That's a relief!
Sadly they got rid of their review links some time ago. It was on a comparative test along with a Townsend IIRC and some other supports like the big mass loaded one available in those days. It was in 1999 I think.
Thanks for your comments about your Mana. Yes it will make some things sound more dynamic and as you've discovered, that can be a disadvantage with some kit/systems. I had some many years ago now.
Are they still in business?
Not in business any more.
What HiFi during 97 and 98 gave very favorable reviews apparently, but I have been unable to find out about any later reviews, (I cannot get into my own back issues which are pretty extensive, but I was sure the stainless models were also well recieved?).
But regarding reviews, it does seem a little cheeky for magazines to praise equipment so highly, then to dismiss it due to some measurement? (oh it did sound superb, but we found out why it sounds that way, and we and don't like it no more?), or other detail they were unaware of. Surely if it sounded good it sounds good?
I liked the sound before I knew anything about what or why, and after all thats said and done, I still like what it can do.
I think Mana deserves some respect for being a small company and doing something which brought a lot of enjoyment to many, as well as being one of the more consistently well reviewed brands of the 90's. Sure some were unimpressed, others made poor decissions buying it, but a majority of reviewers and users were very pleased.
I guess a lot of people will always buy whats recommended by friends or well reviewed by magazines, without a clue about listening to it, as your previous Mana user seems to have done? But that is the nature of the beast so to speak, either home dem, or purchase and find out yourself, experiment etc etc. One mans meat etc.
I get a little annoyed at racks, now that I have kids and less space and time on my hands. Sadly to my ears, Mana improves my system, I do not think this means my system is poor, but it sounds that little bit less involving and dynamic if placed on anything else I have. If I had never heard or used Mana.......
(Otherwise I would have all my kit in a lockable unit capable of having a Plasma TV on top)
I think this is one of the reasons I like Chord cables also, Chord cables seem to work well and do what they say on the tin with top to bottom coherence and consistency, within a variety of systems. As to my ears do Mana. They are not the best products in the world, but reasonable good value purchases, with long term usability and good resale value. Perfect for a working man with a variety of systems and musical taste (mostly rather poor)
Like anything else in life, your own opinion should judge your purchase, not peer pressure or reviews. Otherwise we would all own the latest Hard Fi or Amy Winehouse albums which are currently number 1 and 2 in the album charts so therefor must be superb
I should mention the kit I usually have on the Mana.
Michell Gyro SE/QC Turntable with SME IV and Ortofon Rohmann, XLO reference tonearm lead to Phono. Ringmat.
Theta Data III CD transport. Chord Chorus AES/EBU to Genesis.
Sonic Frontiers SFP-1 valve Phono stage. Chord Chorus RCA tp pre.
Krell KRC 3 Pre amp. Chord Anthem 2m XLR to power amp.
(Sometimes Chorus RCA with the Kef Kube).
Genesis Digital Lense, Between Transport and DAC. Chord Chorus AES/EBU to DAC.
Theta Pro Basic IIIa DAC. Chord Anthem XLR to pre.
All above on the custom Mana stand in the above order. Turntable used to be on a Reference table before the kids came along.
Krell KAV250 power amp. This sits on a Reference Table.
KEF R-107 loudspeakers. Chord Signature speaker cable 4.5m.
Another small Mana table for DVD and LD.
All power cables are RA. with RA power blocks (plain, no filters etc).
Most of this is quite old as you can see, but I am quite happy with most of it (and have heard plenty of newer more expensive and up to date equivalents).
The Kef are sort of being re-furbished. I should re-build/upgrade the Phono stage, Rohmann needs replaced, maybe service the TT. I prefered the Krell power to the Nu-Vista 300, in this room, as it is far quieter and the images don't seem larger than life, and it seems to stop and start that little bit quicker.I miss the sound of the Audio Research pre amps and I am not too bothered about the Krell pre sound, its fine but I like valves and I am interested in the MF passive also.
I have been tempted as I say with Digital EQ, and also Townsend Speaker platforms, but would like to find out more about these products and how they would work within my system.
(At the moment trying to find out more about my R-107 crossovers and the ability to fit Raal 70-10D drivers, IF I can fund this and the wife agrees?)
?
haven't heared of carl jenkins OR the song!
