Joining the party..
I'm really picky about haptics, aesthetics and ergonomics (and usefulness) in audio equipment. So most don't pass muster for me. But a few jump out:
JL Audio CR-1 Crossover.
These people know subwoofers and sought to make blending a sub with the mains as simple and intuitive as possible, and boy did they succeed! I'm not in to all the room measurement/digital crossover stuff so this was ideal for me. It made blending the sub so easy and intuitive. The sub/sat balance knob was also a genius way of easily altering the balance once things were getting dialed in:
JE AUDIO HP10 - PHONO STAGE
It was daunting enough getting in to turntables, cartridges 'n all that stuff again. Reading about how bloody awkward many phono stages were in regard to switching things like impedance settings was very off-putting. Many even had to be opened up to switch settings internally. And even when settings were accessible on the outside of the units, often they were teeny little switches on the rear - hardest to reach, hardest to see on an equipment rack.
HP Audio put all the relevant settings right up front, adjustable, accessible. Makes a joy to use. In fact the impedance settings are so easy to access I enjoy switching to different settings just for a change of presentation.
Transrotor Konstant FMD Power Supply - motor/speed controller for my Transrotor Fat Bob S turntable.
I lucked in to this virtually-never-on-the-used-market unit when I spotted someone selling it for a great price. It's their top of the line controller. I'm putting this in here because it's a simple one-job device, does it perfectly and it's a joy to operate because it is so beautifully built - German Engineering and all that. It's got a nice big knob for changing speeds that feels great and has a confidence-inspiring mild "clunk" as it clicks in to place. In fact, a silly detail, but I HATE...HATE the heat sinks on solid state amps. Every time I've ever had to hold or shift one around, those bloody ugly fins feel awful and threatening to slit open my fingers. But the heat sink fins on this are polished with a fine powder coat (or something) and even the heat fins feel fantastic in the hand, like silky smooth!
RTI Universal Remote
I have to give a shout-out in terms of usability to my RTI remotes that I use for my home theater system. They are a bear to program, but that is done by an AV installer. But they are so customizable I got precisely what I wanted in terms of some very complex programming put in to macros. For instance I use a projection based system with automated 4 way masking that can change the size and aspect ratio of the screen as required. I put together a vertical masking system (it's own motor) with a horizontal masking system (velvet panels on an automated curtain track). I have about 20 different available touch screen buttons set up for different aspect ratios and screen sizes. So at the touch of one button, the projector zooms the image to a pre-set size on the screen, the horizontal masking system is sent to a set point, then jogs itself more finely to the right position, the side curtain system goes to a set point and then has further commands to jog to an intermediate position. So within about 7 to 10 seconds, one button press and the whole image and screen "change magically" to a new shape and size. And it's worked for years and years.
Custom Volume Remote
Lastly, this doesn't even quite exist...yet.
I really don't like remotes in general. Few feel nice in the hand or nice to use. Especially for my 2 channel system I have always wanted to use a remote controlled volume knob from the comfort of my sofa. Except one that could learn and operate the IR commands for my two pre-amps weren't available (pretty much all remote volume knobs these days are for operating computer sound). So I'm having one built by a polish custom audio company. It's a metal knob on a wood body. The knob will of course operate volume, but it will also send other basic commands - e.g. mute, change inputs, FF/RR etc - via tapping or turning the knob. I can also use the knob to select which device commands it will send, so I can use it with my CJ preamp, Benchmark preamp, AVR, Apple TV etc. I'll know how this works soon, but it should be just what I was seeking. Here's an example photo (not the wood finish I chose though):
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