEP the PL-514 TT and I'm glad that I did as it appears to be considered a VERY good basic Japanese made Belt Drive Table. Funny, this Table has been sitting in storage for many years. The Table is in wonderful condition! That being said, should this Table not work out (for whatever reason(s) I am considering the U.S. made U-Turn Table TOTL. I have a very nice TECHINICS SL-110 with a SME 3009 Arm on consignment as it's just more Table than I can now appreciate.

SixCats!
 
Final_Baton said:
I'll be following this thread. I also have my eye on : Pro-ject Phono Box DC (the one with MM/MC switch. sells for CAD $160/USD $100). I'm also looking for a nice entry level phono pre with MC.
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I have both, and I think I like the project box better! The only drawback is the Mani has more loading settings if need be? I don't for the most part, but some carts probably will suffer without them??
 
They’re decent sounding and of good build quality. I’ve had two of ‘em; both an older and a newer version. The newer one seemed to have a little noisier background than the older. I thought both sounded clean and detailed, though they seemed “thin” sounding compared to other phono preamps I’ve heard. Some folks complain of radio interference with the Mani but I never had that problem. Few radio stations around me.
Since I wanted more load adjustability, I sold off the Manis and bought something a little fancier and better sounding.

Others to consider in that price range are the ART DJ and the one from U-Turn Audio; they also seem somewhat popular.
 
The Mani is good enough for a bunch of people. The U-turn Pluto isn't far behind. I prefer the Parasound Zphono. Costs a little more, but not unreasonable.
 
MisterDK said:
They’re decent sounding and of good build quality. I’ve had two of ‘em; both an older and a newer version. The newer one seemed to have a little noisier background than the older. I thought both sounded clean and detailed, though they seemed “thin” sounding compared to other phono preamps I’ve heard. Some folks complain of radio interference with the Mani but I never had that problem. Few radio stations around me.
Since I wanted more load adjustability, I sold off the Manis and bought something a little fancier and better sounding.

Others to consider in that price range are the ART DJ and the one from U-Turn Audio; they also seem somewhat popular.
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Thank you Sir for your help, much appreciate the information.

SixCats!
 
justjed2 said:
The Mani is good enough for a bunch of people. The U-turn Pluto isn't far behind. I prefer the Parasound Zphono. Costs a little more, but not unreasonable.
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H jus, Truthfully (due to advancing age and Hearing (Hi Freq. loss and Tinnitus) I'm not sure if I can honestly hear the subtle differences in Audio any longer. It truly SUCKS getting older!
That being said, a Phono Preamp (that'll work will with my Tube gear) that has great detail yet, not harsh, might be the way for me to go. I find (in general) listening to my EMI 529 DLS Speakers to be a pleasure as they are very sensitive and pair well with my FISHER 400 Tube Receiver being easy on my Ears and enjoyable to listen even at lower volumes.

SixCats!
 
You might also want to consider the Hagerman Bugle3 or the DB Systems DB-8. Both are highly recommended.
-Matt
 
Hi all, I haven't any idea how accurate these YOUTUBE phono preamp comparison might be due to all the "unknows" however, I find these "shootouts" kind of fun!
I just listened to this (Blind) A-B test between the Schiit Mani vs. the Pro-Ject Phono Box and I found my results interesting. I made sure to NOT read any comments until I repeated this "test" several times. I am using a pair of GRADO SR-80 Headphones and volume not too loud as my Ears (tonight) are RINGING badly already.



SixCats!
 
I have a bit of tinnitus myself, so I feel for you. The Parasound Zphono is a very good MM phono pre. Even a Stereophile Recommended Component. It's technically MC capable, but its the MM performance that is so pleasantly surprising. A very dynamic sound, with good speed and plenty of detail. It's not the very quietest pre out there, but not something you'd notice. I run a 2M Bronze into mine, then on to a tube-hybrid preamp, and a SS bi-amp system. Really nice sound.
 
schiit mani is noisy although i like the sound. i also watched the video before the purchase, and i liked mani better, but after the purchase and put it in my system with headphones, schiit mani's background hiss is very noticeable, especially before music starts and after it ends. I recently used a pro-ject tube box s to replace it, the world is so much quieter.
 
Hi all, I just wanted to say THANK YOU to all of you who responded to my post by offering your suggestions/recommendations to my Phono Preamp inquiry. You ALL have been most helpful!
OK, I must be honest/true with myself. If the above You Tube Phono Preamp "shootout" test(s) are any way accurate, my having done the "Blind A-B" test Video (played several times over) I found (each time) the "PRO-JECT Phono Box" to be the superior Phono Preamp vs. the more popular (at least according to the YouTube comments) Schiit Mani. Listening to the Pro-Ject Box, I'm able to hear greater detail (as if a veil had been removed from the Schiit). This is hard to explain but, I am hearing more detail at the trailing end of notes from the likes of Drum strikes, plucked strings, etc. Might this be called Inner detail ? Both units appear to be fine for my needs however, at this point, I'm seriously leaning towards the Pro-Ject Phono Box for my Phono Preamp needs. Oooh, the frosting on the Cake is that the Pro-Ject Box is LESS expensive than the Schiit Mani! Thank you all.

SixCats!
 
The Grado G1 was, at one time (mid/late 1970s) the top Grado cartridge (or, at least, top of the basic series of Grados) and is excellent. It would be happiest in a lower mass arm, but will (should) perform well in a medium mass arm like the PL-514.

I used the very low end (but contemporary) Grado FTE+ in a PL-512 for quite some time and thought that the pairing was just fine (FWIW).
As an aside, the ($13 BITD) FTE+ was, IMO, the best (i.e., best sounding) cheap cartridge ever. :)

Grado stylus pull3 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

PL-12D mrh by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
DISCLOSURES: 1) the tt is a PL-512xD EDIT: jeepers! That's a PL-12D,sorry! and 2) in this photo it's equipped with a Shure M97xe :)

Nice to see you a-postin', Sixie! :)
 
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Hey hey Mark! So very nice to hear from you and THANK YOU for your input. I hope this note finds you well. It's been a looong time since we last communicated.
I'm still living up here in Maine. Oooh, nice set up you have there btw!

SixCats! aka Tom
 
:)
Derp -- that's a PL-12D, sorry!
I did have a PL-512xD, and I did use the FTE+ with it for quite some time (in the basement)! :)

Here is a bad photo of the PL-512xD in situ in the basement of the old house in MA (replete with the aforementioned FTE+). I used it in the basement of the old house for years with a PP EL84 Maggotbox console amp, a dump-find ss preamp someone had scratchbuilt, and a pair of profoundly ugly (but good sounding) AR-3 loudspeakers.
EL84PPstereoconsole.jpg


That PL-12D (in the previous post) has been around. It was (of course) a dump find. I used it with the FTE+ (on and off), but eventually I put the Shure on it & sent it to college with our daughter, long ago.
It ultimately came back here. The PL-512xD is long gone; I donated it to a friend who (painted it black and) used it as a platform to build a vacuum record cleaner :)
upload_2021-1-16_10-2-56.png


Someday when it's safe, you should trek over this-a-way!
 
Hi Mark, thanks for the added info. Very cool. Ooh yessa! I've been wanting to visit (and check out) NH a lot more when "things" are better. I'd love to stop by sometime in the future. Thank you for the invite.


SixCats!
 
Hi all,

Just a quick update. I just returned from having my Pioneer PL-514 Belt Drive Turntable set up properly and the Tonearm is now sporting the the Grado G1+ Cartridge. As luck would have it, my NEW replacement "Belt" arrived in today's Mail. Since I haven't an (outboard) Phono Preamp, I connected the Pioneer TT to my NAD 3140 Integrated Amp
and I am presently spinning "Dave Brubeck Time In" LP. On the whole, this Table/Cartridge/System is sounding VERY nice/enjoyable using my lil' Acoustic Energy Aegis One's Speakers.

SixCats!
 
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