# Schiit Mani 2 vs Parasound Zphono: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Schiit Mani 2 (Schiit Audio) and Parasound Zphono (Parasound) among phono preamps. Schiit Mani 2 is the cheaper of the two at $149.

## Side by side

| Spec | Schiit Mani 2 | Parasound Zphono |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $149 | $200 |
| Brand | Schiit Audio | Parasound |
| Cartridge support | MM and MC | MM and MC, switchable gain |
| Gain (dB) | 33/42/48/60 dB across four Input(L/H) x Output(L/H) combinations; 42 dB is the default MM setting | MM: 46 dB; MC: 61 dB @ 1 kHz |
| Snr (dB) | 87-108 dB, varies inversely with selected gain setting | MM: 84 dB; MC: 58 dB |
| Riaa accuracy | ±0.2 dB (20 Hz - 20 kHz) | ±0.25 dB (20 Hz - 20 kHz) |
| Input capacitance pf | 47/100/150/200 pF selectable, with 47k/200/47/38 ohm resistive loading options | 150 |
| Subsonic filter | Switchable passive low-frequency filter, 6 dB/octave or 12 dB/octave at 15 Hz | — |
| Thd percent | 0.0003%-0.0015% depending on selected gain setting | — |
| Output level | 75 ohm output impedance; level varies with gain setting | 1.1 V |

## Key differences

- Cartridge support: Schiit Mani 2 MM and MC vs Parasound Zphono MM and MC, switchable gain
- Gain (dB): Schiit Mani 2 33/42/48/60 dB across four Input(L/H) x Output(L/H) combinations; 42 dB is the default MM setting vs Parasound Zphono MM: 46 dB; MC: 61 dB @ 1 kHz
- Snr (dB): Schiit Mani 2 87-108 dB, varies inversely with selected gain setting vs Parasound Zphono MM: 84 dB; MC: 58 dB
- Riaa accuracy: Schiit Mani 2 ±0.2 dB (20 Hz - 20 kHz) vs Parasound Zphono ±0.25 dB (20 Hz - 20 kHz)
- Input capacitance pf: Schiit Mani 2 47/100/150/200 pF selectable, with 47k/200/47/38 ohm resistive loading options vs Parasound Zphono 150
- Output level: Schiit Mani 2 75 ohm output impedance; level varies with gain setting vs Parasound Zphono 1.1 V

## Sources

- Schiit Mani 2: https://www.schiit.com/products/mani (schiit.com, verified 2026-08-12)
- Parasound Zphono: https://www.parasound.com/products/zc-zphono (parasound.com, verified 2026-08-12)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/phono-preamps/schiit-mani-2-vs-parasound-zphono/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Schiit Mani 2 ($149) vs Parasound Zphono ($200) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/phono-preamps/schiit-mani-2-vs-parasound-zphono/
License: CC BY 4.0.