Manley Labs Neo-Classic 500 Monoblocks
MPN #NEO500
All-tube monoblock amplifier with balanced and unbalanced inputs
The Manley 500 and 250 Watt Monoblocks are our most powerful push-pull production-models. Both the circuit design and the selected componentry have been refined over years and years of development. Reliability that you can depend upon combined with musical accuracy and emotional authority is what these amplifiers promise- and deliver. They are able to switch operation modes allowing the listener to choose between the sonically seductive qualities of triode and the more powerful Ultra-Linear configuration. We use big, beefy reservoir capacitors in the high voltage supplies giving plenty of instant energy for dynamic performance of transient peaks and bass impact and weight which often exceeds that of rival solid-state amplifiers. We run high voltages on the plates of the output tubes but operate them at lower current which will result in their longer life. Although each output tube has its own bias-adjust, We carefully fit each amplifier with computer-batched tubes for optimum performance. The bias adjustment pots and measuring points are conveniently located behind the oval front panel insert.
To avoid a heavy power drain when the cold amplifier is first switched on, we conceived a "Soft-Start" mode which also functions as an "Ever-Warm" position allowing the amplifiers to be always warmed up for pleasurable listening. Each amplifier only consumes 30 watts of power in Ever-Warm mode. A blinking green LED reminds the user that the amplifier is in warm-up mode because as all the power supplies are at half-voltage, the amplifier will still operate at half power when the Ever-Warm mode is engaged, so the user should use the MUTE switch when in this mode.
The front-panel mute switch and angled-back chassis make it easier to hook up the interconnects, speaker cables, and IEC power cord.
In our own in-house magnetics department, our R&D team completely redesigned all of our output transformers in 1998 with the goal to reclaim that luscious rich mid-range of our vintage designs. In 2013 we reworked the output transformer to operate the output stage in Ultra-Linear mode which is a great sounding balance between the detail of triode and the brawn of Tetrode. We also specifically set out to achieve a deeper bottom register at higher power with lower distortion. Hours and hours of listening tests, measurements, and fine-tuning brought an exciting and stunning result to our ears. We hope you will agree.
Specifications
ALL-TUBE monoblock design 10 x KT90EH Electro-Harmonix Russian output tubesDriver Stage: High current double 12BH7EH (x2)Input Tube: 12AT7BALANCED & UNBALANCED inputs: RCA and XLR jacks (switchable)MANLEY IRON Input Transformer for the XLR: 2:1 ratio designed and wound at Manley LabsMUTE switch: on front panelTRIODE / Ultra-Linear output mode switching: on front panelSOFT-START turn on mode: minimizes in-rush current by first powering up amplifier to half voltagesEVER-WARM mode: for standby keeps tubes warmed up at half voltagesMANLEY IRON Output Transformer: designed and wound at Manley LabsFront panel bias measurement and adjust: Concealed under the black oval insertOutput Tube Standing Current: 30 mASet Bias for: 300 mVDC measured across each bias tip jack to groundLarge filter / reservoir capacitors: 3800 uF x 2Angled rear of chassis: provides for easy connectionsWBT binding posts: CE compliant for European modelsInput Sensitivity RCA: Triode = 1.9 V; UL = 2.10 V for full power into 5 OhmsInput Sensitivity XLR: Triode = 4.25 V; Tetrode = 4.67 V for full power into 5 OhmsInput Sensitivity RCA Triode: 118 mV; UL = 103 mV for 1 watt into 5 OhmsInput Sensitivity XLR Triode: 265 mV; UL = 228 mV for 1 watt into 5 OhmsGain RCA: Triode = 25.5 dB; UL = 26.8 dBGain XLR: Triode = 18.5 dB; UL = 19.8 dBInput Impedance RCA: 130 kOhm @ 1KHzInput Impedance XLR: 178 kOhm @ 1KHz; 20 kOhms @ 20KHz; 28 kOhm @ 20HzActual Output Impedance Triode: 0.959 OhmActual Output Impedance Tetrode: 1.22 OhmOptimum Speaker Load: 5 OhmsDamping Factor Triode: 8.34Damping Factor Tetrode: 6.55S/N Ratio: 74 dB BW 22 Hz-22 kHz; 84 dB A-WGT at 1 Watt into 5 OhmsDynamic Range: 110 dB A-WGTNoise Floor: -75 dBu or 100 µV BW 10Hz-500 kHz; -77.7 dB or 100 µV A-WGT 1 Watt into 5 Ohm w/Shorted InputFlat Frequency response: Triode = 10 Hz - 30 kHz 1 Watt into 5 OhmsFull Power frequency response: Triode = 22 Hz - 22 kHz; UL = 22 Hz - 22 kHz to reach 1.5% THD into 5 OhmsDistortion: Triode = 0.03%; UL = 0.50% BW 10 Hz - 22 kHz at 1 Watt into 5 OhmsFull Power Triode: 200 W @ 1.5% THD into 5 OhmsFull Power UL: 470 W @ 1.5% THD into 5 OhmsPower Consumption: 48 Watts in "EVER-WARM" modePower Consumption Idle: 492 WattsMaximum Power Consumption: 1320 Watts at full powerOperating Mains Voltage: Factory set for 100V, 120V or 220-240VAC operation for original destination country's mains voltage.Operating Mains Voltage: changeable with power transformer replacement and fuse value change.Mains Voltage Frequency: 50 Hz or 60 HzMains Fuse 100-120VAC operation: MDA 10 Amp SLO-BLO Ceramic Time-Delay fuseMains Fuse 220-240VAC operation: MDA 8 Amp SLO-BLO Ceramic Time-Delay fuseB+ Fuse: MDA 1 1/2A SLO-BLO Ceramic Time-Delay fuseBadge Illumination: Units produced before 4/2003 use 8V, 0.3A "Fuse-Lamp" 1/4" X 1 1/4"- Serial numbers after N250188 use LED illumination which probably won't burn outPower Cord: Detachable IEC standard. Appropriate power cord supplied for destination countryUnit Dimensions: W=19" x D=13" x H=9" eachUnit Weight: 72 lbs. eachShipping Box Dimensions: 22" x 19" x 18"Shipping Weight: 83 lbs. each
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