MANLEY
LABORATORIES, INC.
OWNER'S MANUAL
CONTROL MASTER
PREAMPLIFIER
MANLEY LABORATORIES, INC.
13880 MAGNOLIA AVE.
CHINO, CA. 91710
TEL: (909) 627-4256
FAX: (909) 628-2482
email: [email protected]
INTRODUCTION
THANK YOU!...
for choosing the Manley Laboratories CONTROL MASTER Preamplifier. Designed by David Manley,
the Mastering Room LINE Preamplifier uses the best available parts with the shortest, cleanest, signal
path possible. With the use of our own in-house C.N.C. milling machine, we can provide you with a
superb sounding machine with elegant packaging. The design is completely DUAL-MONO with
separate power supplies for each channel including two custom designed power transformers. The audio
boards are also separate. All the wiring from the rear input connectors to the front selector switch and
precision custom stepped attenuator is painstakingly hand wired using professional studio twisted pair
shielded six-9's copper cable for optimum shielding and lo-noise characteristics, and although it would
be much cheaper, easier, and faster to simply put these leads on several feet of printed circuit board
traces like most everybody else does, we opt for purity of sound however many more hours it takes. The
high-current line amplifier circuit employed here is one we have developed and refined over the years in
our MANLEY Professional series. We hope you agree with us and hundreds of satisfied users and
studios around the world that this circuit really delivers. Please take a few moments to read through this
manual, there may be features and information about this preamplifier which you should familiarise
yourself with.
Thank you again, and please enjoy!
GENERAL NOTES
LOCATION & VENTILATION
The CONTROL MASTER preamplifier must be installed in a stable location with ample ventilation. It
is recommended, if this unit is rack mounted, that you allow enough clearance on the top and bottom of
the preamp such that a constant flow of air can flow through the ventilation slots. We also recommend
that the preamplifier be placed at least 10 inches away from its amplifier.
WATER & MOISTURE
As with any electrical equipment, this preamplifier should not be used near water or moisture.
SERVICING
The user should not attempt to service the preamplifier beyond that described in the owner's manual.
Refer all servicing other than tube replacement to Manley Laboratories.
SPECIAL NOTES
Tubes may become loose during transit. Straighten and press down each tube before plugging the
preamplifier into the mains socket. Furthermore, do not touch the tubes after the preamplifier has been
switched on, as the tubes do become very hot during operation and should only be handled after the
power has been turned off and the tubes have cooled.
WARNING!
!
TO PREVENT THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN THE CABINET
REFER SERVICING TO
QUALIFIED PERSONEL
MAINS CONNECTIONS
Your preamplifier has been factory set to the correct mains voltage for your country. The
voltage setting is marked on the serial badge, located on the rear panel. Check that this com-
plies with your local supply.
Export units for certain markets have a moulded mains plug fitted to comply with local require-
ments. If your unit does not have a plug fitted the coloured wires should be connected to the
appropriate plug terminals in accordance with the following code.
GREEN/YELLOW
BLUE
BROWN
EARTH
NEUTRAL terminal
LIVE terminal
terminal
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead may not correspond with the coloured marking
identifying the terminals in your plug proceed as follows;
The wire which is coloured GREEN/YELLOW must be connected to the terminal in the plug
which is marked by the letter E or by the safety earth symbol or coloured GREEN or GREEN
and YELLOW.
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is
marked by the letter N or coloured BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is
marked by the letter L or coloured RED.
DO NOT CONNECT/SWITCH ON THE MAINS SUPPLY UNTIL ALL OTHER CON-
NECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.
CONNECTING YOUR PREAMPLIFIER
Setting up your preamplifier is rather easy.
1. Please refer to page 7 diagram 2 for an illustration of the back of the preamplifier.
2. There are two sets of main outputs, one set UNBALANCED RCA
and the other BALANCED XLR. The pin out for the XLR is as follows:
PIN1 - ground
PIN2 - POSITIVE going phase (+)
PIN3 - NEGATIVE going phase (-).
Connect either (or both for bi-amping) the XLR or RCA output to the input of your ampli-
fier as required.
3. UNBALANCED inputs are found on RCA jack inputs and can be connected to any line
level sources devices.
4. A pair of 3 pin BALANCED XLR INPUT is standard and can be used with a balanced
source. The pin out for the XLR is as follows:
PIN1 - ground
PIN2 - POSITIVE going phase (+)
PIN3 - NEGATIVE going phase (-).
5. The record output is not buffered and it is recommended that one have the tape feed
plugged into the REC OUT only when actually recording. Care should be used when
using a 3-head tape/monitor switch as this recout is not a tape loop.
5. On the left end of the back panel is a standard IEC mains connector. This should be
connected to a standard 120 or 240 volt outlet.
6. Be certain that the voltage selector switch located next to the IEC mains socket is set
for your voltage!!!
7. Power up the preamplifier FIRST and allow it to settle for a minimum of 30 seconds
before powering up your amplifiers. Turn off your preamplifier and source components
LAST when powering down a system.
FRONT PANEL
VOLUME
OPERATE
XLR
BALANCE TRIM
AUX
DIG
TAPE
TUNER
VIDEO
MUTE
LEFT
RIGHT
A
B C
D
E F
A
SELECTOR SWITCH Switch to select between inputs. Counterclockwise:
BALANCED XLR INPUTS, AUX (auxilary), DIG (CD), TAPE, TUNER, VIDEO.
NOTE: always turn volume control (level) down before switching selector switch to
avoid surprisedifferences in source levels. NOTE: inputs which have nothing plugged
in to them can pick up noise.
B
C
VOLUME CONTROL Adjust the stereo input level of the selected signal.
MUTE / OPERATE SWITCH Switch DOWN mute the selected input to the
preamplifier.
D
BALANCE ADJUSTS These very useful controls modify the gain of each channel
by changing the line amplifier's feedback. When set to 12 o'clock (straight up) both
channels will produce the same gain at optimum setting. Rotating the controls
clockwise will increase the gain (lower feedback) and rotating the controls
counterclockwise will reduce the gain (more feedback) of the corresponding channels
with approximately 10 dB of total swing. Thus neither control will fully mute the
signal. Different sound characteristics can be achieved with these controls to optimise
the gain, speed, and slew rate of this preamplifier to your system, but small
differences of level between two channels can be equalled or trimmed out with these
controls when used as dual-mono balance controls.
E
F
LED POWER INDICATOR Illuminates when the preamplifier is powered on.
POWER SWITCH Switch up to turn on the power, down to turn the power off. Do
not ever flip the power on and off and on and off rapidly-- you can damage the power
supply.
REAR PANEL
A B C
D E F G H I J K L
A
B
C
IEC MAINS SOCKET Standard IEC mains socket (120/240 VAC)
FUSE HOLDERS Right & Left channel fuses. Replace with 1A SLO-BLO fuse only.
VOLTAGE SELECTOR SWITCH Selectable to 110,120 / 220,240 VAC. Set to the proper
voltage for your country.
D
E
F
G
H
I
OUTPUT (XLR) Left (upper) and Right (lower) output XLR's. BALANCED
OUTPUT (RCA) Paralled output to the Left and Right XLR outputs. UNBALANCED
RECORD OUTPUT Set at input line stage level.
VIDEO INPUT - Video, Line level input
TUNER INPUT - Tuner, line level input
TAPE INPUT - Tape, line level input
J
DIG INPUT - CD, line level input
K
L
AUX INPUT - AUX, line level input
BALANCED XLR INPUTS
OPERATIONAL NOTES
SWITCHING ON
The power switch is located on the right hand corner of the front panel. Flip the switch up to
turn on the preamplifier and down to turn off the preamplifier.
RUNNING
It is not recommended that you leave your preamplifier permanently switched on. This only
wastes electricity and tube life. Your preamplifier has solid state rectification and reaches peak
operating condition in approximately 30 minutes.
TUBE LIFE
As with all tubes, their quality degrades with age. This is due to cathode emission, a natural
process found in all tubes. We recommend that you have your preamplifier checked every 4-5
years, depending on usage. An excessive increase in noise level can indicate the need to replace
a tube.
SPECIFICATIONS
Vacuum Tubes:
2 x 5814's, 2 x 6414's
Gain
(line stage)
6 dB
Input Impedance
100 Kohm
120 ohms
line stages
Output Impedance
Power Consumption
33 Watts (275mA @ 120VAC)
WARRANTY
All Manley Laboratories equipment is covered by a limited warranty against defects in materials
andworkmanshipforaperiodof90daysfromdateofpurchasetotheoriginalpurchaseronly.A
furtheroptionallimited5yearwarrantyisavailabletotheoriginalpurchaseruponproper
registrationofownershipwithin30daysofdateoffirstpurchase.
Properregistrationismadebyfillingoutandreturningtothefactorythewarrantycardattachedto
this general warranty statement, along with a copy of the original sales receipt as proof of the
originaldateofpurchase. Only1cardisissuedwitheachunit, andtheserialnumberisalready
recordedonit.
Ifthewarrantyregistrationcardhasalreadybeenremovedthenthisisnotanewunit, andis
therefore not warranted by the factory. If you believe this to be a new unit then please contact the
factorywiththedetailsofpurchase.
Thiswarrantyisprovidedbythedealerwheretheunitwaspurchased,andbyManleyLaboratories,
Inc. Underthetermsofthewarrantydefectivepartswillberepairedorreplacedwithoutcharge,
exceptingthecostoftubes.Nowarrantyisofferedontubes,unless:
1.aManleyLaboratoriespreamplifierisusedwithaManleyLaboratories amplifier,and
2. thewarrantyregistrationcardisfilledout.
In such a case a 6 month warranty on tubes is available with the correct recording of the serial
numberofthepreamplifieronyourwarrantyregistrationcard.
IfaManleyLaboratories productfailstomeettheabovewarranty,thenthepurchaser'ssole
remedyshallbetoreturntheproducttoManleyLaboratories, wherethedefectwillberepaired
withoutchargeforpartsandlabour.Theproductwillthenbereturnedviaprepaid,insuredfreight,
methodandcarriertobedeterminedsolelybyManleyLaboratories.Allreturnstothefactorymust
beintheoriginalpacking,(newpackingwillbesuppliedfornochargeifneeded),accompaniedby
awrittendescriptionofthedefect,andmustbeshippedtoManleyLaboratoriesviainsuredfreight
atthecustomer'sownexpense.Chargesforunauthorizedserviceandtransportationcostsarenot
reimbursableunderthiswarranty,andallwarrantees,expressorimplied,becomenullandvoid
wheretheproducthasbeendamagedbymisuse,accident,neglect,modification,tamperingor
unauthorizedalterationbyanyoneotherthanManleyLaboratories.
Thewarrantorassumesnoliabilityforpropertydamageoranyotherincidentalorconsequental
damagewhatsoeverwhichmayresultfromfailureofthisproduct.Anyandallwarranteesof
merchantabilityandfitnessimpliedbylawarelimitedtothedurationoftheexpressedwarranty.
AllwarranteesapplyonlytoManleyLaboratoriesproductspurchasedandusedintheUSA.
Somestatesdonotallowlimitationsonhowlonganimpliedwarrantylasts, sotheabove
limitations may not apply to you. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental
orconsequentialdamges,sotheaboveexclusionmaynotapplytoyou.
Thiswarrantygivesyouspecificlegalrightsandyoumayalsohaveotherrightswhichvaryfrom
state to state.
WARRANTYREGISTRATION
We ask that you please fill out this registration form and send the bottom half to:
MANLEY LABORATORIES
REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT
13880 MAGNOLIA AVE.
CHINO CA, 91710
Registration entitles you to product support, full warranty benefits, and notice of product
enhancements and upgrades. You MUST complete and return the following to validate your
warranty and registration. Thank you again for choosing Manley Laboratories.
MODEL CONTROL MASTER PREAMPLIFIER SERIAL No.MRL________
PURCHASE DATE ______________ SUPPLIER ______________________
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PLEASE DETACH THIS PORTION AND SEND IT TO MANLEY LABORATORIES
MODEL CONTROL MASTER PREAMPLIFIER SERIAL No.MRL________
PURCHASE DATE ______________ SUPPLIER _______________________
NAME OF OWNER _______________________________________________
ADDRESS ______________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP________________________________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER ___________________________________________
COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS?__________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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