Phonostages — Schiit Audio Mani 3

The Mani 3 is the entry phono preamplifier from Schiit Audio, priced at USD 149 in black or silver, and it works with MM, MI and MC cartridges, low-output MC types included. It replaces the Mani 2 introduced in February 2022 at the same price. Schiit makes the circuit boards in-house in Corpus Christi, Texas, sources the sheet metal chassis from a California supplier, and builds, tests and ships every unit from Corpus Christi.

Key specs that matter

Schiit offers four gain steps of 30, 40, 50 and 60 dB. At the lowest setting distortion stays below 0.0005% with A-weighted noise more than 108 dB down, while the highest setting is rated at under 0.002% and more than 87 dB. A cartridge delivering 9 mV reaches 300 mV at the output with 30 dB of gain, and 0.3 mV is enough at 60 dB. Overload margin stays above 20 dB in every position, RIAA accuracy is held within 0.15 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and output impedance is 75 ohm. The default loads are 47 kohm with 50 pF for MM and 100 ohm with 50 pF for MC. The case measures 127 x 89 x 32 mm, weighs 0.45 kg and draws 4 W.

Engineering and use context

Gain comes from Analog Devices AD4898 low-noise parts, and equalisation is handled by a fully passive RIAA network of 2% film capacitors and 0.1% thin-film resistors. The path is DC-coupled throughout, and an OP07 servo keeps the output free of DC offset. A wall transformer supplies 16 VAC to a fully linear internal supply with dual-filtered, regulated plus and minus 17.5 V rails. Compared with the Mani 2, whose gain steps were 35, 45, 50 and 60 dB, the selectors for gain and MM or MC loading have moved from the underside to the front panel. Two LEDs show the chosen gain - none lit for 30 dB, the left one for 40 dB, the right one for 50 dB and both for 60 dB. On the back, switches set custom MC resistance to 10, 50 or 100 ohm and capacitance to 50, 100, 150 or 200 pF, and a passive CR rumble filter at 15 Hz can be engaged at 6 or 12 dB per octave for warped discs. There are no balanced inputs. Schiit gives a 3-year limited warranty.

Pairing

The two lower gain steps suit typical MM and MI cartridges, while the two upper ones are meant for MC designs, so one box can follow an owner who later changes cartridge type. Its low source impedance copes with any preamplifier or integrated amplifier line stage, and Schiit notes that some systems run quieter with the turntable ground wire attached to the preamplifier and others without it.

Alternatives

The Schiit Skoll is a USD 399 phono stage with fully discrete balanced circuitry, XLR and RCA connections and remote control of input, gain and loading.