Merely the very best performing, most versatile, reasonably priced phono preamp… That was the Mani phono preamplifier. And now Schiit Audio launched the Mani 2 phono preamplifier, which is even better. The successor to the unique Mani, in manufacturing since 2014, is solely much more performing and extra versatile, even when in comparison with merchandise a number of instances its value. As well as, Mani 2 is produced within the USA like all Schiit merchandise and stays as reasonably priced, obtainable for less than $149.
The revival of vinyl implies additionally the revival of phono preamplifiers. And the issue is, most people who think about shopping for a turntable nowadays – after a number of associates began to present albums, as a result of they’d no concept what else to offer and the covers look cool – do not know they want “a phono factor”. And that’s the reason we will now purchase turntables which have one straight hidden inside, and provide “regular” line outputs, so nobody must take care of “phono”.
However for many who totally embrace the inconvenience of vinyl, there is not any accepting turntables that include built-in cartridges, or Bluetooth, and even built-in audio system (!) – these platters want to face proudly related to a number of bins, beginning with a phono preamp, perhaps related to a tube stage, earlier than it feeds the 2 mono energy amps on the ground, feeding vintage-looking audio system – ideally reconditioned JBL L300s!
That is who Schiit Audio designed the Mani 2 Phono Preamplifier for. The individuals who rigorously research each report earlier than they even begin planning a listening session, and can have a number of cartridges and styluses, figuring out their Shifting Magnet from Shifting Coil or Shifting Iron, and even think about drifting from the RIAA curve.
“There’s merely no query that is the very best performing, most versatile phono preamp you should purchase, even at a number of instances the worth,” reinforces Jason Stoddard, Schiit’s Co-Founder and head of analog growth. “It delivers measured outcomes which are 10-15dB higher than the unique Mani — outcomes far in extra of its competitors — whereas additionally simplifying the sign path, eliminating all coupling capacitors and two acquire levels for a extra direct connection to the cartridge and superior sonics. And, if that wasn’t sufficient, we added many extra loading choices and selectable low minimize to assist remove rumble issues, options that weren’t obtainable on the unique Mani, and are sometimes not obtainable at this worth level.”
The Nice Mani Two retains the 4 acquire settings of the unique Mani — now 35, 45, 50, and 60dB nominal acquire, for compatibility with all cartridges, from Decca to low-output moving-coil fashions. It additionally provides extra resistive and capacitive loading, permitting resistive loading of 47k, 200, 47, and 38 ohms, and capacitive loading of 47, 100, 150, and 200 pF. This enables the improved phono preamplifier to accommodate many extra MC cartridges, in addition to MM and MI fashions, with each excessive and low output. Moreover, the Mani 2 provides non-compulsory, passive 6dB/octave or 12dB/octave low minimize filters, centered at 15Hz, to cut back the results of rumble and warped data.
“We selected passive as a result of we didn’t need to run the sign via one other lively stage,” explains Jason. “And the low minimize is totally defeatable — when it’s off, it’s fully out of the circuit.”
Based mostly on the TI OPA1612 with a DC servo, Mani 2 makes use of a passive RIAA equalization stage based mostly on 2% movie capacitors and 0.1% thin-film resistors. Additionally it is totally DC coupled. “The place Mani’s sign needed to move via three capacitors, Mani 2 doesn’t use any,” provides Jason. “We took what we realized on the phono levels for Ragnarok 2 and Jotunheim 2, and prolonged them for Mani 2.”
Mani 2’s consideration to element extends far previous the acquire stage, to incorporate its 100% linear energy provide with dual-stage regulation, together with a filtering stage that reduces energy provide noise and contributes to Mani 2’s stellar efficiency numbers.
Like all Schiit merchandise, the Mani 2 is made within the USA — and this one particularly, designed and constructed within the firm’s Texas operations. The overwhelming majority of the full value of the product, together with chassis and PC boards, go to US-based firms manufacturing within the US.
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