Manley Massive Passive Mastering

Essential Information About the Manley Massive Passive Mastering Tube Passive Equalizer

• Precise recall of settings thanks to mechanical detent potentiometers (16 positions) for GAIN and BANDWIDTH, plus a detented Master Gain Trim at 0.5 dB steps from -2.5 to +2.5 dB per channel.
• Legendary musicality of a tube passive equalizer in parallel topology, with Baxandall curves and ultra-natural wide bell shapes.
• Dedicated Mastering filters (LP/HP) reconfigured, with very steep slopes up to 36 dB/oct to clean without altering the program.
• Reference-level performance: +37 dBv max level, 120 dB dynamic range, frequency response 8 Hz-60 kHz (+/-2 dB), and boost/cut range of +/-11 dB.

The Mastering Version, Heir to the Reference Massive Passive

The Massive Passive redefined the color and transparency of tube passive equalizers. The "Mastering" version retains this musical character while adding what studios seek: reliable recall, perfectly matched channels, and redesigned filters to work on the full program with pinpoint accuracy.

Designed for Mastering, Formidable on the Mix Bus

Ideal for mastering engineers and stereo bus processing, it excels in broad and coherent adjustments, tonal balance corrections, and transient shaping without a "processed sound." The mechanical detents allow settings to be recorded and reproduced, ensuring consistency across versions, recalls, and revisions.

Features and Innovations Serving the Sound

Uncompromising recall: The detented GAIN and BANDWIDTH controls (16 positions) allow repeatability while preserving the intentional interaction between gain and bandwidth. The maximum amplitude is calibrated for mastering: +/-11 dB, with values varying according to bandwidth (widest bell ~= 6 dB, narrowest Baxandall ~= 12 dB). The frequency selector is detented (Grayhill).

Tube passive architecture: passive processing, tube line drivers, and parallel topology for curves that blend musically. Bands can overlap without artificially summing, avoiding clipping while remaining natural.

Dedicated Mastering filters: high-pass and low-pass filters retuned, flatter before the action zone, for surgical cleaning of the low end and ultra-high frequencies. Slopes are very steep to clear space without affecting the music.

Technical Specifications

Connectivity and Levels

• Balanced inputs and outputs via XLR and stereo 6.35 mm jacks (accept unbalanced connections).
• Nominal level: +4 dBu, internal micro-switches provided for -10 use.
• Bypass function bypassing equalizers and tube circuits.

Equalization and Behavior

• Fully passive frequency equalizer, symmetrical parallel topologies.
• 44 frequencies (approximately spaced by a quarter octave).
• Frequency range of action: 22 Hz to 27 kHz.
• Boost/cut range: maximum +/-11 dB.
• Nominal bandwidth (Q): 1.5 to 3 (active in Baxandall modes).
• Each band configurable as bell or Baxandall, overlapping frequencies possible.
• Detented GAIN and BANDWIDTH controls (16 positions) with step size varying according to bandwidth.
• Indicative amplitudes according to bandwidth: widest bell ~= 6 dB; narrowest Baxandall ~= 12 dB.
• Detented FREQUENCY selector with Grayhill contacts.

Filters

• High-pass filters: OFF, 12, 16, 23, 30, 39 Hz.
• Low-pass filters: OFF, 52 k, 40 k, 27 k, 20 k, 15 kHz.
• Typical slopes on the Mastering version: 18 dB/oct (52 kHz to 30 dB/oct); very steep slopes up to 36 dB/oct depending on use.
• New settings better tuned for mastering (flatter before the correction zone).

Audio Performance

• Frequency response: +/-2 dB from 8 Hz to 60 kHz.
• Maximum output level at 1.5% THD: +37 dBv; +26 dBv at 20 Hz.
• THD + noise (1 kHz at +4 dBu): 0.06%.
• Noise floor (reference +4 dBu): -85 dB (A-weighted).
• Dynamic range: 120 dB.

Electronics and Power Supply

• Tubes: 2 x 12AU7, 4 x 6414.
• Very high-quality components at all stages.
• Power consumption (120/240 VAC): 72 W.
• Factory set for 100 V, 120 V, or 220-240 VAC depending on destination country.
• Mains voltage adjustable via power transformer selector (with fuse change).
• Mains frequency: 50-60 Hz.
• Fine gain adjustments via Grayhill 11-position selectors (0.5 dB steps) over a range of -2.5 to +2.5 dB.

Format and Weight

• 3U rack format: 483 mm (19 inches) x 133 mm x 254 mm.
• Weight: 9.5 kg; shipping weight: 12.2 kg.