- Details
- Features
- Tech Specs
*Please note -- This pre-owned item may show signs of use. Please refer to the photos for details of the product.
Manley Variable Mu®, the gold standard in tube compression
The Manley Variable Mu® Limiter Compressor has defined professional stereo buss compression since 1994. This all-tube, transformer-coupled design utilizes the remote cut-off technique—re-biasing vacuum tubes to achieve gain reduction—delivering smooth, musical compression that unifies mix elements without audible artifacts. With custom hand-wound Manley transformers featuring nickel laminations and a fully differential signal path, the Variable Mu® provides exceptional transparency across its 20 Hz to 25 kHz frequency response.
| Product Name | Manley Variable Mu Stereo Limiter Compressor with T Bar Mod |
|---|---|
| Brand | Manley Labs |
| Condition | Pre-Owned |
| MPN | MSLCHP |
| UPC | 890833000724 |
| Shipping Option | Free Shipping to the Continental U.S. |
What's in the Box?
- Manley Variable Mu Stereo Limiter Compressor with T Bar Mod
- All-tube, transformer-coupled design using remote cut-off tube technology
- Musical compression with Compression (1.5:1) and Limit (up to 20:1) modes
- Custom Manley IRON® transformers with nickel laminations in mu-metal cases
- Hand-assembled in California to this day
- The "T-Bar" mod is a factory modification that replaces the 5670 variable gain tube with four 6BA6 tubes. This modification provides an even smoother limiting curve, more gain, and a sound that is even closer to that of a highly-coveted vintage limiting amplifier. This modification is standard on all modern Variable Mu units, providing an enhanced sonic experience.
| Input & Output Transformers | MANLEY input & output transformers with nickel laminations in mu-metal cases with flat frequency response from 20Hz-25KHz |
| Balanced Inputs & Outputs | 600 Ohms |
| Circuitry | Fully differential ALL-TUBE circuitry |
| Variable Gain Vacuum Tube | 5670 x2 Standard or 6BA6 x4 T-BAR Mod |
| Amplifying Vacuum Tubes | 5751 or 12AX7 x2 |
| Output Vacuum Tubes (Current Production Since 4/2016) | 12BH7 x2 |
| Output Vacuum Tubes (Prior to MSLC94006) | 7044 or 5687 x2 |
| Side Chain Rectifier Diodes | 12AL5 x2 |
| Power Supplies | Independently regulated B+ and Heater supplies |
| Bypass | Hardwire BYPASS switch |
| Input Attenuator | Stepped switch INPUT attenuator as of 10/2011 (older units use Silent dual-ganged potentiometer) |
| Recovery | 5 steps: 0.2s, 0.4s, 0.6s, 4sec., 8sec. |
| Attack | Variable: 25msec-70msec |
| Threshold | Continuously variable |
| Compression Modes | LIMIT (4:1 to 20:1) or COMPRESS (1.5 to 1) |
| HP SC | High Pass Side Chain Filter -3dB @ 100Hz |
| Meters | Large illuminated Sifam meters (Older units before serial MSLC61642 shipped before 12/2003 use 26V 1.2W Festoon lamps; Manley's Part Number VAR016B. Units after MSLC61642 shipped after 12/2003 use white LED lighting) |
| Stereo Link | Stereo Link Switch - Several units can be linked for Surround (custom order) |
| Maximum Gain | 35dB |
| Maximum Output | +30dBu (26Vrms), 26dB Headroom |
| THD | <0.1% @ 1KHz |
| Noise Floor | -85dB typical |
| Power Consumption | 80 watts (120/240VAC) |
| Factory Voltage Setting | 100V, 120V or 220-240VAC operation for original destination country's mains voltage |
| Voltage Change | Operating mains voltage changeable with power transformer changeover switch and fuse value change |
| Mains Fuse Value (100~120VAC) | 1.25A as of 10/2011 |
| Mains Fuse Value (220~240VAC) | 0.6A (600mA) as of 10/2011 |
| Mains Fuse Type | MDA or MDL SLO-BLO Time delay 1 1/4" x 1/4" |
| Mains Voltage Frequency | 50~60Hz |
| Dimensions | 19” x 3 1/2” x 10” (chassis occupies 2U). Power transformer protrudes 3.5" out the back of the chassis. |
| Shipping Weight | 23 lbs. |
Manley Variable Mu Stereo Limiter Compressor with T Bar Mod
Details
*Please note -- This pre-owned item may show signs of use. Please refer to the photos for details of the product.
Manley Variable Mu®, the gold standard in tube compression
The Manley Variable Mu® Limiter Compressor has defined professional stereo buss compression since 1994. This all-tube, transformer-coupled design utilizes the remote cut-off technique—re-biasing vacuum tubes to achieve gain reduction—delivering smooth, musical compression that unifies mix elements without audible artifacts. With custom hand-wound Manley transformers featuring nickel laminations and a fully differential signal path, the Variable Mu® provides exceptional transparency across its 20 Hz to 25 kHz frequency response.
| Product Name | Manley Variable Mu Stereo Limiter Compressor with T Bar Mod |
|---|---|
| Brand | Manley Labs |
| Condition | Pre-Owned |
| MPN | MSLCHP |
| UPC | 890833000724 |
What's in the Box?
Manley Variable Mu Stereo Limiter Compressor with T Bar Mod
Features
- All-tube, transformer-coupled design using remote cut-off tube technology
- Musical compression with Compression (1.5:1) and Limit (up to 20:1) modes
- Custom Manley IRON® transformers with nickel laminations in mu-metal cases
- Hand-assembled in California to this day
- The "T-Bar" mod is a factory modification that replaces the 5670 variable gain tube with four 6BA6 tubes. This modification provides an even smoother limiting curve, more gain, and a sound that is even closer to that of a highly-coveted vintage limiting amplifier. This modification is standard on all modern Variable Mu units, providing an enhanced sonic experience.
Tech Specs
| Input & Output Transformers | MANLEY input & output transformers with nickel laminations in mu-metal cases with flat frequency response from 20Hz-25KHz |
| Balanced Inputs & Outputs | 600 Ohms |
| Circuitry | Fully differential ALL-TUBE circuitry |
| Variable Gain Vacuum Tube | 5670 x2 Standard or 6BA6 x4 T-BAR Mod |
| Amplifying Vacuum Tubes | 5751 or 12AX7 x2 |
| Output Vacuum Tubes (Current Production Since 4/2016) | 12BH7 x2 |
| Output Vacuum Tubes (Prior to MSLC94006) | 7044 or 5687 x2 |
| Side Chain Rectifier Diodes | 12AL5 x2 |
| Power Supplies | Independently regulated B+ and Heater supplies |
| Bypass | Hardwire BYPASS switch |
| Input Attenuator | Stepped switch INPUT attenuator as of 10/2011 (older units use Silent dual-ganged potentiometer) |
| Recovery | 5 steps: 0.2s, 0.4s, 0.6s, 4sec., 8sec. |
| Attack | Variable: 25msec-70msec |
| Threshold | Continuously variable |
| Compression Modes | LIMIT (4:1 to 20:1) or COMPRESS (1.5 to 1) |
| HP SC | High Pass Side Chain Filter -3dB @ 100Hz |
| Meters | Large illuminated Sifam meters (Older units before serial MSLC61642 shipped before 12/2003 use 26V 1.2W Festoon lamps; Manley's Part Number VAR016B. Units after MSLC61642 shipped after 12/2003 use white LED lighting) |
| Stereo Link | Stereo Link Switch - Several units can be linked for Surround (custom order) |
| Maximum Gain | 35dB |
| Maximum Output | +30dBu (26Vrms), 26dB Headroom |
| THD | <0.1% @ 1KHz |
| Noise Floor | -85dB typical |
| Power Consumption | 80 watts (120/240VAC) |
| Factory Voltage Setting | 100V, 120V or 220-240VAC operation for original destination country's mains voltage |
| Voltage Change | Operating mains voltage changeable with power transformer changeover switch and fuse value change |
| Mains Fuse Value (100~120VAC) | 1.25A as of 10/2011 |
| Mains Fuse Value (220~240VAC) | 0.6A (600mA) as of 10/2011 |
| Mains Fuse Type | MDA or MDL SLO-BLO Time delay 1 1/4" x 1/4" |
| Mains Voltage Frequency | 50~60Hz |
| Dimensions | 19” x 3 1/2” x 10” (chassis occupies 2U). Power transformer protrudes 3.5" out the back of the chassis. |
| Shipping Weight | 23 lbs. |
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