The MANLEY REFERENCE HDCD DIGlTAL TO ANALOGUE CONVERTER is a totally dual
mono concept in its vacuum tube analogue and power supply sections. The GOLD
plated digital board features TWO custom built fully differential 20 bit
ULTRAANALOG converter units combined with the ULTRAANALOG AES-21 monolithic
jitter reduction circuitry plus the Pacific Microsonics HDCD decoder /
processor and filter unit. Besides decoding HDCD recordings to their fullest
potential, we proved by careful listening and measurement that Dr. Keith
Johnson's input filter design provided superior resolution on all available
digital material.Jitter content is lower than 20 picoseconds peak-to-peak (8
picoseconds RMS) with a -14dB, 1K input over most of the audio range. After
numerous listening tests, and much feedback from existing clients we
developed a special topology for the vacuum tube analogue line amplifier: a
fully differential input circuitry driving our favorite high current totem
pole output stage. Both single-ended capacitor coupled unbalanced outputs
and balanced transformer coupled outputs are provided.
In the final analysis this combination of leading edge technology and design
delivers what we set out to achieve: a truly musical converter that sounds
like the best of analogue with complete freedom from annoying digital
artifacts.
