Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

VMPKJ said:
You're killing me.

The situation is I'm trying the Manley as of last night. I just can't see parting with it moving forward.

It is in fact otherworldly (somehow more warm AND more clear AND instruments are better separated AND more glued together at the same time AND the bass is even better....) All this and I'm still 1 hour into Manley's "50 hours" minimum break-in before it sounds it's best. It also fits the space I have perfectly.

I can swing it and say an EVO 100 Power amp right now, which would also fit the current space.

I'm not sure I want to go in for the Manley and the 300 power amp at the moment budget wise. Besides, one might as well get the integrated at that point just due to the extra uses later for only a 100$ difference. Size wise I could hide it behind some things here and just power it on when in use as a power stage but that's a LOT more than I want to spend at the moment.

So I guess it comes down to the difference in the power amp stage sound for me. If it's really significantly better even with the same external pre then I suppose I will just have to wait. Unless the EVO's really do hold value better than most so that I could trade up later if our layout changes or as budget allows. I'm currently out of things to sell and trade beyond that point.
Click to expand...
Now that I see the whole picture, this makes more sense. You can use the Manley as a preamp and a headphone amp. I’d go ahead and get the EVO-100 power amp. I’d not get the Mystere close out. The Mystere basically becomes a tone control depending on what speakers you have. This is because the Mystere is not an ultra linear design. Your results could be great. Or they could suck. No telling. The EVO-100 power amp is the better choice.
 
HiFi Guy said:
Now that I see the whole picture, this makes more sense. You can use the Manley as a preamp and a headphone amp. I’d go ahead and get the EVO-100 power amp. I’d not get the Mystere close out. The Mystere basically becomes a tone control depending on what speakers you have. This is because the Mystere is not an ultra linear design. Your results could be great. Or they could suck. No telling. The EVO-100 power amp is the better choice.
Click to expand...
Thanks. And by the way I meant “killing” my budget.
 
AnthonyI said:
Hold up, what Manley are you trying out?
Click to expand...
You Absolutely know which one. I went into last week thinking about a 2k head amp/pre and came out switching to tubes all around. I blame you and the dude from Upscale. I didn't even know it existed until you mentioned it. Then his description when I asked about it sunk me. He was not overstating it though.

I'm unloading an extra cart, an integrated and some music equipment I haven't used in a minute to fund it.
 
VMPKJ said:
You Absolutely know which one. I went into last week thinking about a 2k head amp/pre and came out switching to tubes all around. I blame you and the dude from Upscale. I didn't even know it existed until you mentioned it. Then his description when I asked about it sunk me. He was not overstating it though.

I'm unloading an extra cart, an integrated and some music equipment I haven't used in a minute to fund it.
Click to expand...
Manley gear is expensive, but worth every penny, imho.
 
HiFi Guy said:
Manley gear is expensive, but worth every penny, imho.
Click to expand...
My only foray but so far 100%. I went into this fully prepared to pay the restock fee just to give it a shot. I set the bar in my head way high and was all boned up to send it back WAY before break-in. Then it sounded better than I thought it could NOT broken in.

If I didn't need a car to drive around in I might look at those neo-classic mono tube amps for power. ;-).

The rest of their gear is way past my consideration though.
 
Last edited:
VMPKJ said:
You Absolutely know which one. I went into last week thinking about a 2k head amp/pre and came out switching to tubes all around. I blame you and the dude from Upscale. I didn't even know it existed until you mentioned it. Then his description when I asked about it sunk me. He was not overstating it though.

I'm unloading an extra cart, an integrated and some music equipment I haven't used in a minute to fund it.
Click to expand...
I must have missed it if you mentioned it, but hey, I'll take the blame for it............I don't mind when it's as solid a piece of equipment as this ;)
 
VMPKJ said:
My only foray but so far 100%. I went into this fully prepared to pay the restock fee just to give it a shot. I set the bar in my head way high and was all boned up to send it back WAY before break-in. Then it sounded better than I thought it could NOT broken in.

If I didn't need a car to drive around in I might look at those neo-classic mono tube amps for power. ;-).

The rest of their gear is way past my consideration though.
Click to expand...
The unit gets a little on site burn in, EveAnna told me to give it a week and it would be good to go............she wasn't wrong.
 
VMPKJ said:
You're killing me.

The situation is I'm trying the Manley as of last night. I just can't see parting with it moving forward.

It is in fact otherworldly (somehow more warm AND more clear AND instruments are better separated AND more glued together at the same time AND the bass is even better....) All this and I'm still 1 hour into Manley's "50 hours" minimum break-in before it sounds it's best. It also fits the space I have perfectly.

I can swing it and say an EVO 100 Power amp right now, which would also fit the current space.

I'm not sure I want to go in for the Manley and the 300 power amp at the moment budget wise. Besides, one might as well get the integrated at that point just due to the extra uses later for only a 100$ difference. Size wise I could hide it behind some things here and just power it on when in use as a power stage but that's a LOT more than I want to spend at the moment.

So I guess it comes down to the difference in the power amp stage sound for me. If it's really significantly better even with the same external pre then I suppose I will just have to wait. Unless the EVO's really do hold value better than most so that I could trade up later if our layout changes or as budget allows. I'm currently out of things to sell and trade beyond that point.
Click to expand...
tmraudio.com

PrimaLuna EvoLution EVO 400 Stereo Tube Power Amplifier; EVO400 (SOLD)

The Music Room is the go-to source for the very best in new, used and vintage home audio products. The Music Room is now the largest online retailer of pre-owned HiFi equipment in the world. Headquartered in beautiful Erie Colorado, The Music Room is a team of 46 strong (and growing) music...
tmraudio.com tmraudio.com
 
Splunders said:
tmraudio.com

PrimaLuna EvoLution EVO 400 Stereo Tube Power Amplifier; EVO400 (SOLD)

The Music Room is the go-to source for the very best in new, used and vintage home audio products. The Music Room is now the largest online retailer of pre-owned HiFi equipment in the world. Headquartered in beautiful Erie Colorado, The Music Room is a team of 46 strong (and growing) music...
tmraudio.com tmraudio.com
Click to expand...
I appreciate the temptation. If it was a discounted 300 maybe. I don’t want the tube cost
 
VMPKJ said:
My only foray but so far 100%. I went into this fully prepared to pay the restock fee just to give it a shot. I set the bar in my head way high and was all boned up to send it back WAY before break-in. Then it sounded better than I thought it could NOT broken in.

If I didn't need a car to drive around in I might look at those neo-classic mono tube amps for power. ;-).

The rest of their gear is way past my consideration though.
Click to expand...
If you haven't already, you might want to ask UA if they have any open box units, it's how I got mine and I don't think they actually advertise them.
 
I was dinking around on Manley's site and a couple of those Mahi mono block amps seem appealing A a pair would fit the space really well. They are actually not horrifically priced either. I'm under the impression that, even with Manley's tweaks, that tube set just isn't ideal for the right natural EQ. You have to bias yourself (although they've made it as simple as I have seen it done). My only pause is that I have EQ on the Absolute. My instinct is the Prima's are better at that level and have the Tube complement that works best.
 
VMPKJ said:
I was dinking around on Manley's site and a couple of those Mahi mono block amps seem appealing A a pair would fit the space really well. They are actually not horrifically priced either. I'm under the impression that, even with Manley's tweaks, that tube set just isn't ideal for the right natural EQ. You have to bias yourself (although they've made it as simple as I have seen it done). My only pause is that I have EQ on the Absolute. My instinct is the Prima's are better at that level and have the Tube complement that works best.
Click to expand...
Those Mahis are at the top of the heap for me for favorite amps. Relatively low power (40 watts ultralinear/ 18 watts triode). They measure horribly. High distortion on paper. And sound absolutely stunning.

You have more output tubes, but EL84s are far less expensive than the usual suspects ($13-25 each) so they are inexpensive to operate.
 
HiFi Guy said:
Those Mahis are at the top of the heap for me for favorite amps. Relatively low power (40 watts ultralinear/ 18 watts triode). They measure horribly. High distortion on paper. And sound absolutely stunning.

You have more output tubes, but EL84s are far less expensive than the usual suspects ($13-25 each) so they are inexpensive to operate.
Click to expand...
Hmmm...
 
HiFi Guy said:
The only thing you’d want to do with your setup is get snubber resistors from Zu. They will drop the impedance on your speakers. The Mahis are optimized for 5 ohm loads. They have more than enough power for your setup.
Click to expand...
Im already using them
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top