INTRODUCTION
THANK YOU!...
...for choosing a Manley Laboratories REFERENCE SERIES MICROPHONE.
This manual covers the following models: Reference Cardioid, Reference Mono
Gold, and Reference Stereo Gold.
GENERAL NOTES
Manley microphones will beat all others on grounds of sheer naturalness of
sound without coloration or perceivable sonic signature. The design is optimized
for extremely wide frequency response and exceptionally accurate transient
response.
Visually impressive, the Mics inspire confidence in artists and producers. The
Reference Gold’s microphone body is machined from brass providing excellent
shielding properties, polished to a high lustre, then plated with 24 karat gold
for an impressive finish. The Reference Cardioid has a classic black anodized
aluminum casing. We have chosen a very open weave stainless-steel grille for
the capsule window for zero-loss acoustical transmission. You may notice the
that the capsule will move slightly when the Microphone is moved. This is a
second defense to prevent unwanted vibrations from being picked up by the
capsule. The capsule itself is mounted onto a neoprene-rubber shock-mount such
as those used for aerospace gyroscopes.
The Manley Gold Reference Multi-Pattern Microphones use our own design of
large diaphragm capsule (1.25 inch overall, 1 inch diaphragm diameter) which
are executed to precise tolerances made possible by modern micro-milling
machinery available today in California. The capsule rings and back-plates
are milled from solid brass and are mounted on Teflon insulator rings. The
gold diaphragm film comes from Germany and is tensioned using proprietary
techniques which ensures capsule-to-capsule constancy. We have found the 5
micron gauge gold film to exhibit inherently stable characteristics over years
(unlike thinner diaphragms) while still maintaining the speed, “air”, and ultra-
high frequency response. (The Reference Cardioid uses 6 micron on its one
“live” side.)
The tube electronics found in the Manley Reference Series Microphones consist
of two triodes per capsule in cascade forming an entire gain-block. The tube
employed is a dual-triode 12AT7, easily obtainable and replaceable, mounted in
a ceramic socket with pure silver pins. The output is coupled through a custom
built output transformer of unparalleled quality and substantial physical size
employing pure nickel laminations, “humbucking” bi-filar windings, all encased
in mu-metal. The polar pattern control is continuously variable between the
OMNI, CARDIOID, and FIGURE 8 positions on the Gold series.
The base of both the Reference Gold and the Reference Cardioid microphones
houses a 6-pin connector which carries power and signal between the power
supply and the mic itself. The audio is picked off at the supply, and then
delivered to the mic pre via an XLR output.
Our precision suspension system is provided with each REFERENCE
MICROPHONE. Because the entire working “guts” of the microphone may
be removed for service in one piece from the housing, it is envisioned that the
microphone need not be removed from the suspension. We also provide a very
useful swivel of our own design with every microphone; its T-bar handle and
locking clutch action require no tools to adjust.
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