iFi Zen Phono Review VS Schitt Mani 2 | Best Phono Preamps Under $200?

Today, I'm putting the spotlight on the iFi ZEN Phono preamp - a unit that's been making waves in the sub-$200/£200 category. Not only does it promise a rejuvenated love affair with your LPs, but it also stands as a formidable contender against the popular Schiit Mani 2. But is it worth the extra $50? Let's find out.

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🔍 In this video, I take you through a comprehensive review of the iFi ZEN Phono, delving into its aesthetic appeal, wide cartridge compatibility, and unique subsonic filter. Plus, I compare it head-to-head with the Schiit Mani 2 and even put it against the higher-priced Moon 110LP.

🎚️ What sets the ZEN Phono apart? From its quiet performance and precise RIAA adherence to its overall sound quality, I cover all angles. You'll hear about its low noise floor, detailed and slightly warm sound signature, and how it handles different genres of music.

🔈 Whether you're a vinyl enthusiast or just starting your journey, this review will give you a clear picture of what to expect from these affordable yet powerful phono preamps.

#hifi #audiophile #VinylLovers #vinylcommunity

[soundmatters]

Thanks for watching! 🎶🎧 Do drop your comments and questions below. If you'd like to support the channel, check the video description for many DISCOUNT CODES codes to enjoy money off various products and feed your vinyl habit! (I earn a small commission - no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!

[Valnoten]

Been using my Zen Phono since 2021, still going strong!

[carolineleonard]

I ended up with the Zen Phono after having auditoned many others to couple with my Rega P3 + Benz Micro Gold MC cartridge. For the money it is truly excellent-around £500 in other makers' terms, no hiss oR noise as well. To get a serious step up in quality, for fun, i A/B this with a Rega Aria mk2. That area(approx £750-£950) is where one needs to aim to get a much better all round phono stage IMHO. A great review please keep thEm coming.

[EclecticMusicMan]

Happy iFi Zen phono user and I have tried so many stages, arguably the best MM phono stage under £500.

[markcarrington]

Great review, Mark. I used the Zen Phono while using moving magnet cartridges with great results and a linear power supply made a big improvement too, irrespective of what ifi say about their fancy wall warts.

It also just about worked when I upgraded to moving coil, but it was clearly, and quite reasonably given the rest of the system, the weakest link. The lack of fine tuning on the interface means matching to MC cartridges is a bit hit and miss. But, hey, it’s a very inexpensive box in comparison to the cost of decent MC cart’s.

[PedroNevesPlus]

Rocking an ifi zen phono here and sooo happy! Beautiful piece for the price

[newardthelman]

Mucho gracias for a clear & highly informative comparison between 3 highly desirable units.

[dannyfannyfoodle]

I went on a bit of a phonostage safari last year. I started with the Zen Phono and wanted to see if I could improve its sound appreciably. I tried a Dynavector (forget the model), the Schiit (just for an apples to apples comparison), Musical Fidelity M1 ViNL, and a Lehmann Black Cube SE. In my experience, the only one that was appreciably better than the iFi was the Lehmann. And it was better in every conceivable way.

I have since moved to a “digital” phono preamp, the Pro-ject Phono Box DS2 USB. It accommodates two turntables (MM and/or MC) coverts the signal to digital, upsamples it to 192 kHz, and sends it out to my Naim DAC V1. It’s pretty great. Not as good as the Lehmann, but it works well for my use case. I still have my Zen Phono though. It’s the only one I kept because it’s a great affordable reference and it may come in handy someday.

Love your channel!

[GeoffT]

Great review, I bought one of these a couple of years ago. At the time I used a trichord dino, which was a far more expensive product. I no longer own the dino! Ifi zen has almost no hiss, as you said, and better dynamics. It would be a great product if it cost £450, at the money it retails at it’s a bargain

[adriancressy]

I just noticed a lot of hiss noise in my SCHITT Mani pre. Gain on the slider on the mixer all the way up. The mixer DOES NOT MAKE any electronic noise

[romerolemstra]

Hi Mark! Great review of the Ifi zen! I enjoy watching your video's, they are very entertaining to watch! I do have a question, do you know how much milivolts the Zen can handle without sounding distorted? I have a Ortofon Concorde mkii club on my Technics SL-1200 which is 8mv and I know that's pretty. I do have the Technics connected to a Allen & Heath Xone 23c analog mixer on it's phono input but the phono sound pretty good but does not have the highest gain but that mixer is known for that, still a very very solid mixer, but I do want to upgrade with a regular higher quality phono preamp between the Technics and the Xone 23c, I have my eye's on the Ifi Zen phono preamp for a while now and I can't find any information online of a Concorde mkii club and the Zen combination anywhere as far as I have searched. I mostly listen to classic trance and those tracks are pretty loud anyway but they can benefit from a audio upgrade as well, and I have the original release of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds on vinyl too and it doesn't sound very loud with the Concorde and the Xone so if I want to experiment more with other genres on vinyl I want them to be pretty loud and clear too.
I'm sorry for this very long response for something that can be a easy and simple question, but I want to know if you maybe know if 8mv is good for something like the Zen phono preamp?

[petergeldrich]

Thanks for the review! I’m looking into upgrading from the fosi audio tube phono stage and these are the two main contenders (ifi and mani2)! Any thoughts on which would be best with a goldring e3?

[MrPortlyVale]

I had a Rega Fono and a Dino. Tried this + upgraded wall wart. Can't believe how good it was...sold the others. Just bigger, clearer, more fun.

[amazish]

very good review. thanks. have you tried setting both to 48db gain with MM cartridges ? Just curious to know how both will behave in my setup at that gain. thanks

[marcbegine]

Pls try the Pro-Ject Audio Design DS3-B phono stage with the RS2 phono power box

[leandriviviers]

I would love to see a review of the iFi Zen Phono 3

[danelectr]

I have the zen phono and zen air phono and l love them both.

[younglaw]

I have a Mani 2 currently with an Orotdon 2m Blue. I was thinking of upgrading to the Zen Phono or possibly the Pro-Ject Phono Box DS2 (which I saw you also reviewed). Would you say the the DS2 is worth the extra $150? Thank you.

[watdanuqta-mfms]

Do you listen to all three phono pres stacked like that? What better phono preamps have you listened to. Normally I don't ask about specific models but what have you listened to as a reference point?

[paulboyce]

On your Mani 2 video you were talking a bit of the specs. But here I do not see anything about the iFi to compare? If there is a comparison it should start from the specs and what it can and can't as both are very different and directed to different use between MC/MM. Then see if the paper values transfer to the real world with a good sound quality. Why I make a big fuss about specs is for example 110pF vs 200pF and DC 5V / 500mA vs 16VAC /1A. There is a huge difference just in these two specs that will decide what cartridge you can amplify well. One is more towards MC and other works better on MM cartridges.

Mani 2 (US$149)
Gain 1 = L, Gain 2 = L (Decca Mode)
Gain: 33dB
THD: <0.0003%, A-weighted, ref 2V RMS
SNR: >108dB, A-weighted, ref 2V RMS
Crosstalk: -90dB, 20-20kHz
Sensitivity: 5.3mV for 300mV output
Overload Margin: >20dB

Gain 1 = L, Gain 2 = H (Standard MM Mode)
Gain: 42dB
THD: <0.0006%, A-weighted, ref 2V RMS
SNR: >98dB, A-weighted, ref 2V RMS
Crosstalk: -90dB, 20-20kHz
Sensitivity: 1.9mV for 300mV output
Overload Margin: >20dB

Gain 1 = H, Gain 2 = L (Low Output MM/High Output MC Mode)
Gain: 48dB
THD: <0.001%, A-weighted, ref 2V RMS
SNR: >96dB, A-weighted, ref 2V RMS
Crosstalk: -80dB, 20-20kHz
Sensitivity: 1.06mV for 300mV output
Overload Margin: >20dB

Gain 1 = H, Gain 2 = H (MC Mode)
Gain: 60dB
THD: <0.0015%, A-weighted, at 2V RMS
SNR: >87dB, A-weighted, ref 2V RMS
Crosstalk: -75dB, 20-20kHz
Sensitivity: 0.33mV for 300mV output
Overload Margin: >20dB

Input Loading:

Selectable R: 47KΩ, 200Ω, 47Ω, or 38Ω
Selectable C: 47pF, 100pF, 150pF, or 200pF

RIAA Accuracy: +/- 0.2dB, 20-20kHz

Low Frequency Filter: 6dB/octave or 12dB/octave at 15 Hz, fully passive

Output Impedance: 75 ohms
Topology: Fully passive RIAA network with OPA1612 gain stages, OP07 DC servo, switchable passive CR LF filter, 1- or 2- pole, 0.1% thin-film resistors, and 2% film capacitors
Power Supply: “wall wart” style 16VAC transformer, dual-filtered, regulated +/- 16V rails
Power Consumption: 4W
Size: 5 x 3.5 x 1.25”
Weight: 1 lb


Here is iFi ZEN Phono specs.
iFi ZEN Phono (GBP199.00/US$250)

Gain settings MC (v lo)@
MC (lo)
MC (hi)
MM 72dB (+/- 1dB)
60dB (+/- 1dB)
48dB (+/- 1dB)
36dB (+/- 1dB)
AI Sub-sonic filter Remedies only the 'warp' in LPs No negative impact to bass response
Max Output Voltage (RMS) 20v RMS bal output into 100k (< 1% THD & N)
13.5V RMS bal output into 600R (< 1% THD & N)
Output Impedance: BAL
SE 200 Ohm resistive
100 Ohm resistive
Input impedance MM: 47K Ohms (Load: 110pF)
MC High: 47K Ohms
MC Low: 1K Ohms
MC V Low: 110 Ohms
Signal/Noise Ratio: 94dB(A) MM re 2V BAL/1V UNBAL
80dB(unweighted 80kHz BW) MM re 2V BAL/1V UNBAL
84dB(A) MC Hi re 2V BAL/1V UNBAL
71dB(unweighted 80kHz BW) MM re 2V BAL/1V UNBAL
90dB(A) MC lo re 2V BAL/1V UNBAL
79dB(unweighted 80kHz BW) MC lo re 2V BAL/1V UNBAL
79dB(A) MC vlo re 2V BAL/1V UNBAL
69dB(unweighted 80kHz BW) MC vlo re 2V BAL/1V UNBAL
EIN (equivalent input noise): 0.6nV|/Hz (unweighted) MC lo/vlo

6.5nV|/Hz (unweighted) MM/MC hi -151dBV (A weighted)
-141dBV (unweighted)
-130dBV (A weighted)
-119dBV (unweighted)
Harmonic Distortion: < -110dB / 0.0003% MM re 2V BAL/1V UNBAL
< -80dB / 0.01% MC lo re 2V BAL/1V UNBAL
< -86dB / 0.005% MC vlo re 2V BAL/1V UNBAL
Dimensions 160(l) x 113(w) x 35(h) mm
6.3" x 4.4" x 1.4"
Power Supply: DC 5V / 500mA
Net weight: 515g (1.14 Ibs)
Warranty: 12 months