I appreciate the quality lighting and sound on this video. A rare thing on RUclips which is usually just a great resource for information, but you got that right as well. Bravo.
This was the first review I have viewed on your channel. May I say how fantastically complete, beautifully descriptive and comprehensive it is. I had decided to likely go with the Mani to replace the failed internal phono stage in my vintage NAD 1300 preamp. I've reverted to an Onkyo one in a vintage surround reciever, but it is somewhat inferior to the NAD's. Rather than repair the phono stage on the NAD right now I decided to to go with a new external one. Budget is limited at this time, so I thought I had decided on the Schitt, based on reviews and a sound demo or two. Seemed great overall for the price. I think now I will spend the extra $60 or so on the ZEN, based partly upon you're enlightening review. Thank you again.
Wonder how the Mani 2 would stack up against the iFi. As a Mani 1 and now a Mani 2 owner, I did not expect to hear too much of a difference, but the Mani 2 is a great upgrade. It has more of everything compared to the Mani 1 - more detail, better separation, bigger soundstage, and is overall much quieter...when the music stops, it is almost dead silent. (using Hana EL MC) How impressed am I with the Mani 2? Originally I was going to move the Mani 1 to a second turntable that is dedicated to mono playback. However the improvement is so noticeable, I'm going to purchase a second Mani 2 and put the Mani 1 on OfferUp.
I have the Zen Phono and can say that the balanced o/p takes it even further in performance. So quiet it's almost uncanny, with great dynamics and clarity.It's not warm I would say but totally glass clear without being harsh in any way. A superb Phono preamp.
The sound of a phono pre-amp is very much depends on a cartridge that you use, for my Nagaoka mp-110 I clearly preferred the Schiit Mani over the iFi Zen, and personal taste in sound of course, thanks for the review.
I bought a zen to compare with my mani and MP110, I thought, for multiple days that a had been shipped a flawed Zen unit, the sound not only disappointing but just bad overall, did I get a flawed unit? I'm not sure but the sound was not even close to the mani
I’ve heard from so many people who have a Nagaoka mp-110 cartridge that they prefer the Schitt Mani over the iFi Zen. I’m waiting until Fluance has more of the RT85N’s in stock and then pick up the Mani. Like others, the sound seems more pleasing to the ears. I guess it’s all based on preference.
@@BarryFerguson33 Yes, great combo, when you get the turntable and the Mani, try the lowest setting gain on the Mani (30db), most people use the 42db gain on the Mani with the Nagaoka, I did too, but then when I tried the 30db gain I preferred it to the higher settings, to me the 30db setting sounds more natural, especially with acoustic instruments, yes you have to turn the volume on your amp a bit higher, but that's not a problem, and I run the Nagaoka with 1.9 gram VTF instead of recommended 1.8 gram, to me it sounds better, also tracks better, good luck.
@@laurelhardy4064 thanks for the info. Always appreciate help from those who have more knowledge and experience with things. This will be the last two pieces of my home theater and music setup. Can’t wait till they have new stock on the turntable.
Great review, thanks! - Ya, I think the iFi Zen is the new giant killer... No longer need to spend upwards of $1,000 on a phono preamp anymore. - The Zen really does it all and sounds truly amazing! Especially using the balanced connection... Also I purchased iFi's iPower2 'quiet power adapter' which solved the cord-length 'problem' and brought an even quieter experience to the table! - (Not that 'more quiet' is really needed but it makes me feel better.)
Thank you for your reviews and opinions. I would really like to see you cover interfaces for recording vinyl to digital if that's also your area of expertise.
@@thevinylattack Right, I get that. There are some albums, however, that have never seen a digital or CD release, and I am very interested in the quality digitization of those releases so that people don't have to own the record just to hear it, or have to listen to a singular digitization from an unknown person that may or may not be well-recorded or high in fidelity (this is a very specific situation, but with some of the music I listen to, like foreign or rare jazz fusion, this is relatively common). All the best.
Hello, I am looking for information about the Ifi zen phono, because I have doubts if it would improve the sound of my HIFI equipment. I've seen your video and I've almost convinced myself that it may be worth it. But I have a couple of doubts: 1- I can't find the ifi zen phono anymore, I think it's discontinued. Now there is the Ifi zen phono3. But does it still have the same characteristics? 2- Would the Ifi zen phono3 improve the phono preamp integrated into my Pioneer SA-608 amplifier? My team currently consists of: Turntable: Technics, FG-SERVO PLAYER SL-23A Capsule: Ortofon, concorde (pro S needle) Amplifier: Pioneer SA-608 (with Phono input) Speakers: 2x Warfedale9.1 \\ 2x PILOT ST-303 Oh and if you have taken the trouble to read this far, do you think that any of the components of my equipment can be improved with a small investment that would really improve the sound of my HIFI equipment? To say that I'm happy with how it sounds, but if it can be improved without breaking the bank... Thanks for your videos, and forgive the badge!
I really enjoy your channel. I like your style and taste! I'm writing to let you know that ifi is out of stock in this item less that a year after they had so many reviewers post reviews of their equipment. Kindly please be careful about reviewing for manufactures that have difficulty keeping these items in stock. (two years later, ok but like yours, some of these ifi phono zen reviews are three months old!) This makes reviewers look bad. If you review it and we can't even think about purchasing it, what's the point? If reviewers declined reviews for manufactures that have a track record of running out of stock (as Amazon states: "currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock") Just tell the companies like ifi "no" please! (I just checked tonight and there was "one left in stock" suddenly! LOL!+)
I just ordered a Fluance RT85 and I have some question. Since the second gain mode is closer to a typical magnetic cartridge needs should I use that mode for the ortofon 2m blue or stick with the lower DB first gain mode? Also the Ifi zen is no longer available on Amazon. Should I just go for the Ifi air and get the $60 Ifi upgraded power supply?
Hah. I ordered the iFi Zen a couple day ago after watching a different review. At the same time, I ordered the upgrade wall-wart power supply for the unit (iFi SilentPower iPower2 - about $70) which is supposed to make it quieter still. Should be arriving in a day or two. Edit: I hope the upraded power cord is longer too.
The cord is indeed longer and I can say that I found a 1db drop in white noise alone and an overall decrease in errant noise. I'm sure you'll be happy with it.
This video is an oldie but goodie now - it really helped me make a decision back in the day. Any chance the NEW Zen Phono 3 or Schiit Skoll phono preamps are on your radar for a new comparison? I think the vinyl community would like to hear your take. Cheers! 🍻
I figured the IFI Zen would edge out the Mani based on other reviews. Yours was the most informative and entertaining. I already have the Mani so I'll keep it for now. Thanks again for the channel and reviews Chris.
The Mani is still a very good value. I wouldn't really worry about an upgrade unless you're looking to get that little bit extra out of your system down the line.
Mani needs a refresh to lower noise levels and better signal overload characteristics. And most importantly, fix that freaking white laser of an LED lol. Schiit has a lot on their plate as of late (AKM, supply chain, etc) so it's not likely anytime soon.
@@audioaficionado9494 I'd agree with that. It's still a strong performer for the money, but an updated model would be a welcome change when they can get it out.
So, I recently blew the pre-amp in my vintage 1975 Pioneer SX-850 receiver. It had been recently refurbished so I didn't want to just take it back to the repair center. Remembering your advice here, I ordered and installed the Zen and it does indeed give a richer overall sound, adds more depth and makes things more clear. Thanks so much for this!
I picked up a Mani 2 from their store in California and love it. Finally my cheapo AT-LP3 sounds great. beautifully defined and rich highs with tight base and middle. I left everything at factory setting for MM cartridge. The default gain is set at 48db. I can go up to 60db but do not see a need for it. I had a crackling and buzzing sound that mostly disappeared once I place the Mani next to the turntable and ran the outs to the receiver from there.
Have had the Ifi for nearly a year and love it, really impressed with the sound for the money paid. The only thing I don't like is the switch at the back for changing from MM to MC, it doesn't feel like it will last long.
I used the Mani at one time. Now I use the Bellari VP549 Phono Preamp. Way better sounding and only $25 dollars more than the Mani. The Bellari has a Rumble Filter, Cartridge Load Capacitance and a Trim/Gain control. Well worth the money.
@@hectortorres8188 The VP549 has better clarity and definition than the Mani. The Highs and Mids are vibrant and the Bass has meat and punch. I hear more details with the Bellari. This will not do MC carts only MM carts.
@@thespaceace2112 the hifi zen is listed in $200, the Schiit Mani has better reviews. Listed in 150. You say that the bellari, listed in 150 does better than the Mani. Nice, well in my country the bellari is half the price of the Zen, and the Schiit Mani is difficult to find but it's expensive too. Thanks for your answer.
How do you feel about using this with the Fluance RT85 w/2m Ortofon blue cartridge hooked to Klipsch the sevens speakers? I didn’t want to rely solely on the built in preamp on the speakers. Is this a noticeably better option?
I have a Sony (PS-LX310) turnable. I bought it because it was on the shelf and I didn't want to order. It has a built in preamp but sounds awful (to me). I also bought a Sony receiver (190) as I read it is supposed to be made to go with that turntable. It has a phono input but it sounds bad (to me) as well. I also have Kanto YU6 speakers with a phono and it doesn't have the punch or eq I want to hear. Among it's shortcomings the Sony cartridge isn't changeable so it's either spend more money to buy a new turntable and try to get rid of this one (could be tough in my small town area) or the lower cost option of an external preamp. From your video this might be an option for me. Thanks for the video.
I bought a zen pre amp some time ago very happy with it . I use a grando cart on a technics 1500c . They seem to pair very well and my audio guy highly recommended the zen
So I'm putting together my first setup. I haven't made the actual purchases yet so please give your advice if something should be changed...so far I have the Fluance RT85 turntable, a Yamaha R-N303BL receiver with a pair of Emotiva airmotiv B1+ speakers, I'm not sure I can do better at those price points but I'm new to this and I have a mid -tier budget
I have a McIntosh c50 preamp with a very good phono preamp build in it. I purchased the IFi Zen to use with another setup, but decided to give it a whirl in my man cave system. I spent the extra money for the balanced cable and the iFi better power supply. I have to say that the Zen not only holds its own against the McIntosh c50, but actually has a darker background and has a punchier, more dynamic sound than the c50. Is it better? In some ways yes and in some ways it’s equally as good as the c50. I think all in I spent just under $400 but in return I got a phone preamp as good if not a smidge better than the phono preamp built in a $7000 dollar preamp! Other equipment was a VPI Prime table & 10” 3D VPI arm, Ortofon Quintet Black cartridge with boron cantilever, audio quest cables Carver Crimson 275 tube amp, McIntosh mc352 SS amp, Klipsch Hersey IV’s and Magnepan 1.7i speakers.
My question as opposed to Ifi's considered excellent product is regardless of its noise suppression, which may exceed my Back in the Day Viynal investigations with the use of my Burwen DNF1201a sadly lost to time and moves not to mention it stopped functioning. This one unit besides saving lives, but numerous LPs that no matter how much I cleaned them kept fingers free of touching them using a dust cover etc.
Very clear review, interesting product. I would love to see those phono pre-amps see pitched against for instance a run of the mill Luxman vintage integrated amp. I am listening to an L210 and find the phono stage very good. But I sometimes wonder how much you have to fork out for a modern phono pre amp to beat it. Same thing goes for the head phone amp though here I already kind of decided that the L210 Headphone stage fulfils al my needs.
I really must agree with Chris here... ALL of the processor/reciever combos I've tried (yeah, after 40 years they pile up.) sounded terrible compared to my Pro-Ject phono amp. Every single one!
While I don't have any vintage Luxman's around to test this, I can say with confidence that a unit like the Zen would sound better than the built in phono stage on an integrated amp. They're just built better and for one purpose.
I actually preferred the ifi phono stage connected to my McIntosh ma5200 over the built in phono on the Mac. Sounded great. However, when used with my Hegel h160 I wasn’t impressed at all. With the Hegel the Project tube box S2 was the better fit, albeit at more than 2x the price. All this is to say that components play quite differently with other components, but for the price, build and sound quality I was impressed with the ifi zen and would also recommend it.
Great video Chris! I appreciate the detail and comparison. Basic question: I have an integrated amp with phono input (MM). If I add a phono pre-amp, should it be connected to the phono input or another analog input?
Like the guy above said, use one of your aux analog inputs. I made the mistake when I got into this hobby of connecting my phono pre-amp to my phono input. Couldn’t figure out why the music was so horribly distorted 😄
I added the ifi iPowerX to my Zen Phono and that made noticeable audible improvements. If you have the opportunity, try a better power supply. I’m very surprised with the overall package for under $300.
@@danashay I persuaded a friend to also add the iPowerX to his ZenPhono. His opinions matched mine. I was waiting on Chris's review on the EAT phono stage but it just seems like it's never coming 😄 so I'm going to stay with my current set up for a while (Rega P3, Nagaoka MP200 and ZenPhono) and upgrade elsewhere.
iFi sent one along to try out, but I wanted to review the unit as its sold this time. I may do an additional review down the line to showcase what I heard with the upgraded power supply.
Have you heard the new Mani 2 yet? Also, I have an NAD C316 Bee v2 and am shopping for a turntable. I’m wondering just how good the internal phono stage is in comparison to the Mani 1, 2, or the IFI. Thanks for your channel. I’m a new fan.
I've owned the Mani (twice) they're delish for the small $. Current owner of a Lounge Audio phono pre, they have 3 similar models, the base is just $300. I own the 'silver' which is $500. This will be mine for life. Any other Lounge owners out there?
Great job Chris. You articulate your views with wonderful tone and even tempo. One thing I did find out is a dedicated phono stage definitely ups the game for vinyl. I purchased a Sutherland Insight with the additional power filtering and I couldn't believe how it bested my onboard pre on my Mac. Big fan. Greg
Great review...I bought this model from watching your review, instead of the Schiit Mani...and I have other Schiit products.. I also watched the review from Steve Huff just to see how it performed on his Hi End reference system....just hooked it up to my Dual 510 belt drive, and into my vintage Yamaha MX-1000 separted system. and my CA-800 pre amp has multiple settings for MM and MC ..... CHRIS! question, how should I input into my pre, going phono? or Aux.. Thanks for your Wisdom.
You need to put it into the auxiliary input. The phono input on an amp has its own power and will cause problems if you try to connect another pre-amp to it.
Are you using an MC cartridge? If so, I would have liked an MM cartridge as that's what I and most people use. Will balanced be any advantage for less than 10 feet of cable length?
@@thevinylattack Thanks for clarifying. I agree with your conclusions. The Zen is very good. Using the balanced output makes the sound fuller, and the sound also improves with a better power supply. I wonder how the Mani 2 would compare, though it's more expensive.
I bought one of these when my very, very old Parasound Zamp phono pre amp died (lasted over 20 years though - great value). I first used the Zen with a Music Hall 2 table, and I appreciated the improved imaging (I could hear greater detail), but thought it odd the Zen's grounding post was too thick for the table's spade connector on the ground wire. I assumed standards had changed in the years since my table was built. 2 months ago, my Music Hall's motor died, so I did a serious upgrade to a Dr Feickert Volare table, bundled with a Origin arm & Mobile Fidelity cartridge. The Zen still performed well, but it's grounding post was still too thick for the new table's grounding wire spade connector. I emailed iFi about that several times, but I guess they don't respond to customers. So I recommend the Zen as a good value for someone who won't mind cutting off the connector attached to their table,s grounding wire. It would also be nice if iFi sold am external power supply unit in a chassis that matched the Zen,s (I hate wall warts).
@@thevinylattack I thought it was just a fluke until I had the same problem with a 2nd table. Fix wss simple - found a wider spade lung that fit the Zen and created a jumper cable I plugged both of my tables' grounding wires in to. I'm still pleased with the Zen's performance for $$. Only other issues is its wall wart, which I never like. I'm trading in my Dr. F Volare for a Rega P10 this weekend. So I'll see how the Zen's MC input works (and if I have the same issue with the Zen's grounding post). If you're interested I can share what I learn. Cheers. Love, love your channel.
I have the iFi iPhono 3 black label. Sounds good to me though I haven’t got anything else to compare it to. Would love to hear a review of that versus the EGLo :)
Does it get my speakers to sound louder, my inbuilt preamp I can tell gets quality sound, it's just the volume of sound that I have a problem with, it's just so low
Just started with vinyl (lovely christmas present from my wife), what would you reccomend to upgrade first: the preamp or the cartridge?? I was thinking on the Ifi Zen Phono or the Nag MP 110 (I would get the other later on, but don't know what to get first).
@@thevinylattack Hi, my turntable is a Audio Technica lp60x, with an internal preamp. This is currently hook up to a desktop JBL speakers. So a pretty basic setup right now.
@@OrangeGeemer Well you aren't able to put a Nagaoka on that, the lp60 has its own replacements. Personally, I'd start saving for better components and worry about upgrading the table down the line.
I’ve owned several phono preamps and finally settled with the Ray Samuels Audio Emmeline XR-2 and eventually upgraded the op amps to Sparkos SS3601. I absolutely love the sound produced and it’s quiet with not a lot of noise. Ray has been around a very long time and the units are custom built. No tubes, but changing op amps can be fun as well.
I looked for the zen phono, but it's nowhere to be found. In fact, I went to ifi website, and the zen phono isn't even listed as an option, just the zen air. So, i purchased a schiit mami 2
Wow, nice review mate! I just recently stumbled upon the IFI Phono2 which was very positively reviewed. For over 20 years I've just been using the phono sections of my vintage (Read: Ancient!) Discrete Sherwood Newcastle dual-mono amps. And, let me tell you, the sound of this IFI on my system was frigg'n *AMAZING!* Fortunately, I was able still to find one new even though they've been discontinued and replaced by the IFI Phono3 at DOUBLE the price! ($1000!) Dude, you need to check it out if you can find one. It has numerous micro switches on the bottom of it. But, if you were that impressed with its little brother, you GOTTA hear this one! 😊 I'll try to post a link to pictures of my system, but usually those are removed immediately. Keep up the excellent work Bro!
Here are some pictures of my system. I've added comments to some of the pictures giving me details about how my system is set up: photos.app.goo.gl/9ja3UKob7tppW4Y38
Come on, where is a review of the Hana ML? Very interested. I have Hana SL, incredible cartridge but I have only one to compare with - AT 120 Eb. Looking forward to hear your opinion.
Great review and a terrific channel. Quick question - although it might be too specific - I currently have a Fluance RT85 (Ortofon 2M Blue cart) plugged into the Phono input of a Denon PMNE 600 amp. Would the Zen offer any noticeable improvement and if I did get one, would I plug it into one of the other inputs on my amp or still use the phono? Really noob questions, but that’s what I am. Thanks in advance.
The Zen would indeed offer a noticeable improvement in your sound. As noted above, you'd want to connect to the auxiliary input of the Denon from the Zen.
Hello, I have an atoll IN100 signature amplifier, with a phono module. Do you think zen would sound better? Kudos to your effort and your channel, Gogo from Slovenia
So you've said you don't think built in (to the amp) phono pre -amps are as good as stand alone ones. How closely have you looked at some of the vintage pre-amps built in to vintage amps like the Luxman L-430? I think you may be surprised.
What I'm saying is that a quality separate amp will be better than a built in. It doesn't matter if the unit is vintage or not, they just don't have the space for the electronics, nor the focus on the singular performance of a stand alone unit. Certainly cheaper separates won't sound as good as some built-ins.
I'm lucky enough to have the classic and coveted Technics sl10 turntable complete with the original 310MC cartridge. That marvel is a minuscule .2mv (even lower than your Hana's .4) & with its incredible quality but miniscule voltage it needs a very detailed amp with high gain. Most MC units top out @ 60db which is just not enough for this cart... the Zen goes to 72db and even it's mid-level is an impressive 63db! This absolutely looks like one to try for sure. Do you know if it has any setting for the loading or is it likely fixed @ 100 ohms?
I did some digging and this is what I found: MM: 47K Ohms MC High (high output cart): 47K Ohms MC Low (low output cart): 1.4K Ohms MC V Low (very low output cart): 110 Ohms
My Edifier S3000 Pro powered bookshelf speakers have L & R XLR inputs. So I can use a balanced 4.4mm to XLR L & R cable to send sound to my speakers? Awesome if I’m understanding correctly. Thanks for another great review!
The turntable doesn't make any signal. It only spins the record. The tonearm doesn't make any signal. It holds the cartridge. The cartridge produces signal. A low output moving coil cartridge might produce something like .18mV. A moving magnet cartridge might produce something like 4mV. Either is a miniscule amount of signal. A line preamp is not likely to have enough gain to hear the signal. That's why a phonostage is required.
New versions came out, with reduced features and lower price. I am wandering if they also reduced internal components quality. It would be interesting to see what you think about the V2 versions now. Great opinion and review as always. Thanks.
I recently purchased this preamp connected to my Schiit Freya + with balanced and RCA. At after about 1 o'clock on the volume a hum/buzz starts to come in both inputs with or without the turntable connected, gets louder as I increase. I do not get this on my other inputs. Is this normal or defective? I have time to send it back. I use the RCA to feed through a tube buffer and I have done all the isolation possible.
Thanks for another cool video. Question from a newbie: if your turntable has a pre-amp and it's plugged into powered speakers without a receiver, would using a pre-amp like this be a good idea or would it possibly mess things up?
Where is the iFi Zen Phono Pre-Amp made? This is an awesome review. Thank you so very much for your hard work. I watch and/or listen often and will continue doing so. I think I noticed on the back that iFi Zen is made in China. While I have several Chinese made electronic devices myself (hard to avoid), it's something I try to be mindful of considering the well-documented labor conditions in many Chinese factories. I'll stay with my Mani as it made in the USA (at least partially, if not completely). I love it. I'll tune in again soon. Grace and peace to you and your loved ones.
Good luck buying a Mani! I tried, and they were out of stock, with no estimate when they would deliver and charge my credit card. I HATE dealers with those surprise charges 1/2 year later, when I forgot about it. I tried contacting them, but there is NO phone number, and email response was NONE. Between crappy (non-existent) response until I requested cancellation (which was probably a canned bot-email), various problems that users report (like radio reception, noise, etc, with no quick repair or exchange in sight!), and that nasty way of charging my card whenever they send the box at their leisure, Schiit is NO company I want to deal with.
@@thevinylattack - look at forum discussions (you need dig a bit), and you will find more. This is why I panicked at the time. It's simply a fanboy driven reputation, that makes them look good, BUT beware, because there are many other people, who are baffled at not being able to find any active contact after spending good money. There is simply zero live contact, period. My Purchase was automatically cancelled by the credit card company a few days later, but when a company ghosts people, it does not sit well.
It's hard to say how much improvement you'll hear on those speakers, but It's a worthwhile investment for down the line if you're looking to upgrade your system.
Brother man, I’m almost there! Yer recommends have helped me build my choices… Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo, Q Acoustics 3050i, & the ifi Zen phono…. But I’m confused! Will I still need an additional amp to run my speakers/turn table? Dude, I’m so green w/ all this. If I still need an amp, what would you recommend for a good beginner setup? Maybe the Arcam FMJ you use in this review? I’m purchasing everything w/ one fell swoop once I know I can listen to jams straight away. Penny for yer thoughts?
@@thevinylattack I have seen reviews on that amp. Definitely seems like a rock solid choice. I think I will go that direction and my starter system will be complete… For now! Huge thanks for all your input! Super helpful.
How can I control the overall gain with the mani 2? Would I just have volume control on my speaker volume faders in the back of each speaker? I don’t see a see volume knob.
Probably not gonna supplant my ProJect Tube Box S2 anytime soon, but I hear nothing but good things about this phono stage. However, I like how tubes sound, especially since upgrading to Telefunken.
Very interesting review thank you ... I have a Project X1 turntable coupled to a Leak Stereo 130 with Lintons and overall I am very pleased with this combo based on my moderate budget for HiFi - The X1 comes standard with an entry level cartridge called the Project Pick-It S2MM and its quite good for an entry level cartridge - I am pondering about investing in a Phono Preamp and an cartridge - Ortofon Blue seems to be a good upgrade and that cartridge is highly regarded -- question is --- is it worth the investment on a phono preamp and cartridge for the X1 or should I upgrade the turntable ..greetings from Ireland -- Paul
@@thevinylattack Thank you for your opinion which I take on board -- should I invest in an MM or MC cartridge and park the Phono preamp - The Leak Stereo 130 has quite a good phono stage built in.. and yes I get it that an external dedicated phono preamp is the better way to go for any turntable upgrade .. Regards, Paul
Damn..I just don't want to watch any other reviews than yours,so in formative on subject matter that you make it easy to make a purchase decision on the best products,these company's should pay your for your style and approach,your fantastic!! Great video again!!
I appreciate the confidence, but I think it's a good idea to watch a few reviews you trust to try and make sure you're getting all the information necessary before a purchase. I certainly do my best, but I'm bound to miss a detail or two here and there.
I had the Shitt Mani for a couple of days, but I had to send it back, because the power adapter is cheap and it was picking up noise from my WiFi router. I spent an extra $125 and ordered the MoFi StudioPhono, which I've been extremely pleased with, but I've read that they just raised the MSRP form $249 to $349.
Great review. Unfortunately this happens that in short order, new products are debuted. I’m wondering now how the Mani2 stacks up against the Zen.
I appreciate the quality lighting and sound on this video. A rare thing on RUclips which is usually just a great resource for information, but you got that right as well. Bravo.
Thanks, Brian. I appreciate it.
This was the first review I have viewed on your channel. May I say how fantastically complete, beautifully descriptive and comprehensive it is. I had decided to likely go with the Mani to replace the failed internal phono stage in my vintage NAD 1300 preamp.
I've reverted to an Onkyo one in a vintage surround reciever, but it is somewhat inferior to the NAD's. Rather than repair the phono stage on the NAD right now I decided to to go with a new external one. Budget is limited at this time, so I thought I had decided on the Schitt, based on reviews and a sound demo or two. Seemed great overall for the price. I think now I will spend the extra $60 or so on the ZEN, based partly upon you're enlightening review.
Thank you again.
I think you'll find that the outboard pre-amp will sound better that the NAD's internal one. Money well spent.
Incredibly helpful. Been in the market for one of these and this price range. Thanks for being so informative!
Glad it was helpful!
Wonder how the Mani 2 would stack up against the iFi. As a Mani 1 and now a Mani 2 owner, I did not expect to hear too much of a difference, but the Mani 2 is a great upgrade. It has more of everything compared to the Mani 1 - more detail, better separation, bigger soundstage, and is overall much quieter...when the music stops, it is almost dead silent. (using Hana EL MC) How impressed am I with the Mani 2? Originally I was going to move the Mani 1 to a second turntable that is dedicated to mono playback. However the improvement is so noticeable, I'm going to purchase a second Mani 2 and put the Mani 1 on OfferUp.
The Mani 2 is on my review list. Hopefully, I'll be getting one soon.
I grabbed the Mani2 for my RT85, I love it
@@jackstraw1756 I just ordered the same combo last week. Can't wait!
My new favorite channel. Great stuff, thanks.
Welcome aboard!
@@thevinylattack Any chance you're planning to review the Mani 2?
@@run4b33r I've sent a request, but I haven't heard anything yet.
I have the ortofon blue, and the zen sounds great, transparent, and lively, really pleased with it.
If you like the sound of the Blue, I can definitely see that being good pairing.
Great review this is on my radar now for possible new pre amp. And coincidence I am going to see Halloween Killls tonight lol
I hope you enjoy it.
I have the Zen Phono and can say that the balanced o/p takes it even further in performance. So quiet it's almost uncanny, with great dynamics and clarity.It's not warm I would say but totally glass clear without being harsh in any way. A superb Phono preamp.
I'm bummed I wasn't able to test that feature for the review. I'll definitely be looking to try it out down the line.
The sound of a phono pre-amp is very much depends on a cartridge that you use, for my Nagaoka mp-110 I clearly preferred the Schiit Mani over the iFi Zen, and personal taste in sound of course, thanks for the review.
I bought a zen to compare with my mani and MP110, I thought, for multiple days that a had been shipped a flawed Zen unit, the sound not only disappointing but just bad overall, did I get a flawed unit? I'm not sure but the sound was not even close to the mani
I’ve heard from so many people who have a Nagaoka mp-110 cartridge that they prefer the Schitt Mani over the iFi Zen. I’m waiting until Fluance has more of the RT85N’s in stock and then pick up the Mani. Like others, the sound seems more pleasing to the ears. I guess it’s all based on preference.
@@BarryFerguson33 Yes, great combo, when you get the turntable and the Mani, try the lowest setting gain on the Mani (30db), most people use the 42db gain on the Mani with the Nagaoka, I did too, but then when I tried the 30db gain I preferred it to the higher settings, to me the 30db setting sounds more natural, especially with acoustic instruments, yes you have to turn the volume on your amp a bit higher, but that's not a problem, and I run the Nagaoka with 1.9 gram VTF instead of recommended 1.8 gram, to me it sounds better, also tracks better, good luck.
@@laurelhardy4064 thanks for the info. Always appreciate help from those who have more knowledge and experience with things. This will be the last two pieces of my home theater and music setup. Can’t wait till they have new stock on the turntable.
Is this compared to the upgraded Mani? I'm not sure when exactly Schiit came out with the Mani 2.
This settles it for me. Always appreciate your honesty and thorough reviews.
I'm glad you liked it.
Great review, thanks! - Ya, I think the iFi Zen is the new giant killer... No longer need to spend upwards of $1,000 on a phono preamp anymore. - The Zen really does it all and sounds truly amazing! Especially using the balanced connection... Also I purchased iFi's iPower2 'quiet power adapter' which solved the cord-length 'problem' and brought an even quieter experience to the table! - (Not that 'more quiet' is really needed but it makes me feel better.)
It is indeed a great little pre-amp, but it's not beating anything that costs a grand.
@@thevinylattack Why ?
@@r423sdex Because it simply doesn't have the engineering or quality of parts that a pre-amp at one thousand dollars would have.
Thank you for your reviews and opinions. I would really like to see you cover interfaces for recording vinyl to digital if that's also your area of expertise.
It isn't. I don't understand why someone would want to transfer a vinyl record to digital. It defeats the entire point of having a record.
@@thevinylattack Right, I get that. There are some albums, however, that have never seen a digital or CD release, and I am very interested in the quality digitization of those releases so that people don't have to own the record just to hear it, or have to listen to a singular digitization from an unknown person that may or may not be well-recorded or high in fidelity (this is a very specific situation, but with some of the music I listen to, like foreign or rare jazz fusion, this is relatively common). All the best.
Hello, I am looking for information about the Ifi zen phono, because I have doubts if it would improve the sound of my HIFI equipment. I've seen your video and I've almost convinced myself that it may be worth it.
But I have a couple of doubts:
1- I can't find the ifi zen phono anymore, I think it's discontinued. Now there is the Ifi zen phono3. But does it still have the same characteristics?
2- Would the Ifi zen phono3 improve the phono preamp integrated into my Pioneer SA-608 amplifier?
My team currently consists of:
Turntable: Technics, FG-SERVO PLAYER SL-23A
Capsule: Ortofon, concorde (pro S needle)
Amplifier: Pioneer SA-608 (with Phono input)
Speakers: 2x Warfedale9.1 \\ 2x PILOT ST-303
Oh and if you have taken the trouble to read this far, do you think that any of the components of my equipment can be improved with a small investment that would really improve the sound of my HIFI equipment?
To say that I'm happy with how it sounds, but if it can be improved without breaking the bank...
Thanks for your videos, and forgive the badge!
I'm waiting on delivery of the Shiit Mani 2. Here it's a solid upgrade from the original. Hopefully it will not disappoint.
I still haven't heard it, but it's on my list. Do let us know what you think.
I really enjoy your channel. I like your style and taste! I'm writing to let you know that ifi is out of stock in this item less that a year after they had so many reviewers post reviews of their equipment. Kindly please be careful about reviewing for manufactures that have difficulty keeping these items in stock. (two years later, ok but like yours, some of these ifi phono zen reviews are three months old!) This makes reviewers look bad. If you review it and we can't even think about purchasing it, what's the point? If reviewers declined reviews for manufactures that have a track record of running out of stock (as Amazon states: "currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock") Just tell the companies like ifi "no" please! (I just checked tonight and there was "one left in stock" suddenly! LOL!+)
I was going to look at the Schiit but now I'll give this a go. See how it does compared to my free Fluance pre that came with my RT85.
It'll change your life.
I just ordered a Fluance RT85 and I have some question.
Since the second gain mode is closer to a typical magnetic cartridge needs should I use that mode for the ortofon 2m blue or stick with the lower DB first gain mode? Also the Ifi zen is no longer available on Amazon. Should I just go for the Ifi air and get the $60 Ifi upgraded power supply?
Hah. I ordered the iFi Zen a couple day ago after watching a different review. At the same time, I ordered the upgrade wall-wart power supply for the unit (iFi SilentPower iPower2 - about $70) which is supposed to make it quieter still. Should be arriving in a day or two.
Edit: I hope the upraded power cord is longer too.
The cord is indeed longer and I can say that I found a 1db drop in white noise alone and an overall decrease in errant noise. I'm sure you'll be happy with it.
This video is an oldie but goodie now - it really helped me make a decision back in the day. Any chance the NEW Zen Phono 3 or Schiit Skoll phono preamps are on your radar for a new comparison? I think the vinyl community would like to hear your take. Cheers! 🍻
I figured the IFI Zen would edge out the Mani based on other reviews. Yours was the most informative and entertaining. I already have the Mani so I'll keep it for now. Thanks again for the channel and reviews Chris.
The Mani is still a very good value. I wouldn't really worry about an upgrade unless you're looking to get that little bit extra out of your system down the line.
Mani needs a refresh to lower noise levels and better signal overload characteristics. And most importantly, fix that freaking white laser of an LED lol. Schiit has a lot on their plate as of late (AKM, supply chain, etc) so it's not likely anytime soon.
@@audioaficionado9494 I'd agree with that. It's still a strong performer for the money, but an updated model would be a welcome change when they can get it out.
So, I recently blew the pre-amp in my vintage 1975 Pioneer SX-850 receiver. It had been recently refurbished so I didn't want to just take it back to the repair center. Remembering your advice here, I ordered and installed the Zen and it does indeed give a richer overall sound, adds more depth and makes things more clear. Thanks so much for this!
I'm glad it's working out for you. Now take it easy on your equipment!
I picked up a Mani 2 from their store in California and love it. Finally my cheapo AT-LP3 sounds great. beautifully defined and rich highs with tight base and middle. I left everything at factory setting for MM cartridge. The default gain is set at 48db. I can go up to 60db but do not see a need for it. I had a crackling and buzzing sound that mostly disappeared once I place the Mani next to the turntable and ran the outs to the receiver from there.
Phase changing LED's would seem to be advantageous.
It all depends on the reciever and chipsets you have how it will perform all are different period .
Have had the Ifi for nearly a year and love it, really impressed with the sound for the money paid. The only thing I don't like is the switch at the back for changing from MM to MC, it doesn't feel like it will last long.
Another push button in the front could've been nice, but I'd guess it'd also raise the price more.
I have the zen and I love it. I knew from the start of the video the ifi would win. You can always trust ifi, not a snake oil company.
I haven't had much experience with them, but I'm glad to work with them further in the future.
The phono pre-amp also applies the RIAA curve to the output. With the RIAA curve, vinyl has pretty horrible fidelity.
I used the Mani at one time. Now I use the Bellari VP549 Phono Preamp. Way better sounding and only $25 dollars more than the Mani. The Bellari has a Rumble Filter, Cartridge Load Capacitance and a Trim/Gain control. Well worth the money.
I've reached out to Bellari about wanting to do a review of their products. I'm just waiting to hear back.
Could you be more specific ok why it is better in sounding that the Mani? Thanks
@@hectortorres8188 The VP549 has better clarity and definition than the Mani. The Highs and Mids are vibrant and the Bass has meat and punch. I hear more details with the Bellari. This will not do MC carts only MM carts.
@@thespaceace2112 the hifi zen is listed in $200, the Schiit Mani has better reviews. Listed in 150. You say that the bellari, listed in 150 does better than the Mani. Nice, well in my country the bellari is half the price of the Zen, and the Schiit Mani is difficult to find but it's expensive too. Thanks for your answer.
Also, i see you're a Michigander! Im in West Michigan!
You guys needed 12 "Executive Producers" and 8 "Producers" to make this video?????? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Those were my valued Patrons who helped support the show.
thanks for your review
Thanks for watching!
How do you feel about using this with the Fluance RT85 w/2m Ortofon blue cartridge hooked to Klipsch the sevens speakers? I didn’t want to rely solely on the built in preamp on the speakers. Is this a noticeably better option?
Of those you listed, I only care for the turntable itself. The rest is too harsh in my opinion.
I have a Sony (PS-LX310) turnable. I bought it because it was on the shelf and I didn't want to order. It has a built in preamp but sounds awful (to me). I also bought a Sony receiver (190) as I read it is supposed to be made to go with that turntable. It has a phono input but it sounds bad (to me) as well. I also have Kanto YU6 speakers with a phono and it doesn't have the punch or eq I want to hear. Among it's shortcomings the Sony cartridge isn't changeable so it's either spend more money to buy a new turntable and try to get rid of this one (could be tough in my small town area) or the lower cost option of an external preamp. From your video this might be an option for me. Thanks for the video.
I'm glad it helped.
I bought a zen pre amp some time ago very happy with it . I use a grando cart on a technics 1500c . They seem to pair very well and my audio guy highly recommended the zen
It's a great buy at $200
So I'm putting together my first setup. I haven't made the actual purchases yet so please give your advice if something should be changed...so far I have the Fluance RT85 turntable, a Yamaha R-N303BL receiver with a pair of Emotiva airmotiv B1+ speakers, I'm not sure I can do better at those price points but I'm new to this and I have a mid -tier budget
Sounds like a pretty good start to me.
I have a McIntosh c50 preamp with a very good phono preamp build in it. I purchased the IFi Zen to use with another setup, but decided to give it a whirl in my man cave system. I spent the extra money for the balanced cable and the iFi better power supply. I have to say that the Zen not only holds its own against the McIntosh c50, but actually has a darker background and has a punchier, more dynamic sound than the c50. Is it better? In some ways yes and in some ways it’s equally as good as the c50. I think all in I spent just under $400 but in return I got a phone preamp as good if not a smidge better than the phono preamp built in a $7000 dollar preamp! Other equipment was a VPI Prime table & 10” 3D VPI arm, Ortofon Quintet Black cartridge with boron cantilever, audio quest cables Carver Crimson 275 tube amp, McIntosh mc352 SS amp, Klipsch Hersey IV’s and Magnepan 1.7i speakers.
It's nice to hear another comparison about the performance. Thanks for that.
My question as opposed to Ifi's considered excellent product is regardless of its noise suppression, which may exceed my Back in the Day Viynal investigations with the use of my Burwen DNF1201a sadly lost to time and moves not to mention it stopped functioning. This one unit besides saving lives, but numerous LPs that no matter how much I cleaned them kept fingers free of touching them using a dust cover etc.
Very clear review, interesting product.
I would love to see those phono pre-amps see pitched against for instance a run of the mill Luxman vintage integrated amp. I am listening to an L210 and find the phono stage very good. But I sometimes wonder how much you have to fork out for a modern phono pre amp to beat it.
Same thing goes for the head phone amp though here I already kind of decided that the L210 Headphone stage fulfils al my needs.
I really must agree with Chris here...
ALL of the processor/reciever combos I've tried (yeah, after 40 years they pile up.) sounded terrible compared to my Pro-Ject phono amp. Every single one!
While I don't have any vintage Luxman's around to test this, I can say with confidence that a unit like the Zen would sound better than the built in phono stage on an integrated amp. They're just built better and for one purpose.
@@danashay You must not have tried any good ones then. There are so many that sound great. Maybe I'm just lucky with what I've had.
I actually preferred the ifi phono stage connected to my McIntosh ma5200 over the built in phono on the Mac. Sounded great. However, when used with my Hegel h160 I wasn’t impressed at all. With the Hegel the Project tube box S2 was the better fit, albeit at more than 2x the price. All this is to say that components play quite differently with other components, but for the price, build and sound quality I was impressed with the ifi zen and would also recommend it.
A very fair assessment.
I do enjoy my IFi Zen
I have just purchased the Zen. Basically RIAA accuracy of 0.15db is unbeatable, even with higher end gear.
It's a strong little performer for sure.
Great video Chris! I appreciate the detail and comparison. Basic question: I have an integrated amp with phono input (MM). If I add a phono pre-amp, should it be connected to the phono input or another analog input?
Other analog.
Like the guy above said, use one of your aux analog inputs. I made the mistake when I got into this hobby of connecting my phono pre-amp to my phono input. Couldn’t figure out why the music was so horribly distorted 😄
What he said!
As the others have said, it connects to an analog input.
😳
I added the ifi iPowerX to my Zen Phono and that made noticeable audible improvements. If you have the opportunity, try a better power supply. I’m very surprised with the overall package for under $300.
And still under $300!
That's pretty impressive!
Wow. Funny how my next phono amp is forming up before my very eyes! Thanks for the insight!
@@danashay I persuaded a friend to also add the iPowerX to his ZenPhono. His opinions matched mine. I was waiting on Chris's review on the EAT phono stage but it just seems like it's never coming 😄 so I'm going to stay with my current set up for a while (Rega P3, Nagaoka MP200 and ZenPhono) and upgrade elsewhere.
iFi sent one along to try out, but I wanted to review the unit as its sold this time. I may do an additional review down the line to showcase what I heard with the upgraded power supply.
Even the Schiit Mani can be improved with a quality DC power supply. I don't know if it's worth it. Might as well get the IFI Zen and PS.
Have you heard the new Mani 2 yet?
Also, I have an NAD C316 Bee v2 and am shopping for a turntable. I’m wondering just how good the internal phono stage is in comparison to the Mani 1, 2, or the IFI. Thanks for your channel. I’m a new fan.
I haven't heard the Mani 2 yet, but I'm working on it. As far as the NAD, any of those outboard phono preamps will sound much better.
@@thevinylattack
Thanks man.
The Zen with the upgraded ifi power supply is like your regular car getting a turbo installed (everything just improves significantly).
I did indeed find an improvement.
Does the Zen when ordered from the US come with the proper power adapter for US outlets?
Where do you find this upgraded power supply and what are the benefits?
@@jonprophet1378 there won't be any benefits. Don't waste your money, the effect will wear off fast.
I've owned the Mani (twice) they're delish for the small $. Current owner of a Lounge Audio phono pre, they have 3 similar models, the base is just $300. I own the 'silver' which is $500. This will be mine for life. Any other Lounge owners out there?
That seems like a lot of money for a lack of MC support.
Great review, did you have any break in time for the zen? If so did the sound slightly change?
I used it pretty regularly over the time I had it, but I can't really say I heard much of a difference.
Great job Chris. You articulate your views with wonderful tone and even tempo. One thing I did find out is a dedicated phono stage definitely ups the game for vinyl. I purchased a Sutherland Insight with the additional power filtering and I couldn't believe how it bested my onboard pre on my Mac. Big fan. Greg
Sutherland makes some excellent products. I hope to get some in house at some point.
If I was in the market to buy a new phono preamp, which I'm not, then I'd get one. But I'm happy with both of my Schiit Mani's.
They're excellent little amps for the money.
I am using the Eastern Electric Mini-Max tube Phono Stage Pre-Amp.
That's a nice looking component. I hope I get to audition one at some point.
Where are your thoughts on the Zen now a year later? Im thinking about getting one.
I would recommend it as much now as the day I reviewed it. An excellent buy.
Great review...I bought this model from watching your review, instead of the Schiit Mani...and I have other Schiit products.. I also watched the review from Steve Huff just to see how it performed on his Hi End reference system....just hooked it up to my Dual 510 belt drive, and into my vintage Yamaha MX-1000 separted system. and my CA-800 pre amp has multiple settings for MM and MC ..... CHRIS! question, how should I input into my pre, going phono? or Aux.. Thanks for your Wisdom.
You need to put it into the auxiliary input. The phono input on an amp has its own power and will cause problems if you try to connect another pre-amp to it.
Are you using an MC cartridge? If so, I would have liked an MM cartridge as that's what I and most people use. Will balanced be any advantage for less than 10 feet of cable length?
As mentioned in the review, I used both types of cartridges. You should probably give it a watch.
@@thevinylattack Thanks for clarifying. I agree with your conclusions. The Zen is very good. Using the balanced output makes the sound fuller, and the sound also improves with a better power supply. I wonder how the Mani 2 would compare, though it's more expensive.
I bought one of these when my very, very old Parasound Zamp phono pre amp died (lasted over 20 years though - great value). I first used the Zen with a Music Hall 2 table, and I appreciated the improved imaging (I could hear greater detail), but thought it odd the Zen's grounding post was too thick for the table's spade connector on the ground wire. I assumed standards had changed in the years since my table was built. 2 months ago, my Music Hall's motor died, so I did a serious upgrade to a Dr Feickert Volare table, bundled with a Origin arm & Mobile Fidelity cartridge. The Zen still performed well, but it's grounding post was still too thick for the new table's grounding wire spade connector. I emailed iFi about that several times, but I guess they don't respond to customers.
So I recommend the Zen as a good value for someone who won't mind cutting off the connector attached to their table,s grounding wire. It would also be nice if iFi sold am external power supply unit in a chassis that matched the Zen,s (I hate wall warts).
I have a technics turntable hooked up to the Zen and the spade connector on the technics fits just fine…
Wow! That was quite an upgrade!
Must be nice!!
Interesting. I didn't have any trouble with the ground wire with either turntable I used.
I would Definately hide the IFI Zen behind other components. I find it doesn't match most other equipment. Looks do count IMHO.
@@thevinylattack I thought it was just a fluke until I had the same problem with a 2nd table. Fix wss simple - found a wider spade lung that fit the Zen and created a jumper cable I plugged both of my tables' grounding wires in to.
I'm still pleased with the Zen's performance for $$. Only other issues is its wall wart, which I never like. I'm trading in my Dr. F Volare for a Rega P10 this weekend. So I'll see how the Zen's MC input works (and if I have the same issue with the Zen's grounding post). If you're interested I can share what I learn.
Cheers. Love, love your channel.
Following b/c I like your logo. 😂
Welcome aboard!
love your review on zen phono. I think its time to review the Schiit Mani 2.
As soon as they send one in...
I have the iFi iPhono 3 black label. Sounds good to me though I haven’t got anything else to compare it to. Would love to hear a review of that versus the EGLo :)
It's certainly a possibility.
Does it get my speakers to sound louder, my inbuilt preamp I can tell gets quality sound, it's just the volume of sound that I have a problem with, it's just so low
Just started with vinyl (lovely christmas present from my wife), what would you reccomend to upgrade first: the preamp or the cartridge?? I was thinking on the Ifi Zen Phono or the Nag MP 110 (I would get the other later on, but don't know what to get first).
It's hard to say without knowing what you have already.
@@thevinylattack Hi, my turntable is a Audio Technica lp60x, with an internal preamp. This is currently hook up to a desktop JBL speakers. So a pretty basic setup right now.
@@OrangeGeemer Well you aren't able to put a Nagaoka on that, the lp60 has its own replacements. Personally, I'd start saving for better components and worry about upgrading the table down the line.
@@thevinylattack Thanks for the advice! Cheers
How long is the power cord?
I’ve owned several phono preamps and finally settled with the Ray Samuels Audio Emmeline XR-2 and eventually upgraded the op amps to Sparkos SS3601. I absolutely love the sound produced and it’s quiet with not a lot of noise. Ray has been around a very long time and the units are custom built. No tubes, but changing op amps can be fun as well.
I looked for the zen phono, but it's nowhere to be found. In fact, I went to ifi website, and the zen phono isn't even listed as an option, just the zen air. So, i purchased a schiit mami 2
ifi-audio.com/products/zen-phono/
Came up just fine on my end.
@@thevinylattack comes up as "out of stock "
Wait until you try the iphono 3. It'll blow your mind.
I'll have to put it on my list.
Wow, nice review mate! I just recently stumbled upon the IFI Phono2 which was very positively reviewed. For over 20 years I've just been using the phono sections of my vintage (Read: Ancient!) Discrete Sherwood Newcastle dual-mono amps. And, let me tell you, the sound of this IFI on my system was frigg'n *AMAZING!* Fortunately, I was able still to find one new even though they've been discontinued and replaced by the IFI Phono3 at DOUBLE the price! ($1000!) Dude, you need to check it out if you can find one. It has numerous micro switches on the bottom of it. But, if you were that impressed with its little brother, you GOTTA hear this one! 😊 I'll try to post a link to pictures of my system, but usually those are removed immediately. Keep up the excellent work Bro!
Here are some pictures of my system. I've added comments to some of the pictures giving me details about how my system is set up: photos.app.goo.gl/9ja3UKob7tppW4Y38
If I can get my hands on one, I'll surely give it a listen.
thinking of getting the carbon evo with the zen.
Got a 1500$ budget for my wifeys' B-D.
working on a nice set up
Oooo. Sneaky.
MY wifey would see right through that...
@@danashay What? It's all for her, I sw..oh...crap
I'm sure that would be a fantastic match.
Come on, where is a review of the Hana ML? Very interested. I have Hana SL, incredible cartridge but I have only one to compare with - AT 120 Eb. Looking forward to hear your opinion.
I have other time sensitive products that are taking precedence at the moment.
Like videos please watch audio level…ton of sibilance at the beginning
Have you tried the Art DJ pre? Really impressive and warm for the price. I prefer to the more etched sound doing Mani.
I have not. Another item for the wish list.
Great review and a terrific channel. Quick question - although it might be too specific - I currently have a Fluance RT85 (Ortofon 2M Blue cart) plugged into the Phono input of a Denon PMNE 600 amp. Would the Zen offer any noticeable improvement and if I did get one, would I plug it into one of the other inputs on my amp or still use the phono? Really noob questions, but that’s what I am. Thanks in advance.
You’d want to use the AUX jacks with a phono preamp. Keep spinning vinyl, my friend!
The Zen would indeed offer a noticeable improvement in your sound. As noted above, you'd want to connect to the auxiliary input of the Denon from the Zen.
@@thevinylattack Thanks, mate!
Hello, I have an atoll IN100 signature amplifier, with a phono module. Do you think zen would sound better? Kudos to your effort and your channel, Gogo from Slovenia
I've never heard that amp, so I can't say.
@@thevinylattack Wow, thanks for the quick reply. I will try to borrow it somehow because buying without test is not always the best way.
Next review the iPhono3 Black Label. That paired with a Lyra Delos is perfection!
If they send me one, I'll certainly review it.
So you've said you don't think built in (to the amp) phono pre -amps are as good as stand alone ones. How closely have you looked at some of the vintage pre-amps built in to vintage amps like the Luxman L-430? I think you may be surprised.
What I'm saying is that a quality separate amp will be better than a built in. It doesn't matter if the unit is vintage or not, they just don't have the space for the electronics, nor the focus on the singular performance of a stand alone unit. Certainly cheaper separates won't sound as good as some built-ins.
@@thevinylattack Fair enough.
but the Pro-ject Phono Box MM beat them all
According to whom?
I'm lucky enough to have the classic and coveted Technics sl10 turntable complete with the original 310MC cartridge. That marvel is a minuscule .2mv (even lower than your Hana's .4) & with its incredible quality but miniscule voltage it needs a very detailed amp with high gain. Most MC units top out @ 60db which is just not enough for this cart... the Zen goes to 72db and even it's mid-level is an impressive 63db! This absolutely looks like one to try for sure.
Do you know if it has any setting for the loading or is it likely fixed @ 100 ohms?
I did some digging and this is what I found:
MM: 47K Ohms
MC High (high output cart): 47K Ohms
MC Low (low output cart): 1.4K Ohms
MC V Low (very low output cart): 110 Ohms
My Edifier S3000 Pro powered bookshelf speakers have L & R XLR inputs. So I can use a balanced 4.4mm to XLR L & R cable to send sound to my speakers? Awesome if I’m understanding correctly. Thanks for another great review!
I'd bet that'll make a noticeable difference.
Since the 1960s, Panasonic has made superior products, including this phono pre-amp.
Which gain setting did you use with your Hegel? I find the MM setting with a Ortofon Blue really quiet on my Hegel H95.
Great review btw!!
I honestly don't remember.
The turntable doesn't make any signal. It only spins the record. The tonearm doesn't make any signal. It holds the cartridge. The cartridge produces signal. A low output moving coil cartridge might produce something like .18mV. A moving magnet cartridge might produce something like 4mV. Either is a miniscule amount of signal. A line preamp is not likely to have enough gain to hear the signal. That's why a phonostage is required.
New versions came out, with reduced features and lower price. I am wandering if they also reduced internal components quality. It would be interesting to see what you think about the V2 versions now. Great opinion and review as always. Thanks.
Hopefully I'll get these in down the line.
I recently purchased this preamp connected to my Schiit Freya + with balanced and RCA. At after about 1 o'clock on the volume a hum/buzz starts to come in both inputs with or without the turntable connected, gets louder as I increase. I do not get this on my other inputs. Is this normal or defective? I have time to send it back. I use the RCA to feed through a tube buffer and I have done all the isolation possible.
I would contact the manufacturer directly and see what they say.
Hey Chris, do you still have the EAT E Glo Petit? I had mine for a year and left channel is bad. Hope it's still under warranty.
I use it on a regular basis. I'm sorry to hear you're having a problem. I would definitely contact EAT directly.
Thanks for another cool video. Question from a newbie: if your turntable has a pre-amp and it's plugged into powered speakers without a receiver, would using a pre-amp like this be a good idea or would it possibly mess things up?
Using a phono pre-amp won't hurt anything when running into powered speakers. Table > Phono Pre > Speakers. It'll certainly improve the sound.
@@thevinylattack Thanks so much for your answer!
@@TaminoTheCat No problem.
Where is the iFi Zen Phono Pre-Amp made?
This is an awesome review. Thank you so very much for your hard work. I watch and/or listen often and will continue doing so.
I think I noticed on the back that iFi Zen is made in China. While I have several Chinese made electronic devices myself (hard to avoid), it's something I try to be mindful of considering the well-documented labor conditions in many Chinese factories. I'll stay with my Mani as it made in the USA (at least partially, if not completely). I love it. I'll tune in again soon. Grace and peace to you and your loved ones.
It says that it's assembled in China. I couldn't tell you about the working conditions.
Good luck buying a Mani! I tried, and they were out of stock, with no estimate when they would deliver and charge my credit card. I HATE dealers with those surprise charges 1/2 year later, when I forgot about it. I tried contacting them, but there is NO phone number, and email response was NONE. Between crappy (non-existent) response until I requested cancellation (which was probably a canned bot-email), various problems that users report (like radio reception, noise, etc, with no quick repair or exchange in sight!), and that nasty way of charging my card whenever they send the box at their leisure, Schiit is NO company I want to deal with.
Wow. This is the first time I've heard someone have a bad experience with them. I'm sorry to hear it went so poorly.
@@thevinylattack - look at forum discussions (you need dig a bit), and you will find more. This is why I panicked at the time. It's simply a fanboy driven reputation, that makes them look good, BUT beware, because there are many other people, who are baffled at not being able to find any active contact after spending good money. There is simply zero live contact, period. My Purchase was automatically cancelled by the credit card company a few days later, but when a company ghosts people, it does not sit well.
Worth getting with Fluance RT 85 and my Kanto YU6 speakers which have an amp I think????
It's hard to say how much improvement you'll hear on those speakers, but It's a worthwhile investment for down the line if you're looking to upgrade your system.
I was told I can't use a planar 3 with elyss with this preamp,they want 15000 for sotherland no way
Brother man, I’m almost there! Yer recommends have helped me build my choices… Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo, Q Acoustics 3050i, & the ifi Zen phono…. But I’m confused! Will I still need an additional amp to run my speakers/turn table? Dude, I’m so green w/ all this. If I still need an amp, what would you recommend for a good beginner setup? Maybe the Arcam FMJ you use in this review? I’m purchasing everything w/ one fell swoop once I know I can listen to jams straight away. Penny for yer thoughts?
You would need an amp, yes. You might look at the IotaVX SA3. It's affordable and it sounds great.
@@thevinylattack I have seen reviews on that amp. Definitely seems like a rock solid choice. I think I will go that direction and my starter system will be complete… For now! Huge thanks for all your input! Super helpful.
Great review . The only problem I have at this price point is it is good ? Or good for a disposable phono preamp ?
Neither of these are for a 'disposable' setup. Both would be an excellent choice for low and mid-tier systems alike.
First time & Wonderfully clear.
How can I control the overall gain with the mani 2? Would I just have volume control on my speaker volume faders in the back of each speaker? I don’t see a see volume knob.
There are dip switches on the bottom.
11:18 Thanks for that succinct summary.
Probably not gonna supplant my ProJect Tube Box S2 anytime soon, but I hear nothing but good things about this phono stage. However, I like how tubes sound, especially since upgrading to Telefunken.
I'd love to do a comparison of the Zen and the Tube Box. Hopefully I can make that happen.
Oh I’d LOVE for you to do that!
@@jeremyr722 I've sent an email to Pro-Ject. It's just a matter of whether they have a review sample in stock.
Well if they don’t, perhaps I could send you mine. I could use the phono stage in my integrated while it’s away
@@jeremyr722 I'll certainly keep it in mind.
If I have a integrated amp, do I even need a phono preamp? New to vinyl.
It depends on the amp. Some have a built-in phono preamp, so you're all set. Others don't, in which case you would need to buy an outboard preamp.
Very interesting review thank you ... I have a Project X1 turntable coupled to a Leak Stereo 130 with Lintons and overall I am very pleased with this combo based on my moderate budget for HiFi - The X1 comes standard with an entry level cartridge called the Project Pick-It S2MM and its quite good for an entry level cartridge - I am pondering about investing in a Phono Preamp and an cartridge - Ortofon Blue seems to be a good upgrade and that cartridge is highly regarded -- question is --- is it worth the investment on a phono preamp and cartridge for the X1 or should I upgrade the turntable ..greetings from Ireland -- Paul
The X1 is more than capable of handling a quality cartridge upgrade.
@@thevinylattack Thank you for your opinion which I take on board -- should I invest in an MM or MC cartridge and park the Phono preamp - The Leak Stereo 130 has quite a good phono stage built in.. and yes I get it that an external dedicated phono preamp is the better way to go for any turntable upgrade .. Regards, Paul
@@ramblinginmeath4950 You'll need an external phono pre-amp if you want to go with a moving coil cartridge, so bear that in mind.
Damn..I just don't want to watch any other reviews than yours,so in formative on subject matter that you make it easy to make a purchase decision on the best products,these company's should pay your for your style and approach,your fantastic!! Great video again!!
I appreciate the confidence, but I think it's a good idea to watch a few reviews you trust to try and make sure you're getting all the information necessary before a purchase. I certainly do my best, but I'm bound to miss a detail or two here and there.
Chris, you told us the price, but not where one can purchase it. Please advise, thanks
There are several online retailers that sell it. Audio Advice had it priced at 189 while some others had it at 199.
Any recommendations for an affordable tube preamp?
The ProJect Tube Box is a strong performer.
Thanks for your review, I have the bellari vp549 phono preamp that also has a subsonic filter and I will try the iFi Zen.
I'd be interested to hear what you think.
I had the Shitt Mani for a couple of days, but I had to send it back, because the power adapter is cheap and it was picking up noise from my WiFi router. I spent an extra $125 and ordered the MoFi StudioPhono, which I've been extremely pleased with, but I've read that they just raised the MSRP form $249 to $349.
A $100 jump is pretty big if the electronics haven't been upgraded.
@@thevinylattack Yep, but it might have been grossly underpriced, given what it's able to compete with.
@@TheAgeOfAnalog I won't know for sure until I'm able to get one in home. If the people at Mofi ever respond to my emails that is...