Mana question

Alan,

fair enough. What's interesting is that you often get a similar reaction when discussing either Mana or Naim on other forums. Must be doing something right then....

No conflict of interest as far as I can see. I'm sure there are plenty of Naim forum members who have some form of Mana in their system.

The whole reason? How does the Mana sound without any Naim on it...?

It's really great to hear you're enjoying the music so much on your system.

Richard

Modular...

...means something different with Mana that does with other supports such as Fraim or Hutter.

With Mana, levels can be added under individual components or under a rack to give more of what a Mana rack does.

However, a four-tier cannot be converted into a five-tier to accommodate an additional piece of kit or later be separated into two racks to keep power supplies and line-level kit apart. If you want that, get Fraim or Hutter.

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

Seeing as I started this, I'm going to have the last word before this thread is sucked into the black hole that is the past pages.
What I wanted to know is, if I went browsing for Mana support for my system, what would I be looking for, as the names Phase 4 etc mean nothing to me. The reason I considered this initially is that it is obviously a serious rack, something lacking at the moment, but is affordable used, ie. £350 for a 6 shelfer. There is no used Fraim, and new would be £1500+. Nothing to lose then - must be better than what I have, for a sum of dosh that can be shrugged off & sold if its bollocks.
Marco gave me the info I needed.
Paul has said be careful, 'cos it might screw with the sound. Good point. Didn't know it could actually be detrimental, so I'm now wary.
Trouble is, there is nowhere I know that I could hear it next to Fraim, Hutter, for a direct comparison, and certainly not at home where it matters.
For all the bickering, I am wiser now. So thanks to you all. It's been heated, but it's been good.

Falling off the bunk...

I use Mana under my speakers only. There it does an excellent job and £175 for a pair of Sound Bases represents excellent VFM, imho.

However, unlike Marco, I did not get rid of my QS Ref under my speakers in favour of Mana.

Why? Because pre-Mana, Marco's system emphasised leading edges, was extremely dynamic and exciting, but sounded strident at times and the soundstaging was virtually non-existent. Yes, I said pre- Mana...

I had a feeling that Mana would have a taming effect in his system and it did. Now he has a more relaxed and controlled sound, and yet has even more killer dynamics than before, and there is imaging and a soundstage along with much greater resolution/clarity/detail/transparency or whatever you want to call it.

The simple ability to follow a tune has not really improved since Mana came into his system, imho, but then it hasn't got worse either. I suppose the tune aspect of his system (for those who understand and care about what I mean by this) has just stood still. However, everything else about his system has improved considerably since the Mana arrived.

I may also add that Marco's system has a sweet spot where the listening chair is placed. The sound and resulting musical enjoyment is much better here than anywhere else in the room, but I'd put that critical positioning of self down to his speakers.

My own system is not so high up the hierarchical scheme of things in terms of the boxes as Marco's, but it does has an image and a soundstage, it certainly lacks the dynamics and sheer detail of his system, but to my ears it plays the tune better. I feel that if I swapped my QS Ref for Mana, I'd get more detail, better dynamics, better control, more neutrality and even-handedness, a more focused image, an even bigger soundstage, and yes, it would sound even less fatiguing especially if the Mana was set up correctly too, but I strongly feel that the tune would suffer to my taste and perception as the emphasis moved away from this aspect (one that I personally consider fundamental to my appreciation of music on both an emotional and cerebral level) to an altogether different style of presentation that I love to bits in other people's system's but not in my own.

Marco and I remain friends despite sitting on either side of the Mana fence. Now why do you think that is?


Regards,

Steve.

PS: I am aware that Marco's system has changed somewhat since I last heard it. I haven't yet heard the "phoenix" version.

[This message was edited by Steven Toy on FRIDAY 15 August 2003 at 05:45.]

I know what's coming...

Q: How do you know that Mana will detract from the tune if you haven't heard Mana in your system in your room, for say, the 14-day trial in direct comparison with your QS Ref?

A: When I first heard the QS Ref in comparison with QS standard Q4 at my dealers and to a greater extent at home in comparison with my old Optimum Prestige rack, I noticed a significant improvement in the tune aspect above all else.

When I heard the Mana Effect tm and the improvements it brings to a system - and yes, they are indeed significant improvements, but the tune aspect was the one that didn't improve to my ears.

Thus I conclude that Mana will improve my system in many aspects, but not in the one I consider to be most important. I fear the tune may actually take a backward step.

I'm not prepared to go throught the hassle of the 14-day trial just to put this doubt to rest once and for all. I have too much respect for JW and his business to waste his time on such a trial in my system.

I concede that my conclusion is based on the rather dubious notion of "musical memory" rather than scientifically more credible (maybe?) in-situe A/B tests.

I would never discourage anyone from trying Mana for themselves though as I suspect that my preferences regarding musical presentation may well place me in a minority.


Regards,

Steve.

Marco,

Thank you so much for explaining things in such a simple to understand way. Now I realise that it was a combination of my room, my equipment and my butterfingers which led to this problem. Gosh! How unlucky am I?

Alex

PS I've heard about 20 Mana'd systems from bungalows to skyscrapers.

Marco,

I'd love to.

Just need to find out whether the Hutter'll fit in Steven's cab and whether he can go from A to B or only round in circles.

Alex

The one complaint I have heard about mana from a number of people is how it puts too much emphasis on leading edges.

Talking too them like, not on forums.