The Manley 16x2 MICPRE version has very low noise mic preamps with up to 60 dB of gain selectable on a rotary switch which replaces the aux knob. The XLR has the appropriate 2400 ohm impedance and switches to 68K for the 1/4" plugs. (so yes you can run line level signals into it.) The MIC version also has phase reverse and inserts on every channel. The 8+8 version mixes it up, with 8 mic channels and 8 line channels (shown above). Great for location recording, keyboard rigs and general purpose tasks.
What's in this thing? The
channel input jack is a Neutrik Combo which accepts XLR or 1/4" phone
plugs. It is perfectly happy with either balanced or unbalanced
sources. In the MIC version, the XLR has the appropriate 2400 ohm
impedance and switches to 68K for the 1/4" plugs. There are balanced
direct outputs on every channel post fade and pre cut for multi-track
recording.
Each channel uses the best sounding chips we know
of (Burr Brown INA103, OPA2604, Linear Technology LT1010) in Hutch’s
circuits with exceptional headroom and very low noise, real pro level
input and output levels, and bulletproof Manley quality throughout.
Spec-wise know of no mixer ever with better headroom or higher output
levels and, well, this mixer’s subterranean noise floor and crosstalk
figures are simply quite amazing. The signal path has just 3 superb
polystyrene caps from input to output. No carbon resistors, just 1/2
watt metal film, Bourns conductive plastic pots, Grayhill stepped
attenuators, etc. All the good stuff.
Sorry we didn’t make
this thing all-tube for "ad appeal" and sales hype. We certainly could
have, but this puppy would have grown into the size of a small house,
and needed an accompanying 5-Ton AC unit. However, the tube mix
amps/line drivers are right at the end and impart that "Manley Sound"
to your final outputs with all the richness, loudness and BIG sound you
expect from us. Built like a tank and easy to service.
Mutes
and Solos use superior relay switching techniques not crummy FETs or
CMOS switching. Please! The Solo is of the "mute everything else" type.
The buttons are EAO Series 19 and light up to indicate Mute and Solo.
Insert and Phase Reverse also use high quality relays and both
functions have tiny switches and red LED’s to clearly indicate when
they’re selected. The master section provides mixdown to 2
channels achieved with similar tube circuits as used in the Massive
Passive, featuring two each 12AT7WA & 6414 dual triodes. External
inputs allow two or more mixers to be combined for 32 or more channels
with a mini-banana post linking the Solo functions. There are both
transformer balanced and transformerless unbalanced (+4dBm) outputs
with tons of headroom, +36dBu, about 10dB better than million-dollar
consoles. The master section has an aux mix gain (master effects send)
in the LINE version and an Ext input gain in the MIC version. There are
two sets of monitor outputs, MAIN and MINI, so you can feed two
different sets of power amps or powered speakers. We included MUTE and
DIM buttons plus a rotary switch to monitor the main mix, the mono mix,
2 track tape playback (more balanced inputs), the Ext inputs (for
linked consoles or effects returns), and the aux mix (only on LINE
version). The dedicated power supply unit cranking out all the
necessary filtered and regulated DC voltages to power up this beast is
external further reducing noise and heat.
