MANLEY LABORATORIES is the only authorized user of the original Western Electric passive EQ circuitry previously licensed to Pulse Techniques Inc. found in the well-known (and still sought after in the used market) antique Pultecs. EQ may be set to "flat" positions or BYPASSED entirely.
People often ask us if our Pultec EQ's sound like the old ones to which we reply, "Yes! But better! The originals had three transformers in the signal path whereas ours can be used completely transformerless. Our Manley Enhanced Pultec has a vastly superior B+ power supply, with regulated and balanced heater supply. Our line amp is known to be killer-sounding. The components we use today just weren't available 20 years ago. So, if you want a project with crackling carbon pots, dirty open frame wafer switches, 5% and 10% tolerance noisy carbon resistors, exposed tubes sticking out the back of the 3U chassis, etc., go pay top dollar for an antique Pultec!"
All BOOST and CUT controls are continuously variable conductive plastic potentiometers for absolutely silent operation and long life. Our single rack unit monoblocks occupy one-third of the space of the "antique Pultecs", an important consideration for allocation of outboard rack space. The rear mounted input switch selects 0 degrees or 180 degrees PHASE INVERT for the balanced gold pin XLR input or the transformerless unbalanced bridging input (1/4" jack) may be selected.
Kick drum? Bring on the Pultecs! You'll soon discover the power and magic of having those individual Low Frequency BOOST and CUT controls in that LF shelf circuit... Need a little clarity or extension? Try that middle bell-shaped Boost dialing in the sharpness of the boost on the BANDWIDTH control. Something bugging you? Ease it off with the HF shelf control. You'll see. There's no substitute for a Pultec!
The Langevin unit works the same way as the Manley unit but instead has an ALL-DISCRETE make-up gain amplifier with both balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs-- all completely transformerless. It is known to have an incredibly sweet top end.
SPECIFICATIONS
Same passive EQ section as the Manley version
TRANSFORMERLESS
PHASE REVERSE switch
BYPASS switch
Silent conductive plastic BOOST & CUT controls
Sealed gold-contact Grayhill frequency select switches
BALANCED ins & outs via Gold XLR connectors
UNBALANCED ins & outs via 1/4" jacks
Frequency Response: ±0 dB 10 Hz to 60 KHz
<0.04% THD @ 1KHz
S/N Ratio: 99 dB
Adjustable FEEDBACK / GAIN: -2 dB to 12 dB
Max. output (into 600 Ohm load): +22 dBm
Max. output (into 10,000 Ohm load): +28 dBv
Power Consumption (120/240 VAC): 12 watts
Factory set for 100V, 120V or 220-240VAC operation for original destination country's mains voltage.
Operating Mains Voltage changeable with power transformer changeover switch and fuse value change.
Mains Voltage Frequency: 50~ 60Hz
Dimensions: 19" X 1 3/4" X 10" (occupies 1u)
Shipping Weight: 11 lbs.
Specifications subject to change because they just might.
OWNER'S MANUAL
LANGEVIN FAQs
We frequently get asked a number of questions regarding Langevin, including the proper pronunciation of the name. (the 'g' is soft like in 'gelatin' or 'orange').
Langevin was one of the original pro audio manufacturers dating back to WWII. In that era there were far fewer audio manufacturers and Langevin gear was very popular and especially respected in the broadcast industry. There were very few recording studios then and most of them relied on Langevin, Altec, Fairchild, and other great brands as well as home-made gear. Early Langevin equipment was vacuum tube based and later became mostly discrete transistor based. Today, you can often find vintage Langevin pieces still in use after all this time.
Are these the exact same circuits as the vintage pieces?
The mic preamplifier and EQ borrow some ideas from the old circuits but are not identical at all. We designed new gain blocks to deal with the balanced/unbalanced saga better than they used to in the olden days. And of course, we use new parts! Transistors, pots and most components have become significantly improved over the last 30 years. The limiter is a blend of the old discrete style of Langevin discrete and the also vintage 'LA' series of Levelling Amplifiers. Manley developed a similar opto-based limiter and has used it in the Manley ELOP® Limiter, Langevin ELOP® Limiter, Langevin Dual Vocal Combo, and the VOXBOX® limiter / de-esser section.
What's the difference between a Manley Pultec or ELOP® Limiter and a Langevin one?
The Manley units are all-tube while the Langevin units have all-discrete make up gain amplifiers. The EQ or limiting and metering sections are all the same Manley-to-Langevin. Your choice becomes between the sound of discrete transistor cicuitry in the Langevin gear or vacuum tubes with and without transformers in the Manley gear. Different flavours, but all build side-by-side with all high quality parts and reliable construction techniques at the Manley Labs factory.
Do we support any of the vintage Langevin products?
Sorry, no. We just bought the name and rights to use any of the old circuits. We didn't build the old stuff and never have had parts or real documentation. The usual experts on vintage gear and restoration are your best bet.