High Voltage = High Headroom = High Fidelity.
From America's premier high-end studio gear manufacturer, the Manley FORCE contains four channels of real High Voltage vacuum tube microphone preamplifiers extracted from the hugely popular and award winning Manley CORE®, housed in an exquisitely gorgeous chassis, and meticulously hand-crafted in California.
A FORCE of Nature.
Your relationship with the FORCE begins with the ergonomic facia through its thoughtfully organized controls, silky and bulletproof rotary potentiometers, positive latching feature switches, and convenient Direct Input 1/4" jacks. Seven-way LED metering for each channel provides instant visible feedback for audio levels which are enhanced with a double-inlay CNC-milled accent. A feast for the eyes, yeah, we know. This is investment grade audio equipment that you will be as proud to showcase in your studio as we are to handcraft it here in Southern California.
A Sonic Tour de FORCE.
Your microphone signals enter through gold-plated XLR connectors straight into our MANLEY IRON® Mic input transformer. Your line level or instrument level guitars and keyboards come in via the front panel 1/4" Hi-Z 10 megOhm jacks before hitting the input level control which also acts as a Variable Input Pad. Phase Reverse and 120Hz High Pass filters can be invoked here in the circuit and then we're into the 12AX7 dual triode amplifying stage operating in pure Class A, of course. The amount of GAIN for each channel can be selected as 40dB or 50dB via the front panel switches. An additional 10dB of gain is available via internal jumpers. The output stage "can drive a truck" as we like to brag.
A Powerful FORCE.
DRIVEN BY MANLEY POWER®
The MANLEY POWER® power supply is an innovative design developed specifically for Manley Labs, specifically for High Voltage vacuum tubes, and specifically for audio by the world expert team in this technology led by Bruno Putzeys. Proven reliable and sonically superior in the Manley CORE®, this power supply provides 300 Volt DC rails to run the vacuum tubes, beefy 6 Volt lines to power them up, along with several other voltage rails for the phantom power and various solid-state control voltages. High Voltage = High Headroom, folks. You will not get near this sonic performance with in any 500-series design. Trust us. This is Full FORCE audio excellence which starts with this superior power supply. All lines are importantly regulated, low impedance, efficient, and super-quiet in this low radiating high frequency design. The universal mains input accepts any voltage or frequency from anywhere in the world making travel with the FORCE a breeze.
A FORCE to be Reckoned With.
How did we deliver all this for just $3K? By prioritizing what really matters: that strong Manley sound, the proven componentry and rugged overbuilt construction, presented in an inspiring package. But engineered to build efficiently and by really paying attention to how it all goes together, proudly built by Manley’s American workFORCE. A Compelling FORCE for you. This is our Driving FORCE. Let us share it with you.
"I have two Forces, and I wish I had two more. I would use as many of these as I had."
Alan Meyerson, Film Scoring Engineer / Mixer
Dune, The Lion King, Thor: Ragnarok, Dunkirk, Inception
DETAILS
EACH CHANNEL FEATURES:
7-Segment LED Peak Metering
Selectable Gain, LOW vs HIGH
120Hz High Pass Filter switch
Phase Invert switch
48V Phantom power switch
Input Attenuator (Variable Pad)
Silent Input Level Control (Variable Input Pad)
1/4" DIRECT INPUT
Similar to the DI in the Manley SLAM!®, and exactly the same as found in the Manley CORE®, this all-discrete solid-state circuit with 10 Meg Ohm input impedance is perfect for guitars, bass, keyboards, etc.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Vacuum Tubes: 4 x 12AX7WA dual triodes
- Balanced Transformer Coupled XLR Microphone Input Impedance: 1250 Ohms
- Unbalanced 1/4" Direct Input Impedance: 10 Meg Ohm
- Maximum Input Mic input (Low Gain Setting): -5 dBu or 435mV RMS @ 0.5% THD
- Maximum Input Mic input (High Gain Setting): -25 dBu or 44mV RMS @ 0.5% THD
- Maximum Input Direct input (Low Gain Setting): +24 dBu or 12V RMS @ 0.5% THD
- Maximum Input Direct input (High Gain Setting): +17 dBu or 5.5V RMS @ 0.5% THD
- Maximum Output (1kHz Sine, into 100 kOhm load, 0.1% THD+N: +35 dBu
- Maximum Output (1kHz Sine, into 100 kOhm load, 0.1% THD+N: 43V RMS
- Maximum Output (1kHz Sine, into 600 Ohms load, 0.1% THD+N): +22 dBm
- Hi-current WFDRIVE Balanced Output Impedance: 50 Ohms
- Output Headroom (referenced to +4 dBu): 31 dB
- Dynamic Range: 118 dB @ LOW GAIN, 100 dB @ HI GAIN
- THD & Noise (1Khz @ +4dBu BW 22Hz-22KHz): 0.004% at Low Gain setting
- THD & Noise (1Khz @ +4dBu BW 22Hz-22KHz): 0.04% at Hi Gain setting
- Noise Floor Micpre (A WGT): - 85dB @ LOW GAIN, -66dB @ HI GAIN
- Signal to Noise Ratio (Ref. to +4dBu): 87dB @ LOW GAIN, 68dB @ HI GAIN
- EIN (22-22kHz BW, A WGT): -129dB with 150 Ohm source impedance @ LO GAIN
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz -0.1dB, +0.3 dB
- Gain via Microphone Input: 40 LOW or 50dB HI GAIN (60dB available via internal jumper)
- Gain via Line Input: 20 or 30dB (40dB available via internal jumper)
- Low Signal Green LED (Output Level): -22 dBu
- High Signal Red LED (Output Level): +24 dBu
- AUTOMUTE warmup delay: 30 seconds
- Power consumption: 36 Watts
- Operating mains voltage: 90 to 254 VAC (internal universal supply)
- Mains Voltage Frequency: 50~60Hz
- Dimensions: 19" x 3 1/2" x 7" (occupies 2u)
- Unit weight: 8.6 lbs.
- Shipping weight: 11.8 lbs.
Specifications subject to change because they just might.
REVIEWS
"I have two Forces, and I wish I had two more. I would use as many of these as I had."
Alan Meyerson, Film Scoring Engineer / Mixer
Dune, The Lion King, Thor: Ragnarok, Dunkirk, Inception
"The headroom of the Force never flinches, with the feeling that it will never distort, while fully respecting the transients (ahh, the analog!)."
- KR Home Studio, December 2018
"Listening back, we all instantly agreed that we had just upped the game…Plug in, push a few buttons, turn a knob and bam—tight, solid and thick sound."
- ProSoundNetwork Review, Nov 2015
"What I like about the Force is that it adds character, feel and attitude to whatever you plug into it. That’s why it has an important place in my production chain."
- “Gear Of The Year”, ProSoundNetwork
"The FORCE flexes plenty of headroom...excellent imaging and detail...it was glorious. Great build quality, stunning looks and ease-of-use...Manley has another winner."
- Steve La Cerra, MIX, November 2016
"Fear not the Force’s comparable affordability…does not represent a compromised Manley product, rather the efficiencies of smart, modern production. Hand-built in California with notable local sourcing, the Force is a guilt-free purchase for the consumer with a conscience."
- Rob Tavaglione, ProSoundNetwork
TIPS 'N' TRICKS
Think of the INPUT LEVEL control more like a Variable Input Pad. Always start with the FORCE in LOW GAIN setting with the Input Level control all the way up. If the signal level is too high, roll back the INPUT control to pad down the input. If you don't have enough gain with the Input Level control all the way up, then go to the HIGH GAIN setting.
What you don't want to do is have the unit in HIGH GAIN with the input pad barely cracked open. That will bring the worst signal to noise ratio condition.
Try not to throw away your level on the INPUT control. Work with it as far up as you can, as a general rule.
FAQ:
Q: Will the inputs on the FORCE take line inputs???
That is a good question. Let's look at the specs which are also listed above:
Balanced Transformer Coupled XLR Microphone Input Impedance: 1250 Ohms
Unbalanced 1/4" Direct Input Impedance: 10 Meg Ohm
Maximum Input Mic input (Low Gain Setting): -5 dBu or 435mV RMS @ 0.5% THD
Maximum Input Mic input (High Gain Setting): -25 dBu or 44mV RMS @ 0.5% THD
Maximum Input Direct input (Low Gain Setting): +24 dBu or 12V RMS @ 0.5% THD
Maximum Input Direct input (High Gain Setting): +17 dBu or 5.5V RMS @ 0.5% THD
So, if you come into the MIC INPUT XLRs you LINE signal will be looking at a relatively low 1250 Ohms and the Maximum level will be only -5dBu or -25dBu (high gain).
While you can pad down in the input signal with the INPUT attenuator, it is better advised to bring LINE level input in through the front panel DI input instead where it will be greeted by a very high friendly input impedance and ability to work with much higher input level than the dedicated MIC Input XLRs.
Q: What are the differences between the mic preamp circuits of the CORE, VOXBOX, and FORCE?
All three designs share the same basic topology of a cascaded pair of triodes direct-coupled into a White Cathode Follower.
Global negative feedback is deployed and GAIN is changed by altering the amount of Global NFB via potentiometers or switched resistors.
The input transformer provides around 20dB of gain while the tube amplifier provides the 20dB to 40dB of amplification.
CORE = closest adherence to the original Mastering Lab preamp schematic which was the inspiration for David Manley's 40dB (Mono) and Dual Mono 1RU units
VOXBOX = David Manley's departure from original Mastering Labs schematic also similar to stand alone Manley 40dB (Mono) and Dual Mono 1RU units
FORCE = input stage same as CORE, output tube replaced with MOSFET version of the same circuit.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
Q: Help I lost a channel!
A: Try exchanging the vacuum tube for that channel with another channel and see if you just have a bad tube. If the problem follows the tube, then you found the problem.
Q: Help two channels are out!
A: It’s highly unlikely that two vacuum tubes conspired to die at the same time, so let’s turn our attention to the DI input jacks. Take a 1/4" T-S or TRS plug and exercise it in and out of the Direct IN jack. There is a switch connection there inside the jack connections and if it goes un-used, sometimes you can lose the signal there.
You can also try cleaning it with some contact cleaner like DeOXIT.
Exercise all those DI jacks while you’re at it!
Q: Help! I still can’t get a channel to work. It is not a tube or the 1/4” jack. What else could it be?
A: It might be the IRF610 MOSFET at the output. Maybe it is a bad connection at the input pot. Contact Tech Support for further help.
Q: LED Meters are showing level when I have no signal running into that channel. What’s wrong?
A: The TL082 IC on the front panel board that drives that channel’s meter driver needs to be replaced. Two channels share one of these 2-channel chips. Contact Tech Support for further help.
RESOURCES
