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This photo was taken before there was a Massive Passive...

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 Manley Massive Passive EQ

It's Massive!

Features And Specifications | Massive FAQ | Suggested Retail Price | Massive Massive Pix

 Users Rave | Massive Passive Owner's Manual PDF | The  Mastering Version!

 

 

Manley Massive Passive Stereo Tube EQ

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS...

Perhaps, but would photographs of our Variable Muฎ  Limiter Compressor or VOXBOX have created their successes alone? You have to hear this gear. You have to use this gear. Put your hands on the knobs and crank 'em. Engineers who have already gotten hold of the MASSIVE PASSIVE have told us: "Why does it make everything sound so much better?", "It's organic and orgasmic.", "It's a f%#king powerhouse.", "It's unlike any other EQ.", "This is IT. The sound I've always dreamt of but couldn't ever get until now."

GOT THE PICTURE?

Craig 'HUTCH' Hutchison designed these monsters... The MASSIVE PASSIVE is a two channel, four band equalizer, with additional high pass and low pass filters. "Passive" refers to the tone shaping part of this clever new EQ design not using any active circuitry. Only metal film resistors, film capacitors and hand-wound inductors sculpt the sound, kinda like a Pultec EQ on hyper-steroids. Super-beefy, hugely-high-headroom Manley all-tube make-up gain amplifiers deliver your tunes into the next realm. "Massive".... it's a fitting word for this beast. You'll need to experience this.

Creating natural, organic, acoustic tone can only be done with an equalizer that treats the signal with natural methods. The Massive Passive uses simple passive components and exploits their natural qualities rather than forcing a complex circuit to meet an arbitrary clinical or scientific goal. Manley knows that recording and mastering equalizers are used by artists for artistic goals and we balanced this design with a little more art than science. The Massive Passive is intended both for the most radical EQ sometimes needed for tracking as well as the most subtle shadings for vocals and mastering. It is designed to be a fundamentally different EQ but incorporates the best strengths of Pultecs, choice console EQs, parametrics and graphics. The difference is that the Massive allows twice as much EQ with half the coloration. It allows huge HF boosts without sibilance problems and unbelievable fatness without mud. This is unique. Being different also gives it some quirks and idiosyncrasies that will spark your creativity and sense of audio adventure. We could attempt to use dozens of superlatives to describe the sounds, but really, you have to experience it yourself. Words cannot do it justice. The astute reader will notice a lack of "buzz words" and that the Massive Passive is not built around gimmicks, plagiarisms, or conventional techniques. However, it is built to complement our Variable Mu Limiter Compressor for instance.... This combo could just be the ultimate processing chain. 
It’s already a Mastering fave. To this end we finally have a new dedicated Mastering Version Massivo available too.

The Filters - 5 frequencies Hi Pass and bypass, PLUS 5 frequencies Lo Pass with bypass. We made them extra steep. 36 dB/oct ! Why? When you need to remove the garbage, this does the trick and allows more of the real music to be untouched. The other reason is that it sounds killer when combined with the regular bands. Towards the mids this degree of steepness may be tamed somewhat. We're going for pure "usefulness" not "well, we guess it's standard". Thinking drums and guitar stacks, and other tough jobs. These filters are passive too.

High Pass Filters = 22, 39, 68, 120, 220, OFF

Low Pass Filters = 6K, 7K5, 9K, 12K, 18K, OFF

------------------------------------------------------------------------>

6) Parametric Frequencies:

LOW - 22, 33, 47, 68, 100, 150, 220, 330, 470, 680, 1K

LM - 82, 120, 180, 270, 390, 560, 820, 1K2, 1K8, 2K7, 3K9

HM - 220, 330, 470, 680, 1K, 1K5, 2K2, 3K3, 4K7, 6K8, 10K

HI - 560, 820, 1K2, 1K8, 2K7, 3K9, 5K6, 8K2, 12K, 18K, 27K

Latest greatest version with the right shelf shapes

manley power

For a truly massive look at the Massive Passive EQ Click Here Please be patient, loading takes time!

 

  • Each band can be bypassed or set to boost or cut. This provides twice the control resolution over conventional EQs. It also eliminates the problem of a center detent not guaranteeing flat response.
  • Each band is capable of 20 dB of boost or cut combined with amazing headroom and freedom from clipping.

    Cool, huh?click image for enlargement

  • Steep LP and HP filters for maximum effectiveness and achieved passively for minimal coloration. The minimum slope is 18 dB/octave and the 18kHz filter was designed for 60 dB/octave.
  • Fun with shelves... click image for enlargementSee how that works?
  • Modular design that allows future upgrades and special functions. The Massive Passive is an "EQ platform" with room to grow.
  • Transformer balanced floating outputs for ease of installation and a touch of desirable flavor. These too were custom designed for the Massive Passive to accommodate the huge boosts possible.
  • Manley quality, Manley engineering, and the "Manley Sound".

 

Rear View:

Click for bigger view

Massive Guts 12/2007

We WON!

SCORE!

I'll bet you FORGOT to vote...

Way cool.nominee


Features And Specifications

 

Features:

• All-Passive tone sculpting circuitry 
• Unique Shelf curves use the "bandwidth" control 
• Overlapping and Interleaved Frequency choices 
• Every band switchable to shelf or bell 
• Vacuum tube make-up gain and line drivers 
• Parallel symmetrical topology 
• Premium components throughout 
• HP and LP Filters plus gain trims 

SPECIFICATIONS: 

• Ins & Outs Balanced XLR & 1/4" (accepts unbalanced) 
• Level +4 dBu nominal, internal switches for -10 operation 
• Bypass Switch bypasses EQ & tube circuits (not hardwire) 
• 44 Frequencies (roughly 1/4 octave spacing) 
• Frequency Range: 22 Hz to 27 Khz 
• EQ Boost/Cut Range : 20 dB boost, 20 dB cut 
• Nominal Q range: 1.5 to 3 (uniquely active in shelf modes) 
• Frequency Response: +/- 2 dB: 8 Hz to 60 KHz 
• Maximum Output @ 1.5% THD +37 dBv; +26dBv @ 20 Hz 
• THD & Noise (1KHz @ +4 dBu): 0.06% 
• Noise Floor (referred to +4dBu): -85 dB (A Weight) 
• Dynamic Range: 120 dB 
• Tube Complement: 2 x 12AX7EH, 4 x 6414 for serial MSMPX### after 2/2004
• Tube Complement: 2 x 5751, 4 x 6414 for serial MSMP### until 2/2004
• Power Consumption (120/240VAC): 72 watts 
• Unit is factory set for 100V, 120V or 220-240VAC operation for original destination country's mains voltage.
•
Operating Mains Voltage changeable with power transformer changeover switch and fuse value change.
•
Mains Voltage Frequency: 50~ 60Hz 
• Size (3U): 19" x 5.25" x 10" 
• Weight: Unit 21 lbs. Shipping Weight: 27 lbs.

Read the Massive Passive Owner's Manual PDF

Read the Massive FAQ

How to Replace your power transformer if you blew yours up by plugging it into the wrong voltage

How to replace the master GAIN controls (pots) with the stepped Grayhill switches.

 

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices

Massive Passive Stereo EQ: $4,800 USD

Stepped Master Gain Switches for Regular Massive Passive: add $250 NET custom option

 

New full-on Mastering Version Massive Passive Suggested Retail Price: $6,000

 

 Some people are like crows: they linke shiny things.

From our Custom Shop: Gold ANODISED faceplate with chrome knobs version DISCONTINUED 
No more 24K Gold, sorry

 

 

MANLEY MASSIVE PASSIVE Awarded 2008 Product of the Year
by TONE Audio Magazine

"Laugh all you want about using an equalizer in a high end system, but let’s face it, there are so many records and CD’s out there with less than stellar sound, the Massive Passive will set you free if you take the time to learn its intricacies.  There’s still no substitute for over compression, but a lot of things can still be improved by the Massive Passive’s scalpel like ability to boost and cut selective frequencies. A great tool for the music lover and obsessive audiophile, to use it is to love it."

 

Massive Mastering FAQ

Great Minds Think Alike

Audio Clip of Tori Amos plugging the Manley Massive Passive
start at 4:30 into it where she talks about vinyl records and the Manley Massive Passive!

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