Manley Massive Passive Stereo Equalizer

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You haven't heard "musical EQ" till you've heard the Manley Massive Passive. Subtle sweetening to timbre-twisting -- this 4-band stereo tube equalizer is it.

The Manley MASSIVE PASSIVE is a two-channel, four-band equalizer, with additional high pass and low pass filters. "Passive" refers to the tone shaping part of this clever EQ design -= not using any active circuitry. Only metal film resistors, film capacitors and hand-wound inductors sculpt the sound, kinda like a Pultec EQ on hyper-steroids. Super-beefy, hugely-high-headroom Manley all-tube make-up gain amplifiers deliver your tunes into the next realm. "Massive".... it's a fitting word for this beast. You'll need to experience this.

Engineers who have gotten hold of the MASSIVE PASSIVE have told Manley: "Why does it make everything sound so much better?", "It's organic and orgasmic.", "It's a f%#king powerhouse.", "It's unlike any other EQ.", "This is IT. The sound I've always dreamt of but couldn't ever get until now."

Creating natural, organic, acoustic tone can only be done with an equalizer that treats the signal with natural methods. The Massive Passive uses simple passive components and exploits their natural qualities rather than forcing a complex circuit to meet an arbitrary clinical or scientific goal. Manley knows that recording and mastering equalizers are used by artists for artistic goals and we balanced this design with a little more art than science.

The Massive Passive is intended both for the most radical EQ sometimes needed for tracking as well as the most subtle shadings for vocals and mastering. It is designed to be a fundamentally different EQ but incorporates read more the best strengths of Pultecs, choice console EQs, parametrics and graphics. The difference is that the Massive allows twice as much EQ with half the coloration. It allows huge HF boosts without sibilance problems and unbelievable fatness without mud. This is unique. Being different also gives it some quirks and idiosyncrasies that will spark your creativity and sense of audio adventure. We could attempt to use dozens of superlatives to describe the sounds, but really, you have to experience it yourself. Words cannot do it justice.

The astute reader will notice a lack of "buzz words" and that the Massive Passive is not built around gimmicks, plagiarisms, or conventional techniques. However, it is built to complement our Variable Mu(R) Limiter Compressor for instance... This combo could just be the ultimate processing chain. It's already a Mastering fave.

Features:

- All-Passive tone sculpting circuitry
- Unique Shelf curves use the "bandwidth" control
- Overlapping and Interleaved Frequency choices
- Every band switchable to shelf or bell
- Vacuum tube make-up gain and line drivers
- Parallel symmetrical topology
- Premium components throughout
- Passive HP and LP Filters plus gain trims
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- Ins & Outs Balanced XLR & 1/4" (accepts unbalanced)
- Level +4 dBu nominal, internal switches for -10 operation
- Bypass Switch bypasses EQ & tube circuits (not hardwire)
- 44 Frequencies (roughly 1/4 octave spacing)
- Frequency Range: 22 Hz to 27 kHz
- EQ Boost/Cut Range : 20 dB boost, 20 dB cut
- Nominal Q range: 1.5 to 3 (uniquely active in shelf modes)
- Frequency Response: +/-2 dB: 8 Hz to 60 KHz
- Maximum Output @ 1.5% THD +37 dBv; +26dBv @ 20 Hz
- THD & Noise (1KHz @ +4 dBu): 0.06%
- Noise Floor (referred to +4dBu): -85 dB (A Weight)
- Dynamic Range: 120 dB
- Tube Complement: 2 x 12AX7 EH, 4 x 6414 for serial MSMPX### after 2/2004
- Tube Complement: 2 x 5751, 4 x 6414 for serial MSMP### until 2/2004
- Power Consumption (120/240VAC): 72 watts
- Unit is factory set for 100V, 120V or 220-240VAC operation for original destination country's mains voltage.
- Operating Mains Voltage changeable with power transformer changeover switch and fuse value change.
- Mains Voltage Frequency: 50~ 60Hz

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 909-627-4256
Web: https://www.manley.com/service

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (1 ratings)
Submitted November 13, 2018 by Larry Gaab in Chico, CA

"Great for mixing, mastering and sound design. Easy to use."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This is the greatest product. Even without using the EQ settings, just running your audio through the Massive Passive makes you music and sound even better. The eq adjustments are very easy to use and are friendly to your audio. The adjustments don't in any way add it's own color to your music. So, you can radically adjust the shape and balance of your music. I am a self-taught engineer and composer and the Massive EQ has been the greatest asset in my studio. It always creates a musical result! Looking at the Massive Passive it seems to have limited controls, but after using this kickass EQ for a long time, you realize that it can do limitless adjustments to music and sound. It truly makes EQing very intuitive and spontaneous, and music making less of an effort. Unlike other eqs. Worth every penny!Great for mixing, mastering, and sound design.Wonderful, unequaled product. Very highly recommended.

Sound
Very natural organic, tube EQ that does not color the sound or music, just makes it more musical.

Features
Easy to use. Infinite possibilities for sound sculpting and Mastering.

Ease of Use
Fear not. It is intuitive and makes music making fun.

Quality
Absolutely top quality and the best customer support.

Value
Expensive product to some, but you get what you pay for. Music making is easier and more fun and this product creates read more inspiration as you use it.

Manufacturer Support
Easy to reach and you can talk directly to the techs and others there who will help you.

The Wow Factor
I can't think of being without it. Would a guitarist live without his/her guitar?

Musical Background:
Playing and writing music for decades. Play guitars, but mostly synths for a long time.

Musical Style:
Electronic, ambient, Electroacoustic, Acousmatic.
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