Is the Manley Steelhead still relevant?

Anyone know what could be wrong for an intermittent vari out from the left channel on the Steelhead?  (No sound out of left RCA vari out, but then after turning off and on, and hearing a very audible "click", everything works.  Also had a complete block on MM1, MM2 out, with nothing, until after the audible "click".)  Thanks.

Nice discussion.  Thanks for sharing. 

Could someone please explain how I would be better served with a dedicated pre-amplifier in my system, instead of using the line input in the Manley Steelhead as my pre-amplifier?  (Also does anyone know if the Manley Steelhead is class A or push-pull, etc?)

Thanks. 

@rdk:

Thanks for the detailed reply.  Yes, the balanced lines make sense.  But what I was considering wasn't changing out the phono stage, but how using a pre-amplifier would be different than simply using the Manley Steelhead phono stage as a pre-amplifier.  

Lewm,

Thanks for the reply.  

I'm using the Steelhead's line in as a pre-amplifier for my DAC, which is then sent out to the amplifiers.  So, essentially the Steelhead line in does not add any gain, but a standard pre-amplifier would add some gain to the line in?  The only advantage to gain being additional signal, which could add to distortion?  

Thanks.

@lewm 
Thanks for the detail.  I may try running my CD player without a pre-amplifier just to find out how it sounds.  (Unfortunately there's no volume control on my CD player, so I'll see how loud or soft it is.)  

So what you're essentially saying is that a pre-amplifier may be superfluous for CD players, and are essentially only volume control devices, which may also add some "color" to the signal?

Thanks for everyone's input.

@dover 
Aha!  That makes much more sense now.  I have three amplifiers that I rotate between:  an Atma-Sphere MA-1, a Conrad Johnson LP140m, and a Lamm M2.2.  The input sensitivities are 2.8V, 0.5V, and 1.0V respectively, which is exactly what I experience with the volume control: namely the higher the input sensitivity voltage, the higher I turn the volume knob, and at higher volumes the sound does begin to get "washed out".  But, it would seem that shouldn't be the case with volume, but that a higher gain would "color" the sound more, and that a higher volume should just make the accurate sound louder, but I guess that if volume and the Manley Steelhead behaved in a linear fashion, that is what I should expect, but what you're saying is that as the volume is turned up, it stresses components in the Steelhead, and I get more distortion?  

So, when you say the Manley linestage is just a "buffer", you mean that it's not amplifying the signal by adding gain, but just transmitting the signal unadulterated? 

Thanks!

@dover 

Thanks for sharing your insight.  I didn't realize how much the input sensitivity of amplifiers influenced sonic behavior while using the Steelhead line stage as a buffer.

Regarding pre-amplifiers, would you suggest any other brands besides A-S or CJ, or are those as good as any? (As I noticed that you mentioned that you have an Air Tight in your system.). Is there something in particular that I need to look for in pre-amplifier specifications, such as gain, etc?  

Thanks!

@dover 

My budget for a pre-amplifier could be $30k, if it was exceptionally better than one that could be obtained at $20k.  So, essentially, I don't want to spend $100k+, but it seems that many highly esteemed pre-amplifiers are selling for $10k-40k, which I suppose could be a reasonable range.  

I am not partial to any particular brand either:  perhaps the Atma-Sphere pre-amplifiers would suit all amplifiers the best due to its transparency, although maybe a Lamm pre-amplifier would be better suited for the M2.2 amplifiers.  Or perhaps there's another lesser known pre-amplifier that would suffice?

(I have Sound Lab speakers, and listen to purely classical and chamber music.)

Thanks.

@lewm

Thanks for the pointer. That restriction would exclude the CJ line, so A-S and Lamm could still be options, as well as other balanced (XLR-based) pre-amplifiers.  Ideally, I suppose the pre-amplifier would include both XLR and RCA output lines. 

@lewm 

Thanks for educating me about the nuances of XLR.  I assumed that if equipment had XLR jacks, that it was balanced, but apparently not.  

From my current perspective, it seems that the A-S would be the most versatile and transparent pre-amplifier that I'm aware of so far.  

@lewm 
@dover 

I was reviewing a pre-amplifier short list.  It looks like the VAC signature mkIIaSE qualifies as having both XLR and RCA.  Any ideas as to how it compares with the A-S MP1?

Thanks.

@dover 

I suppose I should have three pre-amplifiers to go with my three amplifiers, but I haven't brought myself around to that decision, yet, although, it looks like I may very well be heading in that direction, if for no other reason than to compare the various strengths and weaknesses.

I have always enjoyed the Manley Steelhead as a line stage and phono stage, but I have noticed that it's weakness is at higher volumes, regardless of the amplifier used, when the sound becomes either washed out or distorted to the point of just sounding "weird".

Each amplifier has its own strengths and weaknesses. I cannot say that there is one favorite overall, as each one excels with a particular type of music: for instance the Atma-Sphere MA-1 are my favorite for small, solo or two instrument pieces, but it has difficulty with larger, orchestral works; the Conrad Johnson LP140m work well for both large and small scale works, and are my favorite for anything with wind instruments or brass, or larger stringed instruments, like the cello, but they color certain instruments such as the piano. The Lamm M2.2 are the most detailed, and are the best for piano and violin compositions, but the sound of certain instruments such as the cello or wind instruments sounds somewhat synthetic.  

I think I've decided that I must keep all three amplifiers for my rotating musical preferences. Now I just need another pre-amplifier or two to throw in the rotation for my listening pleasure.

Thanks for your input on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the pre-amplifiers:  looks like my short list now includes the CJ GAT2 and the A-S MP-1.  Maybe I'll try out both, and keep the Manley Steelhead in the rotation!