Manley TAPE HEAD PREAMPLIFIERS User Manual

MANLEY

LABORATORIES, INC.

OWNER'S MANUAL

MANLEY TAPE HEAD

PREAMPLIFIERS

MANLEY LABORATORIES, INC.

13880 MAGNOLIA AVE.

CHINO, CA. 91710
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

EMAIL: [e-mail]

www.manleylabs.com

CONTENTS

MANLEY TAPE HEAD PREAMPS

USER and TECHNICAL MANUAL

3) INTRODUCTION (mostly hype but you can quote us)

4) IMPORTANT (read this even if you hate manuals)

5) WARNINGS (because we have to)

6) TECHNICAL DETAILS (for the person who has to plug it in)

7) ALIGNMENTS (for the person adjusting it daily)

8) PLAYBACK HEADS (yes, you now need special heads)

9 & 10) ALTERNATIVE VERNIER CALIBRATION (cool trick)

10) OTHER LITTLE HINTS(more hints for the cable builder)

11 & 12) EQ ( tech talk)

13) REPLACING TUBES (general tube info)

14) WARRANTY (legal stuff no one ever reads)

15) REGISTRATION CARD (yes, please do send this in to activate your warranty)

INTRODUCTION

THANK YOU!...

for choosing the Manley and congratulations on your purchase of MANLEY LABS TUBE
TAPE PREAMP. This product is the result of continual evolution from the era when all tape
machines were vacuum tube based to the present with refinements and improvements virtually
every year. This preamp was designed to meet the extreme requirements of Mastering
Engineers and Audiophile Record Labels. Earlier versions have been used for years by many
of the most respected Mastering Studios in America as well as England and Japan. It is very
likely some of your favorite records and CDs have passed thru a Manley Tube Tape Preamp
and a Manley A to D Converter.

The preamp provides a minimal path thru maximum quality components. The amplififcation is
entirely "Class A" low noise triode vacuum tube based. The line driver is a high current, low
output impedance, high voltage design. The transformer power supply is external to minimize
hum radiation. Once the voltages are in the individual chassis they rectified, filtered, regulated
and well filtered again at all stages. These design philosophies help recover the delicate sonic
details from the tape with all the spatial and spectral infomation intact and with minimal added
noise and distortion. The Preamp combined with the Manley Hi-Z heads truly reproduces
music from tape with clarity and beauty and with solid impact and excitement.

All user adjustments are brought to the front panel. The most used controls feature high
resolution "Vernier Control Knobs". These not only provide very fine adjustment but also
repeatability required by most Mastering Engineers. The preamp has the common adjustments
for "GAIN", HIGH FREQUENCY EQ" and "LOW FREQUENCY EQ" and has unusual
adjustments for "VERY HIGH FREQUENCY" and "VERY LOW FREQUENCY" that allow
the engineer to obtain a more accurate and flexible reproduction than is normally possible.

The preamp also features switches to allow 15/30 IPS selection and polarity reversal. There is
also a provision to use of an external head preamp to feed the tube line drivers. Optimized for
the Ampex ATR series, this feature provides the user with a choice of the stock line driver or
the Manley Line Driver. There is a convenient VU meter on each preamp.

The expected improvements over stock solid state electronics include:

-Much greater rendering of acoustic details and transients.

-Wider and smoother frequency response and “liss hess”.

-Significant improvements in stereo imaging including front to back depth.

-Natural reverbs once again sound natural.

-More musical, emotionally stirring, more enjoyable sound overall.

-Cleaner and more open reproduction compared to the smeared, muddy and harsh sound
you may have gotten used to.

(The better the monitor system - the clearer the benefits.)

3

IMPORTANT

Do NOT connect or disconnect the POWER SUPPLY CABLES with the power on. Disconnect the
mains plug first. Wait 3 minutes after powering off to remove the power supply cable. This allows
various capacitors to discharge. We do not want anybody electrically shocked. The power supply
cable carries about 470 VAC and 17 VAC. Several reasons less important than safety exist for the
above warning. Accidentally mis-aligning the connector as it is being inserted can force the 470
VAC into the 17 VAC circuits. This will very likely destroy the 12 Volt Regulator for the tube heaters
as well as the electrolytic caps in that circuit and likely burn out a few tube heaters. Even if one was
extremely cautious, connecting or disconnecting the power cable would cause arcing in the
connector and damage its integrity .

Monitors should be muted while the Preamps are warming up. After turning on there are large
“thumps” at the outputs during the first minute or so.

Mount the power supply as far from the heads as practical with 6 foot cables.
Power Transformers generate magnetic fields and repro heads do what?

The mains fuse is mounted on the power supply. Replace only with the same type and value. For
100 and 117 volt countries, use a 2 amp fuse. 220 volt units get a 1 amp fuse.

There are 4 tubes in each preamp. The units will get excessively warm unless ventilation is given
below and above the preamps. Allow 1/2” minimum to 1U or 1 3/4” above and below. You may or
may not allow space between the units. Anticipate 1U or 2U of Dolby as well.

Do not allow the units to be exposed to moisture. The tops and bottoms are perforated steel, and
while the drainage is good, the perforations are meant for ventilation. Not a good place for the
alcohol container.

DO NOT plug in the heads or switch in heads in general with our electronics or other electronics
powered up and particularly if a clients valuable master is across that head. There may be a
residual DC voltage that can magnetize the head or put a big pop or worse on tape.
The sequence is:1)wind the tape off or pull the tape away from the heads

2) monitors down

3) power off ATR & pre’s

4) wait 3 minutes

5) switch

6) power on ATR & pre’s

7) rethread tape

8) monitors back up

DO NOT have the preamps powered on if there is no head connected. We can only guarantee
plenty of ugly hum and noise doing that.

WARNINGS

5

WATER & MOISTURE

As with any electrical equipment, these preamplifiers should not be used near water or moisture. If liquid enters the
preamplifier, it must be immediately returned to your dealer or the factory for servicing.

SERVICING

The user should not attempt to service the preamplifier beyond that described in the owner's manual. Refer all servicing
other than biasing and tube replacement to Manley Laboratories

SPECIAL NOTES

Tubes may become loose during transit. Straighten and press down each tube before plugging the preamplifier into the
mains socket. Furthermore, do not touch the tubes after the preamplifier has been switched on, as the tubes become very

hot during operation and should only be handled after the power has been turned off and the tubes have cooled.

WARNING!

TO PREVENT THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN THE CABINET

REFER SERVICING TO

QUALIFIED PERSONEL

!

Your preamplifier has been factory set to the correct mains voltage for your country. The voltage setting is
marked on the serial badge, located on the rear panel. Check that this complies with your local supply.

Export units for certain markets have a moulded mains plug fitted to comply with local requirements. If your unit
does not have a plug fitted the coloured wires should be connected to the appropriate plug terminals in accordance
with the following code.

GREEN/YELLOW EARTH terminal
BLUE NEUTRAL terminal
BROWN LIVE terminal

As the colours of the wires in the mains lead may not correspond with the coloured marking identifying the
terminals in your plug proceed as follows;

The wire which is coloured GREEN/YELLOW must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked by
the letter E or by the safety earth symbol or coloured GREEN or GREEN and YELLOW.

The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked by the letter N
or coloured BLACK.

The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked by the letter L
or coloured RED.

DO NOT CONNECT/SWITCH ON THE MAINS SUPPLY UNTIL ALL OTHER
CONNECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.