Page 1
CONTENTS CONTENTSCONTENTS CONTENTS
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 3
MAINS CONNECTIONS 4
CONNECTING YOUR WAVE 5, 6
THE FRONT PANEL 7, 8
THE BACK PANEL 9, 10
THE EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY 10
THE REMOTE CONTROL 11
THE GUTS, TRIMS, SWITCHES, ETC 12
DIP SWITCHES 13
ERRATA 14
FEATURES & CREDITS 15
SPECIFICATIONS 16
TROUBLE SHOOTING 17,18
BLOCK DIAGRAM 19
APPENDIX - WIRING CABLES 20
WARRANTY 21
WARRANTY REGISTRATION 22
SECTION PAGE
Page 2
THANK YOU for choosing the WAVE by MANLEY. You have possibly chosen this product because you auditioned
it in a store or heard it at a HiFi 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 for all eternity.
The WAVE is a unique product combining a killer 24/96 Digital to Analog Converter with a full-featured audiophile
analog vacuum tube preamplifier. It is one of the very few products equally at home as the heart of a professional
Mastering studio facility as it is as the centerpiece of an audiophile home system. The combination of features and
functions came about from analyzing existing systems and finding them functional but lacking in elegance in signal
flow, operational convenience, and synergy. We set out to build something we wanted in our own living rooms,
something that could be upgraded as new standards evolved, and something that could be flexible to work with mixed
balanced, unbalanced, analog, and digital connections. A swiss army knife of sorts...
The initial digital board used in the first generation units, (the "First Waves" as it were) was designed around the
U
LTRA ANALOG 20-bit DAC modules, the AES-21 jitter reduction input module, and the Pacific Microsonics HDCD
decoder. This chipset ruled the 1990's audiophile digital world. In 2002 we commissioned an excellent 24 bit, 96KHz
DAC board design from talented designer Fred Forssell for the second generation units, in current production as of
this writing.
The WAVE accepts four digital inputs in the following formats: AES, SPDIF, TOSLINK, and ST Glass Fiber. The
four analog inputs come as stock loaded with two stereo RCA's + two stereo XLR. Other configurations can be custom-
ordered as desired. To provide extra flexibility in system integration, we have included an Insert Loop (term borrowed
from the recording studio world) perhaps more commonly referred to as a Tape Loop or Processor Loop in Audiophile-
land. Three outputs are provided: outputs 2 and 3 can be switched; output 1 is always on.
We packaged all this in a visually attractive box, gave it a external power supply, a full function remote control and
we didn't stop there... we hope you will also explore the WAVE's possibilities and put it to full use!
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 precision audio instrument.
Thank you again, and please enjoy your new WAVE! (and the clever Owner's Manual.)
UNPACKING: Unpack the unit 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 WAVE was packed by Manny Q. with extreme love. The sturdy box includes an assortment of protective foam
pieces, several superfluous plastic baggies, the audio chassis, the power supply, and the following components and
accessories:
a) 1 each, 6 foot IEC 3-conductor power cable appropriate for the voltage system in your country
(that you will probably
replace with an expensive audiophile cord anyway.)
b) 1 each, Owners Manual (that we hope you will keep reading.)
c) 1 each, Remote Control with fresh batteries already installed. (We have determined that battery brand choice will not affect sonic performance.)
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 WAVE in
the careless hands of The Shipping People again.
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
3
