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...File A sounded more bloated on the bottom end with too recessed a midrange.

A had a shrillness to the vocals. Thinner sounding. B did not irritate as much as A. Needed at least four times to compare to really hear the differences though, but they are there.

Definitely! File A sounded bloated. Listen to the bass between 25 sec and 30sec. Fun time listening and comparing.....also sounds like a good song!

File B was punchier and the vocals seemed to be more focused. (I thought I heard about a half second of hum at the beginning of the file.)

I thought B was a bit too forward in the mids and perhaps lacking in a bit of detail. I haven't heard the recording before for reference but I thought A brought out more texture in the vocals and guitar. I wasn't expecting them to sound as different as they did!

This is meant to be information, not criticism...
The files were not both normalized to -.1db.... File A has a peak of -1.6, which is 1.5 db lower. But peak normalization isn't the way to level match files anyway. They should be RMS normalized, that is, make sure the RMS (overall average level) is the same between the two tracks.
Here File B has an RMS level that's about 2db louder than A.

Tests like this will let us decide which phono preamp we prefer, used with the turntable and cartridge you used. It's all about synergy, synergy between all of the components. So while I prefer File B (it sounds much more 'refined' to me) here, If my turntable and cartridge were used, it's possible I might prefer A.

But they didn't sound volume matched to me.
Both versions sounded "analog-like" to me - not digitally harsh. So the Lynx did a good job.
I liked "A" till I heard "B". "B", for me, was clearer, cleaner, more precise. "A" a bit bloated or fuzzy in comparison. I did perceive B as significantly louder, though. If they really were level matched, then the only explanation is that B was so much clearer and cleaner that I perceived it to be louder.

I found A to be more musical, more dynamic, with much more clarity. Funny that some are hearing the opposite. I do hear a bit of a slight recession in the midrange to A, but I find B to be rhythmically soft or lazy compared to A, with A much more grippy. The soundstage is also larger with A.

I found A cleaner (but not thread bare) and B more bloated.

Yeah File B is defiantly perceived as louder than file A. It might be because of the normalization used or due to the frequency content. I actually would try to use your ears to match overall volume level. Although ones ears may not hear the highest frequencies due to age, it usually doesn't matter much when matching overall volume level. It's not as inaccurate as one may think.

As of 7/8 at 11pm, B is now a higher volume than A, rendering the comparison off to my ears.

I thought File A sounde very muddled (in fact a complete mess) from about 45 seconds on where the music became more 'dense'.

But of course they BOTH sound poor, having been 'digitized' :)

BTW - I see the Mani is 'out of stock'. Is Schitt waiting for further deliveries from China for this 'American made' product? If they actually made it themselves they could just make some more. Or am I being too cynical?

A little bloated on the bottom end, sounding somewhat like what much mid-fi equipment does to make things sound "better."

"More bass" but it's wasn't really in the original recording.

File "A" is just too gritty in the lower treble, and sounds very "hifi" and a-musical. Zillions of cheap headphones and speakers will exacerbate this zippiness and lead listeners to fatigue in short order.

"B" is smoother with no concurrent loss of definition. If "B" were muffled or rolled off up top I might prefer to put up with "A" but, it's not necessary here.

Thanks for posting these and limiting it to about a minute, which is also about all I ever enjoy hearing the M97xE's murkiness and hazy presentation. I'd enjoy hearing these two phono pre's with something else such as the AT95 or even the fancy version from LP Gear (w/Shibata)

Honestly they both sound bad but B less so. Thought you would use the HRT Linestreamer ADC as it did better in your recent shootout and is smoother (and at $350 a lot cheaper). We need to use the Peter principal here (kick these preamps upstairs until they reach their level of little return as I think we are listening to the turntable/tonearm/cartridge shortcomings and not giving the preamps a fair chance). I would suggest a Project Debut carbon DC Esprit with Ortofon 2M Blue for file C and D followed by one of your favourites from the $1500 to $2,000 set, ie Rega Planar 6 for E and F. I'll wait for your analysis and hope to see personal comparos based on your vast knowledge. P.S when is someone in the world going to review the new ProJect RPM3 carbon ($899)?

As a control measure I would like to hear a third comparison to a loss-less digital file just to hear what the overall frequency response is in respect to the mid range and how it sits in the track. Obviously file A compared to B is subdued in that area.

Listened through my Steinberg UR-22 24/192 usb interface with Grado 80s with the large ear pads. I thought A was more natural. I know the slightly added bass is from the Grados which I know too well compared to my AKG K701s and K721mk2s . Once you know the colorations of your cans you can better judge.

"A" Vocals in B sound nasal and overall timbre seems lower than in A. In comparison, "A" has more clarity and better balance. Sonically they are close, but 1 or 2 listens in quick succession makes the differences quite clear.

It so happens that as hard as it is to believe, Schiit products are really made in the US. I have seen the evidence! So unless I was dreaming or hallucinating (highly unlikely), things are as they say they are.

Unfortunately, my PC will not play the sample files as they are in aiff format which windows does not recognize. Wish I had a mac, but you know how it is.