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Because the Jumbo Shrimp does everything right, it will prove itself with transistor and tube electronics. It will not impose its character on them, only steer the sound in a general direction to leave the rest to the other components. While leading edges are slightly softened, this doesn’t entail slowness. The upper bass is slightly elevated but this doesn’t affect the overall impression. It should be clear that this isn’t an ideal ‘perfect’ preamplifier. In terms of operation, only the lack of a headphone socket could be held against it. All other functionality is superb. Sonically, better preamplifiers produce more air, open up the soundstage farther—that's a bit constrained here—and more separate out the performers to increase presence and bass extension. But these all would be linear changes in equal measures. That’s why to me the Manley Jumbo Shrimps is so successful. While far from the most expensive—it might in fact be their least expensive—it is in my opinion the best Manley.
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An optimal system built around it might include the Ayon CD-07 CD player, the Audiomatus AM500 or new audio mono3.5 power amps and speakers by Harpia (precise) or Spendor A6 and Harbeth Super HL5 (warm). Those would be terrific systems.
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Description: The Jumbo Shrimp is a new version of the Shrimp preamp with remote volume handled by the Remora controller. The machine is a small tube device made from aluminium with a front panel characteristic for Manley, with rack mount holes, 2U height and a steel-blue finish. The fascia bears four knobs and a window with a backlit logo and model name. The knobs are black while a white groove indicates their position. With hemispherical ends, the largest knob is for volume, the smaller ones for input, balance and power on/off.
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Below the logo sits a blue mute switch that illuminates when triggered. On the back we only get widely spaced gold-plated RCA sockets because the Shrimp isn’t balanced. We get five line inputs, two variable outputs for power amps and a fixed output for a recording or headphone device. The fixed output is always live even when the preamplifier is powered down. That signal path is simply an i/o loop through the selector switch. The descriptions on the back are big and clear, reminding us once again how practical EveAnna Manley approaches all things hifi.
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The top and side cover are thick mesh. When taken off, we see the crowded insides. A marking on the back indicates that this model was designed by Balthazar R. Hernandez who is responsible for most Manley gear [as per EveAnna Manley, the designer actually was Mitch Margolis while Balta was the draftsman on this project - Ed]. The entire circuit is mounted on PCBs, four main ones, two smaller. The input sockets solder to the first board which also contains a high-quality sealed mechanical selector from the UK firm Lorlin. Its axis is elongated to reach the front panel.
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From that PCB the signal proceeds to the main input buffer board via short Manley-issue shielded cable. This board houses 2 x 12AT7EH (one per channel) and 2 x GE 7044 in a so-called White Follower to output 50Ω impedance. The actual amplification circuit or White Driver runs 2 x GE 5670 on a separate PCB adjacent to the Blue Velvet Alps pot. This board mounts at an angle to suppress vibration - similar to how Naim does it. The circuit avoids global feedback. The same PCB also houses another Blue Velvet pot for balance and the controller for the volume control motor. The radio-frequency receiver sits on a small board near the power supply.
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The circuit is based on very good passive elements like precision metallized Dale resistors and big 30μF polypropylene MultiCap PPMF coupling capacitors at the outputs. The power supply caps too are solid. They are many of them, most with the Manley label (probably made by Cornel Dubilier), some by Nichicon. There are two power transformers, one an IE type, the other a double C-core for the valve heaters. The power switch is near the IEC socket and its shaft was elongated to reach the front panel. Anode and heater voltages are rectified discretely. The whole circuit looks very neat but does use some flying leads which usually impact noise levels and dynamics.
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Technical data according to manufacturer:
Gain: 11.8dB
Input impedance: 250kΩ
Input sensitivity: 200mV at 1V output
Maximum output voltage: 5V at 1.5% THD
Frequency response: 10Hz - 80kHz -3dB; 20Hz - 20kHz -0.3dB
Noise: typical -83dB (20Hz - 20kHz max gain)
Noise: typical -95dB (A-weighted, 20Hz - 20kHz, max gain)
S/N ratio: typical 95dB (A-weighted, 20Hz - 20kHz, max gain)
THD: 0.02% at 1Vrms output
Output impedance: 50Ω
Power consumption: 55W
Weight: 6kg
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opinia @ highfidelity.pl
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