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Help Me Choose a Big Knob

watchnerd

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I want to get a new desktop monitor controller / headphone amp for my desktop to go with my new monitor speakers.

I'm leaning towards options with big knobs.

Current candidates are:

Grace Design M900

m900_5.jpg


JDS Labs The Element

e34b18a94117c7c61dff9807aae4dc20.jpg


Power output is pretty similar in the 32-50 ohm range.

Cost is within $150 of each other.

Any opinions?

Or other big knobs you'd recommend?
 

Blumlein 88

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Of those you list I would go with the Grace.

I do wonder though, wouldn't you want balanced outs for the monitors? If you don't need anything over 96 k, I might suggest the Audient ID14 for $275. Has more than you need, but has a big knob, balanced out.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...nt_id14_usb2_interface_monitoring_system.html

1433517658000_1156370.jpg



1433517451000_IMG_501420.jpg


For cheap I might go with the appropriately named Mackie Big Knob monitor controller over the Behringer. Why? Well it has balanced out, and it isn't a Behringer.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BigKnobStu

models_images_line-up_big_knobs_studio.jpg
 

oivavoi

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For cheap I might go with the appropriately named Mackie Big Knob monitor controller over the Behringer. Why? Well it has balanced out, and it isn't a Behringer.

Behringer: The eternal ugly duckling of the audio world.
 

Kal Rubinson

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I use one of these:
SMC71_Front_Black_3200x1400px.jpg
 
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watchnerd

watchnerd

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Of those you list I would go with the Grace.

I do wonder though, wouldn't you want balanced outs for the monitors? If you don't need anything over 96 k, I might suggest the Audient ID14 for $275. Has more than you need, but has a big knob, balanced out.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...nt_id14_usb2_interface_monitoring_system.html

1433517658000_1156370.jpg



1433517451000_IMG_501420.jpg


For cheap I might go with the appropriately named Mackie Big Knob monitor controller over the Behringer. Why? Well it has balanced out, and it isn't a Behringer.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BigKnobStu

models_images_line-up_big_knobs_studio.jpg

Yes, balanced would be preferred for the monitors.

The only downside to most of the pro interfaces are that the power output on the phone jack is often wimpy, not sufficient to drive planars.

The SPL Phonitor series are a notable exception, but they're more headamps than interfaces.
 

RayDunzl

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dean-morris-you-big-knob-jockey-coaster-3000565-0-1344696616000.jpg
 

wgscott

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Not sure what it says about me, but I use this to control volume, play/pause, etc (via http-issued IR commands):

powermate_0-600x600.jpg
 

wgscott

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https://griffintechnology.com/us/powermate

Looks like they also have a bluetooth version now.

I originally bought these many years ago to rotate/translate molecules in molecular graphics display programs (essentially to replace the dial boxes on my then-ancient SGIs).
 

Blumlein 88

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I have one of these. It is very good. However, the headphone output is on the wimpy side. Sounds very good with phones that aren't a tough load, but I think it maxes out at about 32 milliwatts into 32 ohms.

Monitor outputs are good. Close to 5 volts out. It does have true actively balanced monitor outs. What you'll find with probably the majority of below $1k interfaces is the monitor outs are impedance balanced, but actively only single ended. That works to still have common mode noise rejection on cables, but it isn't really fully balanced. One of those little things where corners are cut you don't hear much about. For recording this unit is very quiet. The microphone pre's have 75 db of gain and enough dynamic range to really make use of that without noise problems. The new Clarrett line essentially uses the circuitry they developed for this.

These are discontinued, but available for $250 or so second hand.
 

Kal Rubinson

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Not sure what it says about me, but I use this to control volume, play/pause, etc (via http-issued IR commands):

powermate_0-600x600.jpg
I have been tempted by this for a while but I cannot see it compatible with my apps. Griffin is of no help.
 
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watchnerd

watchnerd

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watchnerd

watchnerd

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Thinking out of the box. How about two big knobs.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RedNetAM2

https://us.focusrite.com/ethernet-audio-interfaces/rednet-am2/specifications

Just short of 100 milliwatts into 600 ohms on the headphone out. Not sure if it meets your needs there. How much do you need for your phones?

My hardest to drive cans are some HiF Man 400i planars:

Frequency Response: : 20Hz-35KHz
Sensitivity : 93dB
Impedance : 35 Ohms
Weight : 370g
Cable Length : 1.5m
Plug : 3.5mm/6.35mm

https://www.hifiman.com/products/detail/178

Based on that, I need a headphone amp with:

Output Impedance: <4.375 ohm

Output power: >200 mW (to hit 95 db peak level -- not normal listening for me, but for rare peaks)

Based on:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...5wZOP7KnBVO6SyvG9yZEJ-smI/edit#gid=1006269980
 
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watchnerd

watchnerd

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Decided to forego all of these, upped my budget a significant amount, and bought an RME ADI-2 Pro, instead.

Hopefully will have it next week...
 
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