Phono Stage Comparison - Angstrom Zenith vs Pass Labs XP25 vs Manley Steelhead

Even if it's not so significative a sound comparison through YouTube I decided to do it just for fun. The sound was recorded on a Tascam DR-100 and I tried to match the volume at best of my editing software capability. I decided to swap video/audio track every 30 sec. (more or less).

[rw]

This is a brilliant video! Awesome for such an easy going presentation, and it, s seamless too. Wow!
I'll admit, I'm a Pass Labs fan, but after you fade from it to the Manley, the singers voice instead of being a single overall sound, one can hear the dimensionality, depth, and it then takes on a 3D shape. Woah. I might have to investigate more Manley products, especially a preamp.
What a great video.
We want more!
🤣

[klaymoon]

They are all truly outstanding. Pass has lovely tone, great PRat, with a bit of pleasing roundness. Manley is absolutely gorgeous and glowing. Angstrom is amazing in its own way, perhaps capturing the strength from both Pass and Manley. Can't go with any of them.

[Lentrohamsanin]

Thanks! Can you please share audio samples for comparison?

[Skyshakerrrr]

Manley for the win
Pass lab second.
The other one lets just say not so much.

[שמעוןבוזגלו-פר]

It's not hard to hear that the Angstrom is in a different league than the other two phonostages: more refined, smooth, complex, and realistically rich. The Pass sounds mechanical and thin compared to it, and the Manley sounds too inflated, grainy, and a bit rough.
A serious Phonostage!

[JessicaSiemens]

I like the Pass labs the best. The Manley was too bass heavy. Didn't sound as open and natural. The Zenith was very nice.

[AM_YT]

The Manley is more detailed, but I think I prefer the warmer sound of the Pass.

[TheNorliss]

Hi. Nice gear! Ideally you want to record a direct feed out of the phono stage because as things stand, any differences between the various units will be lost amidst the sound of the speakers/room.

[billarmstrong]

Really nice. I found it hard to choose between the Manley (a brand I always like a lot) and the Angstrom; they sounded pretty similar. The Pass seemed a bit soft in the bass in comparison. . .
(Plus you still have those Thiels! Should I buy them??) 🍻😉🎶

[greggb]

Okay, I have to apologize to the tube community 👋 That Manley Steelhead is perfection 🤩 I have always preferred ss phonos over tube phonos but that Steelhead has me in goosebumps

[firelord]

I owned the Steelhead before with an VPI Hotrod table, awesome. I really like your Tascam recorder.

[Jil]

Fantastic test thanks. Manley makes the biggest difference in this test. Fuller sound.

[paolohifi]

Mettiamo su un cd del concerto dei metalica e facciamo un confronto con un paio di electrovoice pro a tromba amplificate con dsp ..e dopo vediamo le vs hi end che vanno bene con du o tre strumenti che figura faranno..