The Manley CORE Reference Channel Strip, a true marvel in the world of sound, stands as an ode to the art of sonic mastery. It beckons to a bygone era, where vacuum tubes cast a golden spell upon each note, infusing them with the warmth of an ancient hearth. This is not mere equipment; it's a symphony conductor, orchestrating melodies with a timeless, vintage elegance.

In the heart of the CORE, a tube-driven preamp breathes life into sound, painting it with strokes of nostalgia. Yet, it's more than a journey through time; it's a testament to the enduring allure of analog. With its meticulously crafted EQ and compression tools, it becomes a poet's quill, allowing musicians and producers to craft verses of audio with precision and passion. The Manley CORE Reference Channel Strip, an analog maestro in a digital world, offers a canvas where sonic dreams come to life, a treasure trove for those who seek the ethereal beauty of sound captured in the most poetic of ways.

Building upon its 25-year legacy producing revered recording studio equipment, Manley Labs has distilled its CORE technologies from this lineage. 2014 delivers the Manley CORE, an innovative channel strip that combines Manley’s Greatest Hits with fresh technology. The remarkably intuitive front panel combines musical and forgiving circuitry that allows the musician to concentrate on his performance instead of being lost in a sea of knobs. Ease of use and intelligently chosen operating points make it virtually impossible to cut a bad sounding track!

Manley’s experience and insight working with the industry’s top recording engineers and musicians culminates in the CORE. At this price, there is no other channel-strip with higher headroom or more seductive sound than the CORE. Handcrafted in the USA, built like a tank, built to endure, the epicenter of your recorded art will be the Manley CORE.

MIC and LINE PREAMPLIFIER:

The signal enters through our renowned hand-wound MANLEY IRON® input transformer with nickel laminations in a mu-metal can. The tube amplifying stage is the latest implementation of our famous Class A circuit topology found in the VOXBOX® and Manley Dual Mono & Mono Microphone Preamplifiers. This all-triode vacuum tube circuit runs on a regulated 300 Volt B+ supply yielding huge headroom and relentless output drive capability.

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS:

• 48V Phantom power switch
• 120Hz High Pass Filter switch
• Phase Invert switch
• Input Attenuator (Variable Pad)
• Mic Pre Selectable Gain 40dB or 60dB
• Line Amp Selectable Gain 20dB or 40dB
• 1/4" DIRECT INPUT 

Similar to the DI in the Manley SLAM!®, this all-discrete solid-state circuit with 10 Meg Ohm input impedance is perfect for guitars, bass, keyboards, etc.

COMPRESSOR:

• Featuring our successful ELOP® technology also found in our famous Manley VOXBOX®
• Compressor is uniquely before the Mic Preamp making it virtually impossible to clip
• Ratio 3:1
• Continuously variable Attack, Release, and Threshold controls
• Silent Bypass switch

EQUALIZER:

• Low and High Baxandall Shelves (80Hz and 12kHz) with ±12dB range
• Sweepable Midrange Bell EQ (100Hz – 1kHz) or (1kHz – 10kHz) with ±10dB range

LIMITER:

• Fast attack FET “brickwall” limiter
• Continuously Variable Threshold and Release controls
• Peak Limit LED indicator
• 10dB range output gain control

METER:

• Large illuminated analog display
• 3-way meter-select switch shows Compressor Gain Reduction, Micpre Output Level, and Main Output audio levels.

INPUTS AND OUTPUTS:

• Balanced XLR Mic Input
• Balanced XLR Line Input
• Front Panel Direct Instrument 1/4" Input
• Insert point between Mic Preamp and EQ/Limiter via ¼” TRS jack
• Balanced XLR Direct Output (after Preamp/Compressor section)
• Balanced XLR Main Output

Deluxe CNC-machined 1/4" thick faceplate with inlaid laser-engraved inserts adorn the rigid 2U steel chassis – all locally sourced in Southern California.

Free 3-Year Warranty

Sound Pure stands behind our products. Free three-year warranty on this item. Coverage exclusions live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.

Level of support and expertise that simply isn't available at big-box megastores. Read the warranty →

Returns

This item is not eligible for the Try-Before-You-Buy 48-hour audition. Standard return policy applies — see Terms & Conditions, Section 18 for details.