Manly Steelhead - any downside??

Shane, the specifications of the XV-1s cartridge would indicate that the upper end of the range for optimal impedance loading would likely not exceed 200 ohms. Loading the cartridge at 47k ohms should tend to emphasize the treble frequencies and attenuate the bass frequencies. Is it possible that you gravitated to the higher loading value in order to compensate for something else in your system that is leaning the sound of your system toward a dark or bass-heavy character?

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So Raul, Have you ever had a Manley Steelhead in your system or are you giving advice based on the specs you read and your disdain for anything with tubes ?
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Here you go again, out on your mission to mis-inform the public.
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Downunder, the Steelhead is MUCH quieter, slightly more dynamic,has more body to the notes and grabs the bass notes by the shorthairs and does not let go, compared to the Rhea anyway. And, except for the noise, I liked the Rhea a lot. The Steelhead is just in another league.

I run my XV-1s at 100 ohms. Tried 50 ohms, and on the records I listened to, it was a little too subdued on the top, but as Bob said, it was a subtle difference. Even a 500 ohm setting was not bad, 100 just seems best to me. I also run through the MM section w/ a 60 db gain setting. Again Bob's description of the differences between MM & MC were spot on with my experience.

As far as tubes, I spent about $100 bucks for all six tubes and that compliment of tubes was only slightly bested by a pair of $300 NOS Siemens CCa's. If I had to do it over, I would not have bought the CCa's and stuck with the $40 Amperex 6922's.

Oops...sorry guys, I forgot, you better ignore my thoughts on bass. Raul told me today on another thread that I don't know what real bass is because I like the ZYX UNIverse cart. In fact, did he tell me here that the Steelhead will sound severe and colored (is that PC?), the step ups will degrade the sound and since it has tubes it will be too noisey? I think he did say that! You better ignore everything I said about the Steelhead since I must not know what the hell I am talking about. I think all of us Audiogoners should get down on our knees and thank the Lord that we have such an omniscient member such as Raul that can lead us mere mortals through this maze of stereo gear. Thank you so much Raul!

Bob, I have never found loading at 47k to reduce bass, but you are correct you do get more air in the high frequencies. As I said it has depended on the phono stage. Prior to that I used to have tube monoblock's coupled with hard to drive mahler speakers a little too close to the wall giving it a slightly boomy character - got that licked now with my ss cj amp a little tighter in the bass and able to drive the mahlers better and have moved out from the back wall a little more.
Looks as thou MM input might be best for the XV-1s and MC for my fun TT.

Vetterone, thanks for the update. Sounds like it is a lot quieter than the rhea which just frustrated me. Also given the large Floyd back drop you must like loud rock music! rock on.
I'll listen to the steelhead with standard tubes - it should give me most of what it does, NOS should just be icing on the cake.

How many hours does it take before the unit is sounding sweet?

Sounds like Raul may not heard the steelhead after all, just summarising a set of audio urban legends and applying them as fact :>)

Now I can't wait for the unit to come in for listen!

cheers Shane

Shane, I bought my Steelhead new, and I found that it settled in very quickly. It bested my Lamm LP2 right out of the box. The changes in the sound with additional run-in were subtle.