Manley_Stingray

A switchable TAPE LOOP is standard. The TAPE SEND is the output of the selected input before the volume control. The TAPE RETURN can also be used as a 5th line input if needed.

RECORD OUT (aka Tape OUT) is BEFORE the volume control so you can record whatever input you have selected without your listening level affecting the level going to your recorder. These are unbalanced RCA's. It is UNbalanced RCA's and UNbuffered so check out the input Z to your recorder to make sure it won't load down the Stingray main input while it is plugged in. Usually with unbuffered record outs we recommend you only plug in your recorder only when you are actually recording...

Tape LOOP: Also known as an INSERT point, the SEND or Tape Out comes off the selector switch as the Record Out option does going to your outboard EQ or Merlin BAM unit or tape recorder and then the signal returns (RETURN) to the Stingray in front of of the volume control so you can play tunes. A toggle switch selects whether the Tape LOOP (and whatever is plugged into the Tape Loop) is active or the signal goes straight through the Stingray as normal. If you have the Merlin BAM system, you can use it with the Stingray's Tape LOOP.

Need more than four inputs? Get a SKIPJACK line switcher and run it into this LOOP RETURN: The SKIPJACK is perfect for adding more inputs to anything. So if you use a SKIPJACK's 4 stereo inputs plus the Stingray iTube's 4 stereo inputs (3 RCAs + iPod output) you'll get 8 stereo inputs total. The way to do that is to consider the TAPE LOOP: you can bring the SKIPJACK output into the LOOP RETURN, enact the LOOP ACTIVE switch and use the 4 x SKIPJACK inputs feeding the LOOP RETURN with the SKIPJACK controlling source switching for those 4 inputs. Then if you put the Stingray's LOOP switch to BYPASS you will be working with the 4 x Stingray inputs selectable on the Stingray. That gives you 8 total stereo inputs as shown below (7 stereo LINE inputs plus iPod dock).

Or if you do not want to use the TAPE LOOP feature (because you are using it for other purposes) you can use a SKIPJACK to get up to 7 stereo line inputs (6 stereo LINE inputs plus the iPod dock) by running the SKIPJACK's output into one of the Stingray's inputs as shown below:

NOTE: The SUBWOOFER OUT, RECORD OUT, and TAPE LOOP are all passive. The RECORD OUT comes straight off the input select switch. So whatever source is selected will show up passed through at the TAPE OUT.

Most iPods (except the iPod Shuffle) will play WAV and AIFF files.
Here is a list of compatible codecs

The iPod will play up to 16 bit/48Khz files.
Read John Atkinson's iPod measurements from the Stereophile review of an iPod

"The iPod's measured behavior is better than many CD players-ironic,
considering that most of the time it will be used to play MP3 and AAC files,
which will not immediately benefit from such good performance. But if you're
willing to trade off maximum playing time against the ability to play
uncompressed AIFF or WAV files, the iPod will do an excellent job of
decoding them. Excellent, cost-effective audio engineering from an
unexpected source."

iTunes Compatibility:
iTunes is not compatible with FLAC format files without a third party
plugin.

iTunes does support 24/96 wav files. iPod won't play them, but iTunes does
support them.

iTunes can in fact output 24/96 digitally, so in theory you could actually
assemble a hi-rez music server based on iTunes, and use it to drive the DAC
of your choice.
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Thus using your iPod docked on your Stingray iTube you can play WAV files which will yield similar audio quality to CD.

With the Stingray, the MANLEY team has struck a remarkably harmonious balance in design which satisfies the sonic desires of the audiophile and the rocker, the artist and the musician, the student and the master, the yin and the yang. We invite you to experience the stunning sonic quality and visual beauty of the Stingray personally.