2. analog
  3. 1266449203

My New Manely Steelhead

I just received my new audiogon Manley Steelhead preamp. I let it warm up and I checked the tubes to make sure they were seated properly. I put it into the rack and turned it on. Lights are always a good sign. I turn the knob to MM and 47K for my cartridge Grado The Statement. The only settings I know to change. I played it for a couple hours thinking this sounds dry analytical. It did not have any life. I switched from a ARC PH3 and I was missing the romance of the PH3. The Manley does top to bottom better but lifeless. I looked at the Manely thinking what am I going to do. Sell it, but I just bought it. Then I noticed the gain setting was on 65. I changed it to 55 and immediately the sound stage grows wider and the music comes alive. Wow I just wasted 2 hours. The PH3 is now going. What a great unit. I hope nobody else makes the same mistake.
coxhaus

Showing 1 response by dougdeacon

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Sounds like the Manley's 65db setting was close to overloading your next gain stage. Gain/impedance matching between amplification stages is vital, as you just demonstrated. Too much can be as bad as too little.

The Steelhead's a fine phono stage, pretty close to the best I've heard. I don't know what tubes the owner had in the one he brought over to demo in my system, but there's no question rolling will alter the sound of any tube amp or preamp. Definitely worth trying in any high end unit.

Enjoy!
More to discover