The Manley 440 Watt Monoblock was the predecessor to the Manley 500W. It was built from 1994 to 1996. Features and specs are pretty similar to the current 500W model.

Both the circuit design and the selected componentry were refined over years and years of development. Reliability that you can depend upon combined with musical accuracy and emotional authority is what these amplifiers promise- and deliver. They are able to switch operation modes allowing the listener to choose between the sonically seductive qualities of triode and the more powerful tetrode configuration. We use big, beefy reservoir capacitors in the high voltage supplies giving plenty of instant energy for dynamic performance of transient peaks and bass impact and weight which often exceeds that of rival solid-state amplifiers. We run high voltages on the plates of the output tubes but operate them at lower current which will result in their longer life.

To avoid a heavy power drain when the cold amplifier is first switched on, we conceived a "Soft-Start" mode which also functions as an "Ever-Warm" position allowing the amplifiers to be always warmed up for pleasurable listening. Although each output tube has its own bias-adjust. we carefully fit each amplifier with computer-batched tubes for optimum performance. The FEEDBACK control featured on the 440 watt model changes overall feedback which affects the gain and slew rate of the amplifier while the SLOPE control changes the super-sonic roll-off point allowing the user to optimize the amplifier-speaker interface. For more information about the variable feedback feature of this amp, read "Notes on Negative Feedback".

The 440 used the Mercury Magnetics MAGIC output transformer until Manley Labs set up its own in-house transformer winding facility.

In our own in-house magnetics department, our R&D team completely redesigned all of our output transformers in 1998 with the goal to reclaim that luscious rich mid-range of our vintage designs. We also specifically set out to achieve a deeper bottom register at higher power with lower distortion. Hours and hours of listening tests, measurements, and fine-tuning brought an exciting and stunning result to our ears. We hope you will agree. Welcome to the New Manley Reference highest powered amplifiers!

A satisfied customer wrote to us about his 440's:

''Bass performance is astonishing in either tetrode or triode mode. It is deeper and fuller with more bloom and extension, while at the same time being faster and tighter than my solid state units. The lower midrange to deep bass is seamless and lends a satisfying richness to the musical content as a whole. From Paul Chambers' acoustic bass to Peter Gabriel's megabass, wow !

As great as the bass is, the midrange is killer. It has a smoothness and richness which is just breathtaking. Gobs of detail, with crisp attack. and long decay notes defining spatial imaging beyond expectation. The high end is even more extended and lacks the grain and edge of solid state amps. It is sweeter and more detailed. Listening sessions last a long time. Friends won't go home! Thanks again for a great product at a great price. Best regards, Geoffrey Wyshak"