Manley "Absolute Headphone Amplifier"

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by AllanMarcus, Sep 7, 2018.

  1. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    But, but, but that would float a turd in the revenue stream! :eek:
     
  2. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Sadly information given (by you), my -- or our -- interpretation would be the opposite.

    If the amp was well designed and has a good scaling ability and resolution, the entire chain SHOULD present so-called "Garbage in Garbage out". Particularly for such a top-notch resolving transducer like focal utopia. I am very familiar with how nit-picky the headphone is lol.

    From your impression, I couldn't find any hint of 'garbage out'. Note that GO isn't necessarily 'sound unbearable'. To me it's more like 'making me easier to tell the difference among this (bad) source and much better one' or 'urging me to change the source because it drags the overall sq so that I couldn't hear amping potentials'.

    The best guess atm is that the amp was anti-resolving, faking, or introducing too much (poorly-coordinated) coloration. Such things may be favored by some clusters of customers. But maybe not in sbaf.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2019
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    OK, pile on time! I know we are kind of being dicks here, the point of this conversation is to help members communicate about sound better to each other. I am 15% dickwad, but 85% want to do good.

    #1

    The Manley sounded much better than I expected with a (relative to desktop) mediocre source.

    - is a completely different statement from -​

    You get out of the Manley Absolute Headphone Amplifier exactly what you put into it, which is high praise for an amplifier, and unusual for headphone amplifiers
    #2

    I have never ever heard of any amplifier that gives me exactly what is put into it. This "wire-with-gain" or "what you get out is what you put in" shit has been used time and time again. The HeadAmp GSX2 has been said to have this quality, yet I am certain that the GSX2 sounds totally different from the MAHA, as from the Manley 300B Neo-Classic, as from excellent measuring Topping gear.

    Also, "wire-with-gain" or "what you get out is what you put in", has negative connations, at least to me, about the sound. Most gear which has been described as such sounds like ass. At worst, it's an indication that the person offering the impression is inexperienced or a shill.

    If the MAHA sounds better than expected under the given circumstances, then just simply say so. Don't be lazy and trite.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2019
  4. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Wire with gain.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2019
  5. netforce

    netforce MOT: Headphones.com

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    Played with it a little yesterday. It wasn't being used as a headphone stand and didn't like the rear headphone jack like others have pointed out.

    What struck me was how much of was plastic, maybe I am just a bit too familiar with these big metal amps that it caught be by surprise especially at its price point. The little EQ knobs were a bit hard to make out where I was at.

    Tried it for a few songs with a Neumann NDH 20 and my Dethonray DTR1 as the source. Drove the headphons well but am not super familiar with it. Overall I was a little mixed with it and thought it sounded a little dull and didn't even realize the price until today. Would be willing to try it again with a better dac and headphones I am familiar with.
     
  6. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    Removed as the comment was not in good taste and was wrong thing to point out.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2019
  7. Aeron

    Aeron Facebook Friend

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    You do know that ageism is just as bad as any other projection of a personal stereotype, don’t you? I know great reviewers in their 20’s, and profoundly shitty ones, same goes for those in their 60s. Mark Twain said, “it’s better to remain silent, and people think you’re a fool, than to open your mouth and prove them correct.”
     
  8. AllanMarcus

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    There are quite a few knobs and settings on the amp. Make sure to start with feedback fully on, EQ bypassed, impedance set to match the headphones, and tube set to push pull. Listen to that as your baseline, then adjust to tune to taste.
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2019
  9. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    Ok I agree it was not correct statement to make I take my words back
     
  10. netforce

    netforce MOT: Headphones.com

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    Think I will give it another shot if I get a chance to step away from my table at CanJam SoCal.
     
  11. brams

    brams New

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    Good discussion. Not quite sure I get the gist of the comments made although I do understand the points.

    The statement about getting out of the amp exactly what you put into it was not mine. All I basically said was I was surprised that I liked what I heard with the source I used; it sounded better than I expected.

    I also freely acknowledged that under the circumstances my impressions are probably less than useful to most. This is why I'm still interested in hearing impressions from more knowledgeable listeners under better test circumstances. Not to sway me in any direction ... I like what I like ... but instead to see how my impressions correlate with others.
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2019
  12. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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