Manley SHRIMP - Manual (Page 3)

INTRODUCTION
THANK YOU!...
for choosing the Manley "SHRIMP" PREAMPLIFIER. You have possibly chosen this product because you
auditioned it in a store or heard it at a hi-fi show and were impressed with the sound. It may have been the right
combination of price, power, features and styling for you. It may have been because you know the Manley Labs
reputation for quality, reliability and integrity. If any or all of these were the reasons, you made a good choice and for
that, we thank you.
The SHRIMP shares key outward features found in many of its counterparts both past and present. It is a two-channel
single-ended line level control preamplifier with five sets of stereo inputs, and two sets of paralleled stereo line
outputs. A five position input selector switch routes the chosen signal directly to the first amplifier tube’s control
grid. Amplified signals, boosted about 4 times [11.8 dB] are then fed through special high quality NOBLE stereo
variable attenuators, known for their stability, long life, ease of servicing and good inter-channel level tracking
characteristics. This is followed by a similarly appealing set of high quality NOBLE stereo balance potentiometers.
The attenuator network output is then fed to a special White-follower output stage. This output circuit has been a
favourite of ours for many years mainly due to the stage’s inherently low output impedance, simplicity, wide
bandwidth, ease of drive, modest feedback requirements and graceful overload characteristics. Ordinarily, the typical
SHRIMP user would not ever begin to approach the limits of this output stage under normal line and loading
circumstances.
High quality polypropylene dielectric film-and-foil capacitors have been employed at all signal-coupling points in the
circuit along with two extravagant 30 microfarad metalized monsters coupling the output stage signals to the output
RCA jacks. These are all MultiCaps made by our buddy Bas Lim at Rel Cap. We know you would rather listen to
superior capacitors such as these over some cheap electrolytic capacitors like you might find in other gear.
But the MANLEY SHRIMP’s cardinal feature is its uncomplex non-inverting signal path. This minimal signal path
approach is designed to bring unbalanced RCA-type line inputs up to levels suitable for proper drive of downstream
power amplifiers in the simplest and most direct way possible. This is accomplished by using only two active stages,
as described above, through the judicious use of vacuum tubes, whose purpose-designed application in audio
amplification is, as always, pressed to full advantage. By so doing, the endeavor here is to provide the most direct,
uncolored, quiet and wide-band signal path possible so that the native character of the chosen source material may be
heard without encumbrances from a set of imposed limitations brought on by the preamp. In this spirit, there are no
provisions for balanced inputs or outputs. Since the whole guts of the Shrimp is inherently single-ended, adding
balanced I/O would require additional circuitry, transformers, or IC's which would inevitably color the sound.
Please read over this entertaining and enjoyable owner's manual carefully as it contains information essential
to the proper operation and maximum enjoyment of this instrument.
Thank you again, and please enjoy your new Shrimp! (and the clever Owner's Manual.)
UNPACKING: Unpack the amplifier carefully and make sure that all supplied accessories are present. Carefully
examine all items for any possibility of shipping damage. All four tubes should be standing at attention in their
sockets, and should show no signs of distress such as chipped glass, loose internal components or obvious breakage.
If the preamplifier is damaged or fails to operate, notify the shipper or your dealer or us or your local authorities
immediately. Or if you suspect The Shipping People threw it off the airplane and onto your front porch whilst flying
overhead at 30,000 feet, notify the shipping company without delay and complain to them as we only guarantee this
unit to be able to survive a drop of 23,487 feet or less.
Your SHRIMP was packed by Manny Q. with extreme love and includes the following components and accessories:
a) 1 each, 6 foot IEC 3-conductor power cable
(that you will probably replace with an expensive audiophile cord anyway.)
b) 1 each, Owner’s Manual (that we hope you will keep reading.)
It is prudent to retain the shipping materials for future use, as they are custom-formed for the preamp and
will greatly minimize the chance of shipping-related damage should you ever need to put your precious
Shrimp in the careless hands of The Shipping People again.
3