The UGLY amp.....

[treitz3]

http://www.manleylabs.com/images/hifi99/500blue.jpg

OK, now this has got to be one of the ugliest amps I have ever seen. :eek: Really, for 12K I would expect something that is aesthetically pleasing like the stingray, but THIS?

I'd still like to hear it. :D BTW, who has the most powerful tube amp on the forum? ..............Beauller...........Beauller......... .Beauller? Just curious.

[F1nut]

I like it. It's got that industrial, "Neo-Classic Design" look down pretty well. ;)

[treitz3]

It looks like something that belongs in a tank.

[F1nut]

LOL......more like a laboratory.

[obieone]

"This is Alpha 3 bravo to base, alpha 3 bravo to base. Our position is being overrun by ugly audio components"

[analog97]

I think that Manley amp is beautiful. Love to hear 500 tube watts push my 1.2 TL's. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[mhardy6647]

The aesthetics of that amp work for me. All the Manley stuff shares a certain pseudo-industrial look (including the Stingray).

Indeed, I wouldn't mind having a pair of 'em... for what they are, they're not even that expensive.

[Zero]

It looks like an AC unit.

[BaggedLancer]

I wouldn't mind having a pair either bought with mhardy's money.

[treitz3]

Love to hear 500 tube watts push my......
THAT's where the real beauty lies.

[lightman1]

THAT's where the real beauty lies.

Shut up Tom.....:D. If I had the coin, I'd like to give 'em a try. It's what's inside that counts.


and I'd like to read the specs....;)

[treitz3]

* ALL-TUBE monoblock design 10 x KT90EH Electro-Harmonix Russian output tubes
* High current double 6414W GE driver stage
* 12AT7EH large plate Electro-Harmonix Russian input tube
* BALANCED & UNBALANCED inputs
* MUTE switch
* TRIODE / TETRODE switching
* SOFT-START/ EVER-WARM standby mode
* MANLEY Precision output transformer
* Factory set for 5 ohms nominal
* Front panel bias measurement and adjust (hiding under the black insert)
* Large filter / reservoir capacitors 3800uF x 2
* Angled rear of chassis provides for easy connections
* WBT binding posts
* Input sensitivity: 1V
* Gain: 32dB tetrode; 30dB in triode
* Input Impedance RCA: 116 Kohm @ 1KHz
* Input Impedance XLR: 270Kohm @ 1KHz; 20Kohms @ 20KHz; 38Kohm @ 20Hz
* S/N Ratio: -80 dB
* Dynamic Range: 96dB
* FLAT frequency response: 10 Hz - 30 KHz continuous
* Power Consumption: 30 Watts in "EVER-WARM"
* Full power (tetrode): 500W
* Full power (triode): 275W
* Factory set for 100V, 120V or 220-240VAC operation for original destination country's mains voltage.
* Operating Mains Voltage changeable with power transformer re-wiring and fuse value change.
* Mains Voltage Frequency: 50~ 60Hz
* Dims: W=19", D=13", H=9"
* Shipping weight: 82 lbs. each

[lightman1]

OK...but how would it sound? hmmmmm

[treitz3]

I'd like to hear this head to head with the Silver Sevens. ;)

[Face]

I'm surprised they're only 82lbs.

[lightman1]

I'm surprised they're only 82lbs.

Super-secret, space-age Manley weight saving technology is my guess.
They look like they could do the job though..

[venomclan]

But that is a mans amp. No girly men amps here.

[Yashu]

Can't you read? It says right there on the front "Neo Classical Design"... I mean come on... who wouldn't shell out 12 grand for that?!?! I tried to write those words on my NAD amps with a sharpy and it just doesn't have the same feel... I definitely would have paid 20X more for those words so boldly emblazoned on the front bezel.

But seriously... I am willing to bet the sound makes you forget about what it looks like. Just turn the lights off... pretend you are making love to some fugly girl you met at a bar, but she makes you feel so good that you forget for a second she is built like a brick shithouse... put a bag over her head and she don't care, she wants to be told how f'ing ugly she is... she gets off to it.

So, after dropping 12 Gs on that thing, promptly throw it on the ground and tell her she is an ugly ho, and plug her in and listen to her sing, you might forget.

[treitz3]

Good, I was hoping you would chime in.

That's it. 4 knuckleheads in one evening? I'm hittin' the date with the pillow early. Peace all.

[Yashu]

Just more there to love, Treitz.

[mhardy6647]

But that is a mans amp. No girly men amps here.

More like a Manley amp... too bad EveAnna's a woman...

[janmike]

With bluejean covered speakers you would have a match.

[strider]

Here's (http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1211292314) your chance, guys. Just up on the 'gon.

Remember, the ugly ones have to perform in order to justify their existence...

[VR3]

That is one fugly amp.

I dont care how it sounds.

[sb_caribou]

even at 6.5, its gotta look better than that...

[nadams]

It looks like an AC unit.

But I bet it functions quite the opposite. I would imagine it's quite the space heater!

[TroyD]

I would rub my dingus on that.

BDT

[RuSsMaN]

I would rub your dingus on that.

[TroyD]

stop being such a tease

[mulveling]

I like the look, a lot. Bet it would look totally hot with tubes a'glowin.

[shadowofnight]

I dont know, looking at that amp made me think of a little tune from AC/DC called " She's got balls " :D

[John in MA]

I usually can tolerate fairly odd looking audio components, and still I think that's on the ugly side. Wouldn't kick it out of bed, though, as the saying goes. But it wouldn't win any beauty contests.

My idea of a good looking power amp is a flat face, rack handles, and big meters. McInotsh MC500, for example.

http://www.perpetualmarketingonline.com/mc-mc500.jpg



I would rub my dingus on that.

BDT


I would rub your dingus on that.

If either of you get near me, you're both going home sans-dingus.

[treitz3]

It seems many folks do not think this Neo-Classic Design is an ugly amp. I cannot get myself to think that it is not. THIS amp from the same manufacturer has some nice lines and aesthetics to it...


http://www.manleylabs.com/images/hifi99/stingblue.jpg

Now that's right up my alley :D, but this?

http://www.manleylabs.com/images/hifi99/500blue.jpg

Um.................no. :eek:

Now, which would I prefer in my rig? Duh! The "Ugly Dukling". :D

[MillerLiteScott]

I think the Stingray looks like a bunch of tubes yukin' it up a cocktail party.


For the record I like the Stingray and hope to get one.

[treitz3]

The Stingray sounds wonderful! I can only imagine what the 500 sounds like. :eek:

[toddco]

Its the best Jerry the best im tellin ya Tha BEST:D

[treitz3]

Man, this ugly ass amp has really been on my mind lately. Has anybody here gotten their ears on them by chance? These amps will be mine one day. Mark my words.

[Face]

Any people say McIntosh amps are ugly... That amp has a face only a mother could love.

[Cardinals-1]

Sound is all that matters. Where are tubes made now a days.

[mhardy6647]

New production vacuum tubes are made in Russia, China, Eastern Europe, and (once again, it is reported) in the UK.

[ND13]

Sorry....looks like to me it say's "I'm here to kick some serious sand ass and fuck taking names, not worth the energy":D:cool:

I'd love to have one of those in my rig.

[skipf]

Two pages and F1nut hasn't chimed in? Mr. Manley himself? I personally think it's beautiful, but I'm one of those beauty only goes skin deep kind of guys. Just thinking of what's under the hood gets me all warm and fuzzy.

[NJPOLKER]

Two pages and F1nut hasn't chimed in? Mr. Manley himself? I personally think it's beautiful, but I'm one of those beauty only goes skin deep kind of guys. Just thinking of what's under the hood gets me all warm and fuzzy.

I guess you missed posts 2 and 4

[Cardinals-1]

This is a mono block so you would be staring at 2. :D

[Early B.]

It's a butt ugly, expensive amp with EH tubes. That's gotta suck. And it's got "Manley" on it in huge letters.... twice! ugh!!!

[ND13]

Sounds like bliss though.

[treitz3]

Well, I don't know what happened to the picture of it I had on the first post, but here it is again.

http://manleylabs.com/images/hifi99/500blue.jpg

I saw the 250 Neoclassic on the 'gone a month or two ago for not a bad price. This amp is definitely on my list of things to have in my rig at some point. I'd love to hear one. Ugly or not.

Got a question about it though. What is the soft start switch and what does it do?

[treitz3]

Alright, my computer must be running slow today. The pic IS on the first post. Guess it took some time to load up or something........

[mhardy6647]

I imagine that the soft start keeps the filaments warm and or a teeny bit of B+ on the plates.
Did you look at the website? Yez can downloads the manual.
http://www.manleylabs.com/containerpages/250_Y2K.html
http://www.manleylabs.com/containerpages/500_Y2K.html

EDIT: being a curious fellow (us scientists are like that), I looked it up...

"The MANLEY NEO-CLASSIC 250's & 500's are equipped with a SOFT-START circuit which
reduces the cold-start current draw which makes things easier for your house breakers and the
poor tubes and capacitors in the amps. We recommend that you use this soft start turn-on feature
sequence whenever you turn the amplifier on and especially when you turn it on from cold.
1. Ensure that the right-most "mains" switch on the front panel is in the "off" or "0" or DOWN
position and the OPERATE / STANDBY switch is also DOWN in the STANDBY mode.
2. Turn on preamplifiers and all your source components and let them warm up for a minute.
3. Switch the right-hand mains power switch to the ON position and allow the amplifier a minute
or so to 'warm up'. The blinking LED will indicate that the amplifier is in STANDBY mode.
4. After a minute or so, or more if you like, engage the soft-start switch UP to the OPERATE
position. The blinking standby LED will extinguish.
5. The MUTE switch just prevents tunes coming into the amplifier. It grounds them out. UN-
MUTE this switch if you had it on, turn up the volume on your preamp and enjoy.
6. To shut the amps off, you can flip the mains power switch down first, which will shut off power
to the amplifier."

EDIT^2 Manley's a fine company and EveAnna's a class act :-)

http://www.manleylabs.com/images/gallery/scullyb.jpg
http://www.manleylabs.com/images/gallery/pluginb.jpg


(pretty cool that Ubuntu's PDF reader does OCR as-is)

[beardog03]

I`d hit it !!

[mhardy6647]

She is in fact quite cool.