Tube integrated around $3000..

[Mr Peabody]

Sweet speakers. I can hook you up with about 250x2 watts of Krell. I have a medium room with a large open door in the rear, it took 100 watts of tube power to get my t2.5''s off the ground to my liking.

Where Krell excels, powerwise, other than it's drive and brute force, is it's response time. There have been symphony crashes, with the t2.5's, that have been just startling. This is one of the benefits I forfeited when going with tubes.

[jrhymeammo]

Dusty,

If you decide to sell your Manley in the next 6 months or so, send me a PM just incase. Which version do you have?

[Mr Peabody]

Is your Stingray the newer version with sub out and tape loop? I would like to hear one. It would be interesting to hear the passive pre and EL84's.

[Dusty Chalk]

Actually, mine is this one.

And I don't mean like that one, I mean it actually is the one in the picture, same serial number and everything. If I sell it, it goes up on eBay, I suspect that that is a selling point.

No tape loops, no sub out, no nothing, just plain integrated-ish amplification.

[Feanor]

Actually, mine is this one.

And I don't mean like that one, I mean it actually is the one in the picture, same serial number and everything. If I sell it, it goes up on eBay, I suspect that that is a selling point.

No tape loops, no sub out, no nothing, just plain integrated-ish amplification.

... it's call the "Stingray". Nice device no doubt but I guess I'm "square"; I prefer the ARC look
... Audio Reserach VT100

[Mr Peabody]

I read that the new Stingray has sub out, tape loop and a couple other features. Older models can have those added if one decided they needed tham and paid the fee.

I suppose there is a good story behind how you got your hands on that exact unit?

[Dusty Chalk]

No, not really -- I bought it from one of the many online retailers who has a used stock. I don't remember the exact name, but can look it up the next time I go to my storage unit -- it's still on the box. They must have had some sort of connection with the reviewer or with Manley.

And yes, the subouts were an option on my model, if I bought it new, but I bought mine used (as a demo). I just don't need them (well...arguable). If I'm going to use a sub, I prefer it to go between the pre and the power on separates, otherwise it's impossible to integrate. I prefer the extra input, anyway.

Feanor -- yeah, it has an unusual look, but it's quite eye-catching to laypeople. They drool when I tell them that that is actual 24K gold plating.

[jrhymeammo]

I love it alot more than the one in blue. That thing looks fu-king sweet. Blueish purple one is nice, but looks too industrial for me. I'm sure it sounds good, but why not look better playing music. If the best sounding gears are made to look like huge a giant dildo, I would never buy it. Guess I'll never be an audiophile. Anyways......
Looks like saving up for the new amp is gonna be alot harder than I anticipated. Nothing wrong with buying it used.

JRA

[Dusty Chalk]

I don't think it's blue-ish purple in person -- I think it's just grey and black...unless you're talking about an entirely different Manley component, like the Steelhead -- I think that one actually has a blue-ish tint to it.

Subject to change my answer upon being shown otherwise in person...

[basite]

maybe you won't buy used, but surfing audiogon, I saw this...

it could be interesting for you...

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ube&1176384811


Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[jrhymeammo]

Thanks Bastie, that is basically where I live. Tube-Int-Agon.

Going used would be fine for me. There are so many Tempest2 by Rogue Audio, it makes me wonder.

Going used makes more sense, since I just might be able to afford the SLI-80 and new speakers. Will see though.

Would love to get a Stingray, but after seeing the one Dusty has, dont want the "blueish" version. I need to treat my room before anything. Just cant decide which ugly color to go with.

[Mr Peabody]

You want to talk about strange looking gear and color, you should see some of the Blue Circle stuff.

[Feanor]

You want to talk about strange looking gear and color, you should see some of the Blue Circle stuff.

Their stuff looks DIY to me. Underwrought you might say; the antithesis of McIntosh for example. Some people say it sounds good, though.
...

[Dusty Chalk]

I stand corrected, apparently it is purple.

[Feanor]

I stand corrected, apparently it is purple.

Talk about gaudy! I wonder what emorphien thinks of it?!?

[basite]

I want one!

I do have some bad news for JRA, since on manley's website, they say that they won't make the models with the gold front plate anymore

But purple is nice too, in the right interior,

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[Dusty Chalk]

Talk about gaudy! I wonder what emorphien thinks of it?!?

Gaudy? I completely disagree, it's not loud flamboyant purple, it's elegant understated greyblack with a general push towards the purple end of the hue dial.

[Feanor]

Gaudy? I completely disagree, it's not loud flamboyant purple, it's elegant understated greyblack with a general push towards the purple end of the hue dial.

I wasn't even talking about the color!! I couldn't get past the light-up logo.

[E-Stat]

Feanor -- yeah, it has an unusual look, but it's quite eye-catching to laypeople.

And practical. You can easily see and access the bias pots. I had an ARC VT 100 a while back. By contrast, you had to remove about fifty screws to access the bias controls. One for each quad of tubes - requiring serious matching. I have a distant cousin to your amp, a pair of VTL 450s originally developed under the Manley name before the family split. While they are comparatively drab looking in all black, they are similarly practical and beat the pants off the ARC amp in sound quality. Mine came with cages, but I leave them off.

I like the comments made by the wife of the SP reviewer - "They look like a little village".

rw

[jrhymeammo]

By contrast, you had to remove about fifty screws to access the bias controls. One for each quad of tubes - requiring serious matching.

rw

$3k tuintamp would need to sound Huggies smooth, but dont want to unzip 40 different straps for unnecesary adjustment.

One of the thing I wonder from time to time is that, my tube integrated amp may not be self-biasing. I've assumed that it is SBing cuz that's what I've been told from the original buyer.
http://8555.net/auto/com/LSYX/index....85982&detail=2

anyone here read chinese?

[jrhymeammo]

It's just me but BC gears dont look interesting, just ugly.

ps bastie, come to USA. Gotta have you help me steal Dusty's amp. Just remember Peter, it's not wind that's making noise from your window...

[Dusty Chalk]

Dude, you really want it, make me an offer, I can be bought.

[jrhymeammo]

Only fools pay for something they can acquire for free.

[basite]

dusty,
I'd hide that amp...

But JRA, this might already have passed in this thread, but I might not remember...
Why don't you try a pre+power combo, with a tube pre and a SS power?

you could buy a primare power amp, like this one
http://www.primare.net/00002/00041/00051/00115/00119/

and a tube pre, like a primaluna, or something else, or maybe even use your current integrated amp as a pre or so...
I actually heard the primare 2 days ago, and I was quite impressed, it was hooked up to a pair of dynaudio speakers, and it sounded really good...



Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[Dusty Chalk]

dusty,
I'd hide that amp...

Oh, I'm not worried. (a) I know he's kidding (otherwise he wouldn't leave a paper trail on this site); and (b) he doesn't even know where I live.