Manunta EVO Phono 3 and M2Tech Nash

Review pattern equipped by manunta-audio
Retail costs:
Manunta EVO Phono 3: €800
M2Tech Nash Rev.b: €1.799

My expertise with Marco Manunta’s designs dates again to the M2Tech HiFace and HiFace EVO USB to S/PDIF and AES/EBU converters. In reality, it was my expertise with these units that triggered me to research the Manunta Evo DDC 3 converter. In flip, this little magnificence carried out so effectively that I made it a everlasting member of my Genelec system. Meanwhile, my evaluation of the Thorens TD-1600 turntable with the brand new TP-160 tonearm made me take into account potential phono-stage options, which introduced my consideration again to Manunta Audio.

The Manunta product portfolio is small however efficient, and the model affords the richly-featured EVO Phono 3 MM/MC phono stage at a really engaging worth. Given that Manunta merchandise are, on the core of their design, simplified, super-value variations of M2Tech merchandise by the identical designer, this additionally made me curious concerning the higher-end M2Tech Nash, which is a part of the model’s Rockstars sequence. While the EVO Phono 3 and Nash are fairly totally different beasts, they share some design traits, and on condition that they’re produced by the identical firm, one would possibly regard the M2Tech Nash as a super-charged Manunta EVO Phono 3.

Manunta EVO Phono 3

The Manunta EVO Phono 3 is an MM/MC Phono Preamplifier with passive RIAA and steady adjustable MC enter impedance (loading) by way of a potentiometer on the rear panel. This characteristic is sort of distinctive because it gives any fascinating setting between 10 Ohms and 1 OkayOhms relatively than the standard choice of discrete steps which are typically too low or too excessive. In addition to the loading characteristic, the preamp affords unbiased management of MM achieve (40, 46, 56 dB) and MC achieve (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 dB), and these settings are saved for every enter individually. This is very helpful because the unit additionally has unbiased RCA inputs for MM and MC, which implies one can join two turntables concurrently. Somewhat annoyingly, the MM achieve at all times resets to the bottom worth when the facility is eliminated, however with direct toggle button management from the entrance panel, it’s straightforward to re-apply the specified worth.

Apart from this oddity, I discovered the EVO Phono 3 a pleasure to make use of, even when the gray font will be onerous to learn in sure lighting circumstances. Its buttons and features have clearly been chosen and carried out very thoughtfully.

The MM achieve is enough to accommodate each MM and medium-to-high MC cartridge, together with most transferring iron and transferring flux fashions, which work effectively when loaded with the pre-set loading of 47k Ohms. The MM and MC achieve phases are mixed for the MC enter, which implies a number of freedom for the consumer to set the respective achieve values exactly as wanted. For occasion, one can have the MM achieve on most achieve and set the MC achieve as required. Alternatively, one can set the MM achieve decrease and the MC achieve increased. In my exams (with the Thorens turntable and TAS 1500 cartridge), I obtained the very best outcomes with the MM achieve at its most setting and including additional MC achieve as wanted. The MC achieve will also be used as a tweak facility. The next setting will result in a extra upfront and impactful sound, whereas a decrease setting will result in a friendlier and smoother sound. The Evo Phono 3 additionally permits setting the MM enter capacitance to 0pF, 100pF, 220pF, or 320pF. In addition, there’s a switchable 16Hz subsonic filter that may forestall points brought on by badly warped records and will be independently set for MM and MC inputs.

When stepping by the achieve steps, the preamp outputs a substantial low-frequency thud that may trigger giant woofer actions. The switching like this (with out mute circuitry) is undoubtedly carried out to acquire the very best sound high quality at its worth stage, and it mustn’t trigger any injury at regular quantity ranges. However, it may be a little bit uncomfortable. Hence, I like to recommend muting or reducing the quantity when making these changes.

The performance doesn’t cease there, although. In addition, the Evo Phono 3 comes with a totally loaded distant management that permits for setting numerous controls and controlling different M2Tech Rockstars sequence merchandise. In phrases of phono stage performance, the distant management permits Power/Standby, Display Dimming, and MM/MC enter choice.

The preamp is equipped with a easy wall-wart switching energy adapter. However, the efficiency will be additional improved by utilizing a devoted low-noise energy provide. For this function, Manunta gives the Evo Supply 3. Alternatively, the M2Tech Van Der Graaf MkII will also be used.

M2Tech Nash Rev. b

Like the Manunta ECO Phono 3, the Nash Rev.b is an MM/MC Phono Preamplifier with passive RIAA and steady adjustable MC achieve and MC enter impedance (loading) by way of two rotary dials on the rear panel. Also just like the Manunta mannequin, the Nash options two separate phono inputs: one for low-level MC phono cartridges and one for medium to high-level MC phono cartridges and MM phono cartridges.

The particular person inputs enable connecting two turntables concurrently: one fitted with an MC or different low-level cartridge, one other fitted with MM or different high-level cartridge. Optionally, a second low-level cartridge will be linked to the MM enter via an exterior step-up transformer or MC stage. Alternatively, supplied {that a} lowered output stage is appropriate and a excessive load resistance is just not problematic for the frequency response, an MC cartridge will be straight linked to the MM enter. The respective settings are saved independently for MM and MC.

The first apparent deviation from the Manunta EVO Phono 3 is that the Nash additionally affords two line-level auxiliary inputs, which might flip it right into a hub or switching field for analog sources. This facility will be very useful when the phono stage is used with the Young MkIV or different tools outfitted with solely a single analog enter.

The completely discrete part circuit with J-FET enter is characterised by very low background noise and excessive achieve, permitting it to succeed in an output voltage of two.5 Vrms with 5mV on MM and 170uV on MC. Passive RIAA is carried out with high-precision polypropylene capacitors.

The Nash can ship as much as 95dB whole achieve on the MC enter and as much as 65dB on the MM enter. Alas, a common rule is that extra achieve usually means extra noise. Therefore, designers normally apply the minimal achieve to acquire an affordable output voltage for a phono stage, which ranges between 500mV and 1V. This is sufficient to enable the road preamplifier to drive the facility amp into clipping even with low-level recordings. However, this causes a stage change between the phono enter and a line enter to which a CD participant or comparable is linked, forcing the consumer at all times to regulate the quantity when altering the supply. To keep away from this, the M2Tech designers have conceived a really low-noise, discrete-component circuit that makes use of a number of low-noise FETs in its enter stage to acquire an extremely silent amplifier with excessive achieve. The similar base circuit was used within the MC preamplifier, within the first MM amplifier (earlier than the passive RIAA equalizer), and the second MM amplifier, with slight modifications to adapt it to the precise features. Low-noise regulators have been used all through to make sure the very best noise efficiency, with the MC preamplifier powered by a proprietary ultra-low noise twin regulator constructed utilizing discrete elements. Thanks to those low-noise amplifiers, the Nash can ship at the least 2.5V at its output with each cartridge mannequin, with nice noise efficiency.

In addition to a constantly variable load potentiometer on the rear panel, the Nash additionally affords a constantly variable Gain potentiometer. In addition, the MM achieve will be set to 55, 60, or 65dB by way of the settings menu utilizing the rotary multi-function dial on the entrance panel. The different MM interface parameters (enter impedance and capacitance load) are set by dip-switches, once more from the rear panel.

Most MM cartridges want a load resistance of 47 okayOhms, which is the usual enter resistance of most MM phono preamplifiers. On the opposite hand, many medium and high-output MC cartridges work higher with a decrease worth, round 15 okayOhms. The NASH affords each values, which will be chosen by the rear panel DIP switches.

MM cartridges are delicate to the capacitive load, and based on M2Tech, lots of them work higher when the phono preamplifier’s enter impedance is barely capacitive. With the Nash, the consumer can add capacitance utilizing the rear panel DIP switches. Capacitance base values are 100pF, 220pF, and 470pF, and by setting a couple of worth, the consumer may also set 320pF, 570pF, 690pF, and 790pF.

The Nash Rev.b will be managed utilizing the entrance panel rotary encoder and the included infrared distant management. The distant management permits Power/Standby, Display Dimming, Menu navigation, and MM/MC enter choice. Another bonus over the Manunta EVO Phono 3 is the Nash’s built-in Bluetooth BLE interface that additionally permits the preamp to be configured and managed by way of Android. M2Tech affords an Android app to regulate these parameters, and an iOS app is deliberate for later launch.

I discovered the Nash a little bit complicated to function from the entrance panel. Especially the one button on the left, which I’ve typically pressed too lengthy, pondering it might activate the menu however as a substitute shutting the unit down. After that, it wants one other 20 seconds to heat up. But with extended use, I’m positive one will get the hold of it.

A switchable 16Hz subsonic filter cuts low frequencies under 16Hz and is helpful with warped records. Also, the 16Hz filter complies with the brand new IEC curve utilized in fashionable records, which provides a 16Hz high-pass to the usual RIAA curve.

The Nash is equipped with a easy wall-wart switching energy adapter, the identical make and mannequin because the Manunta EVO Phono 3 and the efficiency will be additional improved by utilizing a devoted low-noise energy provide as a substitute. For this function, M2Tech gives the Van Der Graaf MkII.

Similarities in design however nonetheless very totally different

So far, we’ve lined performance, operability, and connectivity. What concerning the circuit design? The two phono phases share the same primary design developed by Marco Manunta, however how they differ exactly is unclear. However, as seen under, the PCBs are constructed fully in a different way. Not solely are the PCBs’ dimension and format totally different, however key elements are additionally totally different.