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Differences in sonic character were quite evident when I compared the Mark Levinson No.37/No.36S combination with the $3000 Sony CDP-XA7ES. And the balance was not, in every respect, on the Levinsons' side—the comparisons drew attention to a quality of the Levinsons' sound I haven't remarked on to this point.

With its exceptional resolution, detail, and overall clean, clear sound, the 37/36S did sound rather cool and detached, appealing more to the intellect than to the emotions. Once we get beyond…

The Mana is a fine blend of good looks and contemporary circuit design, even…

I'm impressed—it's all well thought out and neatly implemented.

Sorcerer, thy name is Mana
Considering its overall character, the Mana Reference impressed…

Description: Monoblock tube power amplifier with switchable Ultralinear or triode output stage. Tube complement: eight 5881/6L6, four 6SN7, one Raytheon or WE 5842/417A. Bias: class-AB1 fixed bias with individual adjustment, 6dB global differential feedback (first stage not in feedback loop). Specified output power: 100Wpc into 8, 6, 4, or 2 ohms (20dBW), 115–130W at visible clipping (Ultralinear); 55Wpc into 8, 6, 4, or 2 ohms (17.4dBW) (Triode). Input impedance: 110k ohms single-ended, 200k ohms balanced. Voltage Gain: 26.5dB. Distortion: 1% THD at full rated…

Analog source: Judith Spotheim La Luce and SpJ turntable/tonearm, Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum phono cartridge.
Digital source: Forsell Air Bearing CD transport, Burmester 989 CD transport, dCS 972 Sample Rate Converter and dCS Elgar converter at 24/192, direct output to the amps or into the preamp.
Preamplifiers: Classé Omega, BAT VK-50SE, Burmester 808 Mk.V, YBA Signature 6 Chassis.
Loudspeakers: JMlab Utopia.
Cables: Synergistic Research Designer's Reference Discrete Shielding, XLO The Limited, TARA The One. Power cords: AudioPrism…

Because of the Mana Reference's wide variety of configurations—four output transformer taps, ultralinear or triode output tube/transformer operation, balanced and unbalanced inputs—I carried out a complete set of measurements on the amplifier only with balanced input and ultralinear output. I did check some of the performance parameters in the other modes, however. But if no input or output modes are mentioned, assume it's balanced and ultralinear, respectively.

Before I did anything, I warmed up the amplifier at one-third power into 8 ohms for 60 minutes…

In America in 1861, there was virtually no recorded music. If it wasn't live, you couldn't hear it. And once you heard a piece of music, you would never hear that exact same performance ever again. In 1861, music lived on in peoples…

In 1951, perhaps prompted by Dawes' death earlier that year, songwriter Carl Sigman decided that Dawes' "Melody" would be a great vehicle for some bittersweet lyrics. The result, "(Many a Tear Has…

1) Linda Ronstadt: "Long, Long Time" (by Gary B. White); from Silk Purse (1970) and The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt (CD, Rhino 76109).

Ronstadt's vocal approach to this tearjerker is as much Grand Opera as Grand Ole Opry—here she achieved an intensity of passion and a degree of tangible naturalness that she never was to surpass.

2) Roberta Flack: "Jesse" (by Janis Ian); from Killing Me Softly (1973; CD, Atlantic SD 19154).

One of the most perfectly structured and elegantly written songs of the singer-songwriter era—"elegant" in…