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It's no secret. David Manley has not been big on single-ended amplifiers. Not enough muscle. You're better off with push-pull. Still, with a growing market for single-ended stuff, I'm sure Manley saw a need to do something. Of all tube designers, Manley has always been among the most prolific.

"Want a single-ended amp, mate? No problem. I'll build one up for you." (This is the kind of thing Manley would say, but didn't in this case. I made it up.)

That's what troubled me initially. Manley doesn't seem committed to single-ended…

As it happens, I still had the pair of Manley SE/PP 300B amplifiers on hand, and, as soon as I could tear myself away from the Jadis SE300B, I tried those with the Infinity Composition speakers. Even more than the Thiel CS.5s, the Compositions revealed the much greater delicacy and resolution of the Jadis amplifiers. Still, especially considering their price of $3500/pair, the Manley amplifiers were excellent, too. Some resolution, some transparency was gone—but still I heard much midrange magic.

Now, of course, the…

Description: Monoblock tube amplifier with variable negative feedback and switchable between single-ended and push-pull operation. Tube complement: one 12AX7T, one 7044, two 300Bs. Rated power: 36W into 5 ohms in push-pull, 18W into 5 ohms in single-ended mode. No other specifications given.
Dimensions: 12" wide by 10" deep.
Finish: Metallic gray.
Price: $3500/pair (1996); no longer available (2012).
Manufacturer: Manley Laboratories, Inc., 13880 Magnolia Avenue, Chino, CA 91710. Tel: (909) 627-4256. Fax: (909) 628-2482. Web: www.manleylabs.com…

Properly used, a suitable equalizer can often improve the listenability of mediocre recordings (footnote 1), and can offset some of the deficiencies of many loudspeakers. Improperly used, an equalizer can undo all of the potential for fidelity that your system has to offer, and even when not used at all—with all its…

Description: 14-band 2-channel graphic equalizer. Controlled bands: Center frequencies (Hz, ISO standard) at: 31.5, 45, 63, 90, 125, 180, 250, 360, 550, 1k, 2k, 4k, 8k, 16k. Constant-Q bandwidth. Equalization range: ±12dB. Frequency response w/controls set at 0dB: ±0.5dB, 20Hz–20kHz. Real-time analyzer: 25dB range on screen, auto-ranging. Internal pink noise generator, L/R uncorrelated. Gain: 0dB at 0dB. THD: below 0.03%, 20Hz–20kHz. Maximum input, output level: 6V. S/N ratio: 119dBA. Input impedance: 51k ohms. Output impedance: 470 ohms.
Dimensions: 17 1/8" W…

Saturday, November 3, 12pm: Advanced Audio Systems (6450 Tacoma Mall Boulevard, Tacoma, WA) will host a seminar with iconic loudspeaker designer Richard Vandersteen. The event will consist of product demonstrations and a question and answer session with Vandersteen. To register for the event, follow this link.

The Krell KRS-2 preamplifier is a case in point. I have now spent several months comparing it with every other unit I've been able to find. The end result is that this Krell has emerged as the equal of the Audio Research SP-11 in defining the state of the preamplifier…

• Audio Research SP-10: The sound was slightly warmer, with a minor exaggeration of imaging which seems to come from a coloration which "expands" the dynamic contrasts of…

Description: Two-chassis preamplifier (with psu transformers in third box). Frequency range: DC–1.5MHz. Maximum output: 15V. Output impedance: 6 ohms.
Dimensions: 19" W x 12" D x 2.25" H (preamp and psu), 3.5" W x 13" D x 2" H (transformers).
Price: $4500 (1987); no longer available (2012).
Manufacturer: Krell Industries, Milford, CT 06460 (1987); Krell Industries, 45 Connair Road, Orange, CT 06477-3650 (2012). Tel: (203) 298-4010. Fax: (203) 891-2028. Web: www.krellonline.