What I have learned is that volume controls even run wide open into a passive pre still have colourations.
The manley Steelhead is still a good phono/preamp in a vinyl ,cd set up.
You really don't need another preamp to be satisfied.
That was the way I enjoyed my system, until I got the LSA.
That was a game changer.
I took the Esoteric out of the Steelhead and ran it into the LSA.Yes a bit of wire changing, but I am a fan of the purist school of audio,so one set of inputs and a bit of wire fiddling doesn't bother me if it's for the betterment of the sound.
The sound of the cd player thru the LSA directly into the amps(bypassing the Manley)was much more powerful sounding.More dynamic, a fuller ,rounder sound, and more inner details.
All the kinds of improvements you tire reading about, but nevertheless,were there.
We really do need to invent some new vocabulary to describe these kinds of improvements,because I and no doubt countless others, tend to take such praises with just a hint of scepticism.
And that's a shame.
Improvements are improvements, no matter how hard it is to describe them, it's easy to hear them when they are there.And you can prove it to yourself that your ears are not fooling you, nor is it self delusion simply by going back to listening to things the way they were before.Then listening to the new way.
I much preferred my cd/sacd replay thru the LSA.
In fact so much, that I was in a dilemma.
Why wasn't I enjoying my vinyl system as much?
I addressed all manner of set up with my SME arm and table and Clearaudio cartridge.
I use the same interconnect from the phono stage(Variable out)as I do from the cd player into the LSA.
What I eventually did was run the Manley as just a phono stage.Which most reviews of the steelhead have stated, and I ignored.
Running it from the fixed outputs bypasses the volume control altogether,but cancels the use of the Sum or mono function.I do play mono recordings from time to time.So I was reluctant to run the pre in fixed mode.
Doing so, however, proved to be the answer to my problem.
Vinyl is now on par with the punch and clarity of the digital set up.
So as good as the Manley is as a phono stage with the added option as a volume line stage,I believe the volume control is it's weak spot.
This is not to discourage anyone from running it this way.
It sounds good.
But if sounds good isn't good enough for you, and vinyl is important, then run it in fixed mode into your preamp of choice.
In my case, it's the LSA.
If vinyl doesn't matter,then try the LSA direct into your amp from your digital source.
I think you will be more than pleased that this level of sound quality is available for so few dollars.
Just make sure you try a decent linear power supply.
I use the TeraDak.
Without a linear power supply(I have not tried battery),you'll never know how great the lSA is.
It is the most revealing, easiest to listen thru,least expensive(I 've owned some pretty expensive esoteric preamps over the past 40 years,tube and solid state)and quietest "pre amp"I've ever owned, and will be my last.
Are there better ones out there?
My friend has the ARC Ref 10, before that the Anniversary 40.
I think they are pretty special in a system that is completely different than mine.
But I don't think I'm missing too much.
At least I don't feel short changed and I have no desire to chase after either of those preamps.
