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anonymous 28 July 2001

I'm thinking of purchasing a Manley stereo tube DI, anyone here have any experience with them? Also what's the best price on one?

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miketholen Sun, 08/05/2001 - 09:52

although it is a tube unit you wouldn't know it by listening to it. It doesn't have the "girth" you'd expect from a tube unit. It will pass signal however. It will do the job no doubt. but you'd be better off going with something like the DW Fearn DI or if you have a kick ass tech you can have him/her modify a Telefunken V74 (can be had for 200 USD via ebay) into a Di. That's what I did and I must say that as far as a tube DI goes there is nothing better. ;)

anonymous Sun, 08/05/2001 - 10:26

Originally posted by miketholen:
although it is a tube unit you wouldn't know it by listening to it. It doesn't have the "girth" you'd expect from a tube unit. It will pass signal however. It will do the job no doubt.

Yeah, and Mike will be along any minute to tell you something he owns is soooooo much better.


but you'd be better off going with something like the DW Fearn DI or if you have a kick ass tech you can have him/her modify a Telefunken V74 (can be had for 200 USD via ebay) into a Di. That's what I did and I must say that as far as a tube DI goes there is nothing better. ;)

Hmmm, would have never expected that answer from you Mike.

Anyway, the Manley Tube DI is a great piece of gear. BTW Mr. Mike (I own all the coolest stuff), the transformers in tube gear have more to do with that "tube sound" than the tubes do. Tube circuits can be clean as a whistle (Millennia STT1)or as coloured as the grass on your lawn (RCA BA6A) depending on what the designers intent was.

The DI in the PCP Distro box has been winning the DI shootout on bass gtr recently. It's girthy with lots of depth. The Manley has a nice sound as well, the differences are really very tiny from one unit to the next. Give one a try, I'm sure Fletcher can fix you up.

atlasproaudio Sun, 08/05/2001 - 11:18

I agree with Mike to a certain extent. And, besides, he didn't come off with a snobbish attitude, he has a right to recommend what he likes...that is what forums are about. The Manley is a clean unit for what is traditionally considered a "tube" sound, and yes transformers do play a big role. But where the tubes begin and transformers end in regards to tonality cannot completely be quantified and to say otherwise without a double blind experiment is otherwise voodoo. It is almost impossible to cross compare from two totally different units. One would have to take, say the Fearn, and make a transformer coupled unit and a non-transformer coupled unit and then compare. If you used different transformers besides the stock Manley ones in the Manley unit, would it sound different? Probably. I say, as long as Mike is not rude or confrontational, let him speak his piece.

Best Regards,
Nathan Eldred
http://www.atlasproaudio.com

Punchmo Sun, 08/05/2001 - 15:04

I've had a Manley mono Tube Di for 4 or 5 years. Used to use it along with the miced signal from the bass cab. I agree that it will pass an accurate signal, however; I've moved on to some other stuff...specifically, micpres offering a DI. The Manley DI is now wrapped in plastic and sitting on a shelf in the studio.

Unless the bass player has a killer sounding rig (might even be a Peavey) I don't mic it. I strongly recommend that they sit with me in the control room and go direct.

FYIW, I've been having a lotta fun with the Sansamp Bass Di as a front end to a DI lately...lot's of tone and color available with that puppy ;)

Steve

Punchmo Mon, 08/06/2001 - 18:40

Originally posted by atlasproaudio:
Have you ever heard a U47 in front of a 4x10 Ampeg SVT Pro with an Ernie Ball Music man? I have the Manley DI and the sans amp DI, and IMO neither can touch the sound of the mic'ed amp.

Best Regards,
Nathan Eldred
http://www.atlasproaudio

Well yes/no, I've recorded that bass as well as others plugged into a SVT with 4 x 10's and 8 x 10's with a 421 and/or RE20 and agree completely. Don't have a U47 to play with. I am real happy with bass's mic'ed with 10's in the cab :) I will break out the mics if the amp and cab has a killer sound. Just don't have that kind of traffic very often. Thanks for reminding me about a rig like that.

Steve

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