Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2019 17:47:05 GMT
Starting with the Manley Reference 600 SE. Mono Blocks
These are huge, they chuck out so much heat it is unbearable.
They certainly look the part. The sound? Not fair to say, they were playing on Wilson Watt Puppy's, cant stand the things.
They nearly killed my friend when he was fiddling with them.
And he blew one up by not switching on the power supply in the right order. Power supply on amp on not the other way round, or visa versa cant remember which.
Company origins[edit]
Recording and film engineer David Manley began designing high fidelity vacuum tube amplifiers in South Africa in 1980. The earliest units he produced were modified LEAK amplifiers. In 1983 the first Vacuum Tube Logic (VTL) tube power amplifiers and preamplifiers went into full-fledged production for the European market in the UK. David, joined by his son Luke introduced the amplifiers to the US market at the 1986 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where the positive reception convinced them to expand their distribution to the U.S.. Production was eventually moved to Chino, California as Vacuum Tube Logic of America, Inc. and a secondary brand Manley was established in 1988, first producing what was conceived as upper echelon high fidelity vacuum tube power amplifiers and preamplifiers for the high fidelity home market. In 1989, the first products tailored specifically for professional studio use under the Manley brand were created, namely the 60 dB Microphone Preamplifier followed by the Manley Enhanced Pultec Equalizer. By 1993, the Manley brand had expanded, encompassing a complete range of studio products from microphones, dynamic units, equalizers, converters and specialized mastering products. In April 1993, David Manley and Luke decided to part ways, with Luke creating a new company, VTL Amplifiers Inc., and David (and his wife EveAnna Dauray Manley) opening a new factory, Manley Laboratories, Inc..
Inspired by her stepfather Albert J. Dauray, who had been part owner of vacuum tube amplifier manufacturer Ampeg from 1967-1971, and a Bill Graham lecture she attended while a music student at Columbia University, EveAnna Dauray Manley had traveled to California in 1989 with a few of her stepfather’s business contacts in hopes of getting a job with a guitar amp manufacturer like Crate or Fender, and ended up getting a job at VTL. EveAnna worked her way through every segment of the company, eventually managing the Manley Laboratories, Inc. factory, sales, distribution, and customer service. David Manley eventually moved to France, and on June 10, 1999 EveAnna Dauray Manley officially assumed the duties of President, CEO and sole owner of Manley Laboratories, Inc. when he resigned as President and assigned his share of the company to her.
David Manley died in 2012.
The Snappers. Mono Blocks
These sound like a good solid state amp, not at all what you would expect from a valve amp.
Tried them out, they just did not seem to play as well as the Operas on my set up plus they were twice the price,
The Sting Ray I found this to be underwhelming. Gutless no drive, not my kind of amp.
The Neo Cassic 300B Mono Blocks
Cant give a opinion on these, I do not get along with SET amps so already I was biased.
And they were playing on Avant Garde Duos, me no like Avant Garde speakers at all.
Have listened to quite a few, not my cup of tea.
