Manley Laboratories Acquired

[EERecordist]

Manley makes vacuum tube hifi gear but is mostly known for rack mounted mastering equipment.

Manley Laboratories Inc | Professional Tube Audio Equipment

Manley Laboratories is an American manufacturer of professional tube microphones, preamps, equalizers and compressors. Trusted by studios for VOXBOX and Variable Mu.

www.manley.com

Manley Laboratories - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Manley Labs Acquired by Music Tech Entrepreneur Dirk Ulrich

Company to Continue Analog Tube Excellence and Expand into New Product Frontiers

CHINO, CA – July 10, 2025 — Manley Laboratories Inc., the California-based manufacturer of world-renowned analog tube audio gear, is proud to announce its acquisition by audio entrepreneur and industry veteran Dirk Ulrich. The all-cash transaction includes all operating assets of the company. Co-founder and longtime president EveAnna Manley is stepping aside from her active duties effective immediately, but will support a smooth transition for customers, employees and partners.
Dirk Ulrich brings decades of experience at the intersection of analog engineering and digital innovation. As the founder of Brainworx (Germany) and Plugin Alliance (USA) — and a significant shareholder in the Native Instruments Group (which now includes Brainworx, Plugin Alliance, and iZotope) — he has helped shape the modern professional audio landscape over the last two decades. This acquisition marks Dirk’s return to actually running a pro audio company, and signals a deep commitment to preserving Manley’s legacy while supporting long-term growth and new product development.
“Manley has always stood for integrity, tube-driven sonic character, and dedication to reliability,” said EveAnna Manley. “After decades of building this brand with an amazing team, I’m grateful to see it seize its future with someone who truly respects the soul of Manley and has a proven track record of growing audio companies. Dirk’s technology expertise will carry this company into its Manley 3.0 destiny.”
Manley Labs will continue designing and manufacturing its acclaimed hardware with the same trusted teams, with no disruption to ongoing operations. Key partnerships — including the successful, exclusive collaboration with Universal Audio on UAD plugins — remain in place. Fans and professionals alike can expect the continued production of flagship analog gear such as the VOXBOX®, Tube Reference Microphones, Massive Passive EQ, and Variable Mu® Compressor, along with new analog and digital products currently in development.
“Manley gear is part of the foundation of so many top studios around the world, and the reputation EveAnna and her team have built over decades is truly remarkable. I was a fan and user long before this acquisition,” said Dirk Ulrich. “We intend to protect the Manley heritage while evolving with the needs of the next generation of music creators and audio professionals.”
About Manley Labs
Founded in the late 1980s, Manley Laboratories Inc. has earned a reputation for building some of the most respected analog tube studio and hi-fi equipment in the world. Known for their rich tone, uncompromising quality, and iconic design, Manley products are trusted by top-tier recording, mixing, and mastering engineers. All Manley products — both professional studio and hi-fi equipment — are designed and built in-house. Officially licensed plugins are available exclusively via Universal Audio.
About Dirk Ulrich
Dirk Ulrich is a US based, German serial-entrepreneur who has founded Brainworx Audio and Plugin Alliance. These popular audio plugins are used by creatives around the world and are part of the Native Instruments group (incl. Izotope) since 2021. Dirk is a Gold Record certified music producer, mastering engineer, and the original inventor of the TMT patent (most realistic digital emulation of analog devices with Tolerance Modeling Technology).

 

[amirm]

Strange marriage.... Wonder what will happen to the brand a couple of years down the road...

 

[jtwrace]

Just bizarre to me.

 

[Chrispy]

This is particularly meaningful how? Tubes, seriously?

 

[Chr1]

Think that you will find that most top studios still have, and use a selection of quality tube gear: mics, compressors etc. Used alongside, and in conjunction with other analogue and modern digital equipment obviously.
Whether you happen to like, use or approve of them is a different matter obviously. Seems to me that the fellow who's taking over most likely knows his stuff.

 

[sergeauckland]

Think that you will find that most top studios still have, and use a selection of quality tube gear: mics, compressors etc. Used alongside, and in conjunction with other analogue and modern digital equipment obviously.
Whether you happen to like, use or approve them is a different matter obviously.

It should also be recognised that equipment used for creating a recording has different requirements to that used for reproducing a recording. In creating a recording, anything is valid artistically, including noise and distortion, which would not be so on reproduction.

Manley have a great reputation in the Pro recording industry, they have pretty much never pandered to audiophiles.

S.

 

[kemmler3D]

This is particularly meaningful how? Tubes, seriously?

It's interesting because we have a software company that makes studio effects (some of which are already emulations of Manley stuff) buying a hardware company that makes studio effects. There's overlap in the market but not necessarily in the actual operations of the business, an unusual kind of merger.

And yes seriously tubes, tube distortion (emulated or otherwise) is about as ubiquitous in studio settings as black pepper is in kitchens.

(Which is why it's pretty goofy to use them in listening gear, it's pretty much a certainty the record has as much tube distortion as it's supposed to have already ...)

 

[mhardy6647]

EveAnna "Vanimal" Manley (ex-spouse of David Manley) is a piece of work. And I do mean that in the most complimentary way possible.
... but I guess that means Manley's halo analog product may never reach the marketplace after all.

HD8t -- high def eight-track.

 

[Chr1]

Just Googled it...

"This new format requires the best in studio equipment; we recommend 5-8 high-powered 18-inch subwoofers to handle the additional low end, as well as a bank of high-frequency drivers driven by a minimum of 10,000 watts to showcase the enhanced clarity, frequency response, and dynamics of this amazing format.”

"The unique “tape dump” feature will unspool tape from the cartridge and randomly wind it into the innards of the player, providing hours of enjoyment as the listener attempts to extract the tape and resume playback."

Bizarre! I presume this was some kind of April fools audio industry wind up?
Love it.
Perhaps there could be a mass appeal to Dirk Ulrich to make it happen.

 

[FrantzM]

It should also be recognised that equipment used for creating a recording has different requirements to that used for reproducing a recording. In creating a recording, anything is valid artistically, including noise and distortion, which would not be so on reproduction.

Manley have a great reputation in the Pro recording industry, they have pretty much never pandered to audiophiles.

S.

Hi

They do pander to the High End Audio segment...

Manley came from the audiophile world. The father, David Manley and Luke, the son, founded VTL, still known in audiophile circles... until 1993 Manly was a sub brand of VTL making amps that were basically VTL designs ... like this one, was in production until 2017..

Basicall a VTL 300 wih a different faceplate

THe Manley might have been more expensive..
then in 1993 Manley Laboratories came out of VTL as an independent company catering to audio professinal and pandering from time to time to the High End Audio crowd .. As late as 2017 their 350 reviewed in S'Phile HERE ...

They no longer produce the 350 but they manufacture the "Snapper", geared at the audiophile:

and a slew of other audiophile products among these, the Neo-Classic preamp..

I suppose those are for the discerning audiophile who knows what the Pros use...

Peace

 

[Curvature]

I would imagine this transaction is driven by the founders and their descendants wanting to retire and looking for a buyer, not the other way around.

 

[mhardy6647]

Just Googled it...

"This new format requires the best in studio equipment; we recommend 5-8 high-powered 18-inch subwoofers to handle the additional low end, as well as a bank of high-frequency drivers driven by a minimum of 10,000 watts to showcase the enhanced clarity, frequency response, and dynamics of this amazing format.”

"The unique “tape dump” feature will unspool tape from the cartridge and randomly wind it into the innards of the player, providing hours of enjoyment as the listener attempts to extract the tape and resume playback."

Bizarre! I presume this was some kind of April fools audio industry wind up?
Love it.
Perhaps there could be a mass appeal to Dirk Ulrich to make it happen.

View attachment 462642

The eight track tape cartridge in general was, in retrospect, an exceptionally elaborate April Fool's joke.

 

[OldHvyMec]

Dave Manley was known for both his HiFi valve gear and his recording gear. It is still some of the most sought-after recording gear on the market.
Microphones, compressor, Valve EQ, to mention a few and it AIN'T cheap either.

Dave was a heck of a nice guy, unlike Bea over at VTL. She is truly a difficult person for ME to deal with to this day, and the main reason I quit doing business with VTL after the breakup and of course, Dave dying. Bea was the main reason for me to switch to Dennis Had and stick with Mcintosh.

I did a lot of business with Dave Manley. His stuff was built like a friggin' tank, too. It seldom had problems.

My main issue was not being able to get schematics on the gear I own and repair if it needed modifications or repairs. Dave was pretty good.
Bea wouldn't even return a phone call. She is still that way. She has run off more customers than she has ever made.

Regards

 

[Mr. Widget]

Strange marriage.... Wonder what will happen to the brand a couple of years down the road...

I'm thinking Parasound... when the founders leave the building, positive change is rare.

 

[egellings]

Did Manley make an amplifier called Sting Ray?

 

[EERecordist]

The algorithm served me this. It's on topic.

This is an image from a Facebook post by the individual who acquired Manley. Yes, he is not poor, but he is hands-on. With the racks, they could go to trade shows and demos too. Hope he can find some vocalists to track, because there is a lot of processing tracking vocals. Manley makes tube microphones, and maybe the new owner can make market share headway against top tube microphone makers with Manley microphones.

 

[GXAlan]

I'm thinking Parasound... when the founders leave the building, positive change is rare.

Parasound Just Lowered Prices – For Good

Parasound lowers prices on 15 high-performance audio products-thanks to internal innovation and fair pricing strategies. See what's new.

parasound.com

I haven’t followed Parasound much. It seemed like things got way more expensive with the “+” revisions, so these price drops are still pricey.

I personally liked the silver Parasound gear (which was just discontinued).

 

[mhardy6647]

Did Manley make an amplifier called Sting Ray?

Yes.
push-pull parallel EL84 (i.e., four EL84 per channel).
Vaguely devilfish-shaped (sans tail, though).

I've never encountered one in the flesh* but I've heard bad things about them.

______________
* I do have a PPP EL84 stereo power amp, though -- albeit a much more modest one.


(the Peavey, not the Heathkit )