Manley Chinook SE MK2

Often, at shows, many exhibitors, outside of the brand they represent use other products because they have been given these products at no charge. Very typical with cables and power conditioners. So, when you see certain products in many rooms, it has nothing to do with their performance, just good marketing.

I'm not saying this is the case for the Umami Blue. Just something to keep in mind.

I have to wonder whether the Chinook that was said to be noisy in high gain mode might have been defective. There are many possible causes. Whatever one might say of my Steelhead, it’s very quiet in all gain modes. I can’t live with a noisy phono stage for long. The base circuit is inherently very low noise.

@pindac I do not have experience with really high end cartridges other than my Dynavector 20x2L however, the Blue is definitely a step or 2 forward. I've also heard some very expensive Koetsu and Lyra carts and the Blue is very similar in sonics. I'm not saying at those levels but close in my opinion. 

Giving Descriptions is not the easiest way to get info across.

I make it my business to have a sat in front of experience where ever possible.

It don't take much time to decide if it worth hanging around due to being impressed along with being a sociable guest and express being courteous.    

@lewm my Chinook, which I believe was the mk1, was really silent. Not noisy at all.  Anyone that had a noisy Chinook, in my opinion, needs to investigate tubes. Unless they consider ear to speaker silence a must. The Chinook was the first tubed phono I used and I would highly recommend it coming in to the $2k club of phonos.