Power Supply for Schiit Mani Phono Preamp

Do it. I got one recently through AliExpress. Selected one that looked to have a good build (there are many who build them). Unfortunately, unless you want to spend a fortune for a $130 phono stage, these Chinese built options are, IMO, the best bang for the buck. $110 shipped, and really made a nice improvement to my Mani. Well worth the money.

Just checked, the person/company who built mine was named ‘ SENGTERBELLE HIFI Audio World Store’

The linear power supplies are usually meant to replace switching DC wall warts.  The Mani uses an AC transformer - the only external power supply made for the Mani that I know if is the following:

http://www.swagmanlab.com/Product_PSU?product_id=670

I inquired with swagman, unfortunately their shipping time could not confirmed and to expect long delays, which is why I went in another direction. I really don’t think swagman offers any more that others can, at a less cost.

Swagman is not the only maker of these LPS’s that will work with the Mani.

I went to the Schiit website to look into the Mani.The wal-wart is specified as a transformer with 16 VAC output.The chassis shows the input should be 16 VAC.The FAQ says the power supply is linear.The photo of the circuit board shows a diode bridge and filter caps near the power switch, confirming the PS is linear.
If you were to plug an external linear power supply into the Mani, it would be a bad thing for the Mani and the lps. ( It would void both warranties.) It can't possibly improve the sound.

Yes, you are correct about the Mani’s power circuitry. But believe me, the LPS makes a positive difference, and does not hurt the Mani. Many folks have been using the Mani with a separate LPS for a long time now, and all agree it improves its overall sound. And it does. For the cost or each/both, I’m not too worried about the warranty. The Mani may not be in my system anymore without the sonic benefit the LPS has provided as I stopped looking for a $500-$1,000+ replacement.

Not to say the Mani is ‘bad’ without it. It’s a steal either way.

If you can't do it now, do it when you can.
Consider a better phonostage. The table deserves it. You're not hearing what the setup is capable of doing.

I bought one of those piece of Schiit's- great for the price, while my tubed unit was being repaired. 

Even with an LPS, it won't perform like the next level of phonostages.

You can’t compare the quality of a wall-wart transformer to a LPS containing a large toroid or R-core transformer.

OP...If you plan on keeping the Mani for awhile, get a LPS with quality internal components.

OTOH, your Well Tempered deserves a better phonostage.

@lowrider57 

You can’t compare the quality of a wall-wart transformer to a LPS containing a large toroid or R-core transformer. 

Yep. I went with one that had the R-Core transformer, as a ‘cheap’ toroidal can cause noise, and figured the R-Core was a safer bet.

I agree with bkeske, I got the Swagman Labs LPS about a month ago I it made a difference to the Mani for sure. It to about 2 weeks to the US with no problems. I notice that the Mani has smoothed out and the bass tighten up and seems deeper, the highs have more air around them and the sound stage is wider and deeper. It worked out well for my modest Music Hall TT with a Nagaoka MP200 cart. Im now looking to upgrade the TT to a Clearaudio concept wood with a Nag MP200 but the Music Hall will be setup as a mono table. I recommend the Swagman LPS for sure.

@mktracy

Good to hear it only took a couple weeks. I contacted the owner of Swagman right in the beginning of the pandemic, and he could not guarantee a reasonable delivery time. That was a reasonable warning all things considered.

The one I got via AliExpress; I made sure had very similar specs to the Swagman. I think I did OK.

I am also experiencing the same improvements, especially that the Mani is much more ‘smooth’ in its presentation. 

Well worth the $110.

Exactly which model of Swagman LPS did you buy for the Mani?

They make one specifically for the Mani

TableJockey,

What would you consider a good “next step up” from the Mani?  My current system is a Schiit Freya feeding two Shiit Vidars operating as 400W monoblocks with Tekton speakers.

OK, so I looked up the Swagman supply for the Mani. It is not a linear power supply, it is a transformer (16 VAC, 2 amps) with a ferrite EMI suppressor and the correct plug to fit the Mani. I agree it will work perfectly and maybe sound better due to the increase amperage.  However, may I recommend you try the Floor wart from Schiit at $24.It is 14 VAC and 1.5 amps. If you like you can add a $2 ferrite clamp.

@ bkeske, I looked at others supplies but was not sure so I contacted Swagman Labs and after a couple of emails I decided to order. I must say Im very glad I did, so much so that I ordered a ZeroZone LPS for my Cavelli CTH headphone amp. It was cheap and recommended by Duster on Audio Asylum. It is custom made to order @ 50watts, 28vdc 1.25A and was under $100 shipped. I feel most components that use a wall wart benefit from a LPS.@oldears, I know that the Swagman Labs is not a LPS but it works very well and has quite a good following with good reviews for the Mani. I know what Im hearing out of mine and Im quite happy and love the sound.

I have no problem with the possibility that the Swagman transformer could sound better than the Schiit walwart transformer. But several people (including yourself) were referring to it as an LPS, which it is not. This is fortunate in that the DC output from a LPS into the circuit board  of the Schiit Mani would be a problem.

Well, that is because everyone who has reviewed the Mani with one of these LPS units has called it that, including Swagman.

Of course it is a transformer, as, from what I understand at its simplest, an LPS *is* a transformer that takes AC and converts it into DC. And that’s what the Swagman, and the unit I bought does. It certainly isn’t a ‘switching’ power supply. And the Schiit wall wart also turns AC into DC, but without an additional power transformer. But both convert AC into the required 16v DC power.

Before I purchased mine, I read from another about the circuitry within the Mani, and was dumbfounded that these units worked, but they sure seem to by those who have purchased them, installed them, and used them with success and better performance.

On The Swagman site he describes it as a toroidal transformer with some sort of EMI treatment. the spec on the site is an output of 16VAC, 2A (which is a clue that it is only a transformer). A transformer converts 120v to some other AC voltage ( it cannot output DC). He does call it a power supply which is stretching it a bit.A linear power supply starts with a transformer, then a rectifier/diode bridge, then a filter capacitor system, possibly also inductors, and finally a voltage regulator for each rail. It will output a specified DC voltage.Schiit uses an external transformer in a walwart package for reasons of cost and to use a smaller chassis which  is more convenient for an entry level user. The rest of the linear power supply is on their circuit board. They provide a really high performance to cost ratio product. I cannot name a used phono preamp for less that $300 which might be as good.
Using the Swagman transformer to replace the external walwart, the AC voltage goes through rest of the linear power supply on the Schiit circuit board. The current that this linear power supply can provide is limited by the rating of the rectifier, which might be only 1 amp, since the Mani only draws 4W. (This means that using an even higher amperage transformer would not be an advantage).
If you were to input a DC voltage into the Mani, the diodes might let the voltage flow to create either a plus or a minus 5V rail ( depending on how the polarity on the plug happens to be) but not both. Not a good thing.I suggest you do an internet search for "linear power supply".
I am not an EE, but I can solder and read a schematic, and have built a linear power supply from Radio Shack parts many years ago. BTW, to build a Swagman "power supply", would have a parts cost of ~$70 if you use good parts, so his product is not a ripoff.

But but these power supplies *are* an advantage, no matter how Schiit created the circuitry. My, and others who have ears, have heard their advantage first hand. In my case, the performance increase was somewhat substantial. The additional money spent took the very good value Mani to another level. As one reviewer I read stated, ‘his Mani, with the Swagman, made it into a phono pre that easily rivals those costing $500-700’. So still a great deal.

In the end, the performance increase is all that matters for those who have ponied-up the additional $110-130. 

As I believe I stated, I was ready to make a move-up to a more expensive pre, (perhaps much more), but took the chance on one of these power supplies first. There wasn’t really much to lose. And I’m glad I did. That doesn’t mean I won’t replace it, I’m sure I will at some point, but don’t feel that necessity right now.

And I have done a little research regarding ‘linear power supplies’.

Thanks to everyone for the great input.  I shall never mislabel an AC transformer that sort of looks like a DC power supply again.  I'm certainly no smarter, but definitely more discerning now.
bkeske has convinced me the Swagman transformer is definitely worth a try.
Thanks again.

@dougthebiker,bkeske is right on the money about the Swagman Labs power supply for the Mani. I have the Mani in my system for about 6 weeks now and the Mani has never sounded better, it took on a new life as everything just smoothed out, got bigger with more air, soundstage expanded in both width and depth. I more than happy right now with the Mani not to say that I will not upgrade at some point (looking for a ARC PH3) but Im not in a big hurry. Get a Swagman Labs and a descent power cord and you will be amazed how good it sounds. Happy listening and just enjoy the music.