Manley Labs Chinook Special Edition MKII

The best just got better! The new Chinook SE MKII features four gain settings for expanded cartridge compatibility, and comes with Upscale tested and graded Gold Lion 6922.

The Chinook is unlike any other phono stage at even twice the price. Says Kevin Deal of Upscale, “I know the tube phono stages that are available for the same price because I have them available to me to sell. I’m a dealer for them (I won’t say who they are). But I can’t in good conscience bring myself to sell them, knowing I have the Chinook to sell!”

The Manley Steelhead has been considered the gold standard in tube phono stages. But if you don’t need inputs to run three different cartridges at once, a line input, or a remote control, this is the answer.

Nothing up to over twice the price will compete with the Chinook for sound quality and quietness. The build quality is impeccable. And it’s super flexible so no matter where you go in cartridges down the road you will be able to fine-tune loading and capacitance perfect for the cartridge you own.

But I have to tell it like it is. The Chinook is the one. Everybody wants a Steelhead. It’s the best period. Not everybody has the money for one, and not everybody needs inputs for 3 tonearms and a remote volume. If you’re one of those folks here it is. So I got thinking: It’s very popular to use the Chinook with PrimaLuna preamps and integrated amps.

Wouldn’t it be cool if I could offer the Chinook in black and silver to match instead of the “Pro Audio World” Manley-purple finish? Don’t get me wrong, the Manley color which is a hint of blue and purple is slick, but it doesn’t quite match with PrimaLuna or most other brands we sell. So I asked them to make up the faceplates, and while they’re at it, we got rid of the vestigial rack-mount holes. It looked great, especially in the 17″ faceplate that it comes with. But what to call it? How about Chinook Special Edition.

Then, to make it a real Upscale Audio collaboration, we take out the stock EH 6922s, and replace them with Upscale Audio graded and tested Gold Lion 6922. This is done at the factory, so you’re still getting a factory-sealed piece here, don’t worry. We’ve had great feedback from Chinook owners on this tube, and we knew it’d be a great little addition to this Upscale Audio exclusive piece!

Like the Steelhead, each channel employs the two triode sections of a 6922 for amplifying duties with highly accurate passive RIAA equalization networks. In the Chinook, the signal is then directly coupled to another 6922 dual triode serving as the output driver in a White Follower configuration. This output stage circuit is our favorite because of its super-low output impedance and beefy current-driving capabilities. It can drive long cable lengths and difficult loads, tube or solid-state. Bring it on. No wimpy cathode followers here!

Setting up the Chinook couldn’t be easier. There are four internal settings for optimal gain: 45dB or 50dB for Moving-Magnet cartridges and 60dB or 65dB for Moving-Coil cartridges. Set it and forget it! The back panel contains DIP switches for adjusting the input resistive and capacitance loading values. 31 possible options between 26 and 800 Ohms plus 47k Ohms and 7 capacitive loading choices between 50 pF and 350 pF provide flexibility to match any cartridge and fine tune the tone. Audiophile-grade and time-proven componentry is used throughout, embodying Manley’s dedication to seductive sonics, combined with the reliability that professionals around the world depend on. At just about a quarter of the price of our revered Steelhead preamplifier, the Chinook’s focus is on elegance of design, careful execution, efficient construction, and appreciable quality.

Designed and built in California, the Chinook exemplifies Manley’s commitment to our local community and to a simple, clean, and quiet signal path. The Chinook demonstrates the supreme linearity of vacuum tubes while providing the flexibility needed to embrace any turntable setup. Everything from the most exotic 180-gram audiophile pressing to 25 cent thrift-store classics will be reproduced accurately and musically.

Features

• Unbalanced Input and Output connections via Manley Teflon^®& Gold plated RCA jacks
• Automatic Mute Timer: On initial power up output jacks are muted for approximately 45 seconds. Automatic mute circuit allows tubes to warm up and circuitry to settle. At power down, output jacks are immediately muted

Specifications

Vacuum-tube complement: 2 x 6922 x 2 (gain stage), 2 x 6922 (output stage). Any 6DJ8, 7308, ECC88 types may be used

Input termination capacitance (MM/MC): 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 pF

Moving magnet input impedance: 47k ohm

Moving coil (MC) input impedance: 5-position user-selectable resistor values of 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 ohm offering 32 loading options

Gain: 45, 50, 60, 65 dB

Output impedance: 91 ohm

Minimum recommended load: 2500 ohm

Internal power supply: Fully regulated linear B+, Heater, and control voltage rails.

Main Fuse: 800mA SLO-BLO size 5mm x 20mm

Standby transformer fuse: 10mA, SLO-BLO, MDL type size 1/4″ x 1 1/4″

Dimensions (WHD): 17″ x 3.5″ x 11″