Schiit Mani Review | UPDATED 2021 | A Complete Guide

Schiit Mani is one of the most popular phono preamps that have been around for years. This small, effective, affordable phono stage is specifically aimed at entry-level and budget users looking into the vinyl format. It gives the flexibility you need for both moving-coil and moving-magnet cartridges along with accurate, low-noise performance.

In this review, we go over the good, the bad, and everything else you need to know about the Mani to find out whether the preamp is worth your money.

Schiit Mani Review – UPDATED 2021

Simple and basic in design, the Schiit Mani is quite easy to use. It is built and designed in the United States though it uses a power supply made in China. A lot of low-noise preamps only work for normal moving-magnet cartridges and lack the gain needed for moving-coil cartridges. However, the Mani is equipped with four switchable gain modes to suit any cartridge you give it.

Build Quality

The Schiit Mani excels in many ways, one of which is how well it is designed and constructed. It has a frosted-style metal chassis and a compact structure. So, you need not worry about taking up too much space in your cabinet. It is one of the smallest phono preamps with dimensions 5×3.5×1.25 inches. And with a weight of just 1lb, there should be no trouble moving the unit from one place to another.

The preamp is made in America using high-quality materials. The front left shows a Schiit logo on the faceplate while the right has a white light indicator. On the rear, you can find RCA connectors as well as a metallic power switch that is easy to use. There are extra switches at the bottom, aimed at letting you select between two loading options and four gain settings.

Functionality

As the main function, the Schiit Mani boosts the performance ratio of MM and MC phono preamps without any problem. It features a passive RIAA stage which is quite efficient. It uses precision parts all through its construction with 2% film capacitors and 0.2% thin-film resistors.

Mani is equipped with support for moving coil and moving magnet cartridges and is the only budget-friendly phono preamp to offer two independent, switchable gain stages. And it allows selecting from four stages of gain.

Features

Let us take a look at the unique features that set the Schiit Mani apart.

Versatility

Many budget phono preamps don’t have the necessary gain for moving coil cartridges and only work with moving magnet cartridges.

They are also not so flexible to cover high-output carts. However, the Mani gives you the freedom to use any type of cartridge with the option to adjust the gain with four modes including 30, 42, 47, and 59dB.

Precise Passive RIAA Network

The Schiit Mani implements its RIAA network fully passively which means the feedback loops have no poles and you get a more consistent sonic performance. Moreover, Mani features 0.5% thin-film resistors, 2% film capacitors, and extremely low-noise gain stages to deliver outstanding accuracy and performance which goes beyond its price.

US-Based Design

Schiit manufactures and designs all its products in California and Mani is no exception. Most of the parts including the chassis, boards, and transformers are built in the United States. The PCBs of Schiit are made in the US while the power supply comes from China.

Future-Proofing

One of the most important considerations for tech products is the option of future-proofing. This is true for audio devices as well. Mani excels in this respect with the flexibility to work with moving coil and moving magnet cartridges.

So, if you are currently working with MM cartridges and are not going to upgrade to MC cartridges anytime soon, you will not have to go and buy a new phono preamp whenever you decide to make the cartridge change. And considering the price of this device, it is a great value for a phono preamp with such flexibility.

Warranty

The company backs up Mani with a 2-year limited warranty that starts the day you purchase the product. The warranty covers all the parts and labor which is much better than most amplifiers in this price range.

Moreover, you get a 15-day easy return facility with the amp. If you are not satisfied with the performance, you can ship the unit back to get a full refund of the price.

Schiit Mani Phono Preamp

Talking about the real-life performance of Schiit Mani, it is easy to say that it delivers a sound quality comparable to high-end phono preamps as well as the built-in phono section of powerful integrated amps. For the affordable price, the fairly wide soundstage the unit provides is quite a good value. The clarity of the treble is also impressive.

According to some real-life reviews of users, Mani manages to allow the records to come to life whenever the singer hits high notes. And for bass, there is enough a low-cost preamp could offer. The sound quality is excellent for different genres of music. Vocals are deep, warm, and natural-sounding, everything is pleasing to the ears and smooth.

The Schiit Mani phono preamp does a great job at presenting depth and soundstage, making it an amazing choice for vinyl enthusiasts. Percussions sound crisp, clear, and snappy with an impressive amount of bass to create natural-sounding instruments.

Schiit Mani Power Supply

The phono preamp uses a wall wart power supply with a 16VAC transformer. It consumes 4 watts of power and has a regulated +/-5V rail. The product ships with a Chinese power supply packed in a separate box.

You can always consider opting for a better power supply for improved performance. One of the best options comes from Swagman Lab. The low-noise toroidal transformer works as a linear power supply for this preamp delivering the 16VAC it needs to function.

This component manages to increase the output current capability of the device. EMI filter occurs from suppressing RFI noise in the system due to electromagnetic interferences. The power supply is also equipped with a high-quality cable made up of copper insulated wires. It also features a lockable circular plug and socket for guaranteed consistent performance. There is a flexible nylon mesh wrapped around for a neat finish.

Schiit Mani vs Pluto

Pluto is another low-cost preamp introduced by U-Turn, the company behind the popular Orbit turntable. When a turntable does not have a built-in preamp, it needs an outboard phono preamp like Pluto to bring the signal to the necessary level for regular stereo input. However, Mani and Pluto differ a lot in various respects.

While the Schiit Mani is adaptable for its price, featuring multiple gain settings and the flexibility to handle MC and MM cartridges, the Pluto sticks to the path of other low-cost preamps with fixed gain, MM only support that justifies its limited use. The Pluto has a fixed 36dB of gain which may not suffice for some low-output carts.

Pluto stands out from others in terms of its performance that matches that of Mani. Schiit’s Mani is priced at $129 while the Pluto is only $89. Both of these are inexpensive, USA-made preamps for phono input. Which of the two is better for you depends on your needs. If you need MM at the time, you can get the Pluto and avoid paying higher for something you don’t need. However, with two levels of MM gain, the Mani is more versatile.

Schiit Mani Vs Rega Fono

Both the Schiit Mani and Rega Fono are affordable phono preamps that you can invest in once and never need to worry about upgrading. They offer the quality you need in a reliable preamp for all your vinyl experiences. While the Mani is more versatile with support for MM and MC carts and an adjustable gain, the Rega Fono comes with a USB functionality that Mani lacks.

Rega FONO MC Phono Stage (Black)

The USB output in Rega Fono enables you to transfer your vinyl records into digital format on your computer. Both the Mani and Rega Fono are designed and built to be solid and durable.

The latter offers two selectable gain settings while the Mani allows selecting between four gains and two loading options. Both the phono preamps are versatile, budget-friendly, and great sounding. The best of the two, however, is the one that suits your preferences and needs.

Conclusion

Overall, the Schiit Mani is an amazing little phono preamp offering good sound, adjustable gain settings, and a compact build costing just $129. It is a user-friendly phono stage with a great design and exceptional sound quality. As it accepts both MM and MC cartridges, it is a good option for those who are serious about future-proofing.

Regardless of the type of music played, it delivers high-quality audio. The simple box offers all these and a lot more at a budget-friendly price, making it one of the most affordable options for turntables.