Search

Manley Stereo Variable Mu – NAMM B-stock

$4,499.10

or pay $749.85/month for 6 months* with the Providence Synchrony Card

Questions About This Product?

Call +1 (323) 617-9393

Email info@provsv.com

Lifetime
Tech Support
Extended
Warranty
Free
Shipping

1 in stock

This Manley Stereo Variable Mu was brand new and used for display for three days at the NAMM Show 2025 by the manufacturer. It comes with a full factory warranty, our extended warranty, and all factory packaging and paperwork. Available to ship the week of January 27th.

The MANLEY VARIABLE MU® LIMITER COMPRESSOR has been our best selling product for many years. It is one of the very few compressors that has become a real standard in Mastering studios and contributed to most hit records over the last decade and probably the next. “Mu” is tube-speak for gain, and Variable Mu® is our registered trademark for this limiter compressor. It works by using the “remote cut-off” or re-biasing of a vacuum tube to achieve compression. The precious vintage Fairchild 670 also uses this technique and is one of few all-tube compressor to do so, that we know of. Even the side-chain has glowing rectifier bottles. How’s it work? The unique 5670 dual triode is at the center of the peak-reducing and compression action constantly being re-biased by the vacuum tube rectified side-chain control voltages which cause this tube to smoothly change its gain. Just like that.

The COMPRESS mode is soft-knee 1.5 to 1 ratio while the sharper knee LIMIT mode starts at 4 to 1 and moves to a more dramatic ratio of 20 to 1 when limiting over 12dB. Interestingly, the knee actually softens as more limiting is used. Distortion can be creatively used by turning up the Input and turning down the Output while using very little or no compression. See the gain reduction curves here!

You might notice that the Variable Mu® Limiter Compressor has a ganged input control, but do not jump to conclusions that it is mono-unfriendly. Track away! There are separate threshold and output controls to make compensations with plus you can always adjust your individual source levels elsewhere, right? The advantage of the stereo input control becomes dramatically clear when you switch to LINK mode, and that’s what our Variable Mu® Limiter Compressor does better than anything else: final mix, 2-track, or mastering limiting and compression. Like one reviewer put it: “It’s like pouring a bowl of sweet cream over the mix.” Mmmmmm. Yummy. Give your music a big hug.

From Adele to David Bowie, Amy Winehouse to Beck, Tom Elmhirst’s Variable Mu® has been his “right-hand thing” on his mix bus for two decades. We got to spend some time in his room at Electric Lady Studios in NYC, learned how he uses it, and heard it in action on a mix – watch this video to hear it for yourself.

Welcome to Providence Sound and Vision

Your satisfaction is our top priority! As an employee-owned company, we deeply appreciate your support. Here’s what you can expect with every purchase:

  • Extended Warranty: Enjoy an additional year of warranty on all new items.
  • Quality Assurance: Rigorous testing ensures flawless performance, backed by a money-back guarantee.
  • Risk-Free Shopping: Benefit from a 7-day money-back guarantee on pre-owned items and 14 days on new ones.
  • Lifetime Support: From warranty support to trade-ins, we’re here to assist you for as long as you own the product.

Ready to elevate your sound shopping experience? Explore our store for a curated selection of top-quality gear. Your journey to producing amazing sound starts here!

Thank you for choosing Providence Sound and Vision. Let’s make music magic together!

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. 
For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Sign up for the
providence synchrony card

Get 6-Months Financing on qualifying purchases when you're approved for the Providence Synchrony Credit Card. Fill out the form below and an associate will reach out to you with more information.

set up a demo with providence sound and vision

Ready to try it in your studio?

Give us a call at (323) 617-9393 to set up a demo or fill out the form below and we'll reach out to you to get the demo process started.

rent the gear you need with providence sound and vision

Need a specific piece of gear for your next event, session or gig?

Give us a call at (323) 617-9393 to learn more about our rental program or fill out the form below and we'll reach out to you to get the rental process started.