Mana works - sometimes.
Posted by: Andrew L. Weekes on 25 June 2001
I decided first though to try it under my CD5, as this involved a lot less faffing around to try it out.
Installation was easy, following the JW instructions I found, and first impressions were dramatic. It sounded as though an octave had been added to each end of the spectrum, and there was an extra sense of dynamics and subtlety also, in terms of low level detail retrieval.
Things were not all well though, and I had a nagging doubt that the music was less coherent, as if the Hi-Fi improvements noticed were at the expense of rythmic flow and general tunefullness.
I received this week a load of Antonio Forcione back catalogue, along with 'Foo Foo and the Boy' (all part of the barbie preparation!), but listening to the new arrivals things weren't right. The tracks that I was familiar with from the Antonio 'Live' album just weren't working in the studio, and it often sounded as though the musicians had recorded without listening to other band members - very disjointed. 'Acoustic Revenge' being a perfect example, the studio version has a different feel to it, but on Mana it just became difficult to follow. Repeatedly tracks I played gave me a sense of unease, to the point where my attention was constantly wandering.
I decided then to remove the Mana, since a backwards step is often much more obvious than a forward one, and the analogue LP12 side of things has been working so well recently, after improving the Prefix PSU, I thought my dissatisfaction may be as a result of the chasm that had been opened here.
At the same time I decided to put the Mana under the LP12.
Playing the Antonio and things were immediately and obviously better. We had a proper band, with decent musicians again, and I have no doubt that the CD5 will be staying firmly put on my Target rack, until such point as I can afford something much better.
The upside is the effect of the sound frame on the LP12 is wholly positive, the Hi-Fi benefits are still there, but there is a sense of rythmic cohesion and flow that can leave one breathless at times. Fast basslines and complex ryhtms can be followed in intricate detail (Skunk Anansie's 'Stoosh' is a killer album for this) and I'm definitely impressed, without any negative feelings whatsoever.
The system has stood the test of time in it's current state so I have no fears about passing on my experiences.
Of what relevance they are to anyone else is for you to decide, but I would say that it's very easy, even as a flat-earther, to get sucked into the Hi-Fi side, when a simple tune test reveals so much more.
In fact I have a much higher opinion of this particular test now, trying to hum along to some of the tracks I'd been listening to had been impossibly difficult, now it's child's play!
Andy.
Andrew L. Weekes