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WORKING CONDITION: New with 0 minutes of use. PHYSICAL CONDITION: Near Mint. This was purchased brand-new, direct from Manley several years ago as a "B-Stock" item, as it has a faint factory blemish on the left side that requires close inspection to notice. Note in one of the photos the horizontal streak circled in green. Otherwise, this unit is in factory mint condition. We were the first to break the factory box seal and remove it from its packaging for photos. INVENTORY #59150 BRAND: Manley Labs MODEL: Absolute Headphone Amplifier FUNCTION: Headphone Amplifier PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: This listing is for a Manley Labs Copper Absolute Headphone Vacuum Tube Amplifier. The Manley Labs Absolute Headphone Amplifier is a high-end vacuum tube amplifier and line-level preamplifier known for its extreme flexibility and "art piece" aesthetic. It features 15 independent controls that allow you to customize the sonic signature on the fly, including the ability to switch between Push-Pull and Single-Ended topologies. SPECS: Tube Topology Switching: Switch on-the-fly between Push-Pull (odd-order harmonics) and Single-Ended (even-order harmonics) to fundamentally alter the sound's character. Adjustable Feedback: A variable control allows you to apply 0dB to 10dB of Global Negative Feedback, letting you choose between an "intimate" or "tight" and "fast" sonic character. Custom Output Transformers: Features hand-wound, air-gapped Manley Iron transformers with three selectable impedance ranges (12 to 600+ Ohms) to match almost any headphone. Integrated Preamplifier: Includes a set of stereo RCA outputs and a Bypass Thru Mode, allowing it to serve as a high-fidelity line-level preamp for your main audio system. Tone & Balance Controls: Equipped with bypassable Baxandall Bass and Treble equalizers, a Mono switch, and a Balance control that can swing signals up to 72dB. Precision Volume Control: Uses a stepped relay ladder matrix attenuator (0.5dB steps) controllable via a front thumbwheel or an included RF remote that works through walls. ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: Original Factory box and packaging Remote Control Manual Power Cord UNPACKAGED WEIGHT: 16 lbs. UNPACKAGED DIMENSIONS: 18" x 12" x 16"
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Manley Laboratories emerged in the late 1980s in Chino, California, as a collaboration between EveAnna Manley and her then-husband, David Manley, founder of Vacuum Tube Logic (VTL). Their initial offerings were high-fidelity vacuum tube amplifiers and preamplifiers, hand-built at VTL's facility. By 1989, the brand expanded into professional audio with the Reference 60dB Microphone Preamplifier, followed by iconic equalizers and microphones debuted at the 1990 AES Show. In 1993, Manley became an independent entity, operating from its Chino factory until 2025, where custom transformers became a signature of its warm, detailed sound.
The company specializes in premium tube-based audio gear, spanning professional studio tools like the VOXBOX channel strip, Massive Passive EQ, Variable Mu compressor, and Reference microphones, alongside hi-fi amplifiers, preamplifiers, and equalizers. All products feature in-house design, assembly, and quality control, emphasizing analog purity over digital conveniences such as speakers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables.
Manley holds a commanding position in the high-end boutique market, revered by recording engineers and audiophiles for its rich tonal character, uncompromising build quality, and iconic styling. Trusted in top studios worldwide, its gear commands premium prices and a devoted following, recently transitioning under new ownership by audio veteran Dirk Ulrich in 2025 while upholding its American-made legacy.
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