Music Tech Entrepreneur Dirk Ulrich Buys Manley Labs
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).
