Manley Chinook SE MK2


What phono preamp and how much would it take to better the Manley? I ask mainly because I have one and considering upgrading. I know it's been stated that it takes $5k upwards to better it but curious of some real world experiences.  

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Pindac, in what phono stage are you experiencing the benefits of tube rolling? The Steelhead and probably the Chinook use a hybrid cascode (FET/6922) for gain at the input. In that topology it’s not surprising that differences among 6922s would be muted if not inaudible.

I have an early version Mr Nixie DIGNA Valve Hybrid MM/MC Phonostage that has undergone modification that enables the 6922/ECC88/E88CC Tubes to be used.

Even more recently I have been introduced to the use of Low Eddy RCA connections used on both Chassis and Cables. This is another adaption not carrying too much expense to achieve, that is very much worthwhile considering if one feels there is more desired to be extracted from signal path of a electrical device. 

In a system I am very familiar with and one that has been used when I have been a participant in offering ears as part of development works for Audio products being produced. As part of R&D, I have been A/B compared a SS Phonostage and Interconnect Cables with original supplied RCA's and as the design with the RCA connectors swapped to Low Eddy models. The impression left on myself after experiencing the Low Eddy RCA's mounted onto the Chassis and Terminating the Cables, is that this is something I intend on adopting within my own system where it is possible to achieve. The veil/smearing that is removed, alone as a perceived improvement is quite something. The additional perceivable benefits where the  shaping and envelope of the notes and vocal that manifested is totally wanted to be experienced again. 

Any device out of Warranty could easily undergo such an alteration. 

Are you referring to what used to be called "Eichmann Bullet Plugs" and are more lately called "KLE"? Those are a low mass, therefore low eddy current design.  They are my favorites, but they are no longer a new thing; they've been around maybe for 10 years or close to. FWIW, bona fide engineers and physicists to whom I have spoken about eddy currents in audio level signals were not credulous that eddy currents are an important problem. I have no opinion, being untrained in that discipline; I just know KLE plugs continue to sound best.

I am not advocating Brands, I am letting it be known about a experience I had.

This is very different to having a discussion about, when discussing Cables with the Electronics Engineer who has commission built important devices in my system, the EE will not discuss anything in any length, as so called specialised Cable is a waste of time in their view.

My experiences had, where using two identical design Phonostages have had one with a typical chassis mount RCA and the other with a Low Eddy design RCA.

Using Low Eddy RCA's for terminating a Cable in conjunction with Low Eddy RCA's mounted on a chassis has had a outcome where the impression made has been with much more substance than that from a typical RCA Cable > Chassis configuration. A Low Eddy RCA used to terminate a cable being used in conjunction with a typical chassis mounted RCA, does not separate itself much from a typical RCA configuration. The real magic occurs when Cable and Chassis are using Low Eddy RCA's to create the connection.

As said this is not a expensive interface to create, it is the one I intend on aiming for throughout my system. 

I agree with my tube rollers here. Pop you some NOS 6922 Telefunken's in there as you only need (2) and see what you think before spending $5000.