Monitor Controllers what do I need to know!

[Purité Audio]

I have been thinking about buying a monitor controller to enable seamless, instant and level-matched switching between monitors.
I was very impressed with Charlie used his Grace 904 to switch between Genelec/Amphions and D&D8Cs.
I wrote about it here,

Loudspeakers:- work or pleasure?

This week I spent a fascinating few hours with Charlie who writes, mixes, and masters music for a living. Charlie is a classically trained pianist but he preferred creating to performing and he is a closet gearhead so writing/mixing/mastering was the natural outcome. He invited me to bring over...

www.puriteaudio.co.uk

I can’t see any disadvantages to the Grace 905 ( apart from the price), it allows three monitors to be controlled, has headphone amplifier as well, subwoofer management and a host of other stuff I don’t understand.
There are two versions the one with built in dac/adc looks the more useful to me.

m905 stereo monitor controller - Grace Design

gracedesign.com

Thanks in advance
Keith

 

[MaxwellsEq]

The Drawmer gear is good quality and has good support.

 

[G|force]

I love my Crane Song Acocet, but I don't use it much since acquiring Genelecs with the rotary volume control.

The Avocet has gone through some revisions though the years, but they all have 3 balanced analog inputs, 3 balanced digital inputs with inbuilt DAC, 3 balanced analog outputs, and a powerful HP amp. The HP amp isn't a match for the Topping A30pro, but it's no slouch. The volume control is relay based with a precision resistor ladder.

 

[Purité Audio]

Thank you for your replies, obviously I would like to accurately level match the three pairs of speakers, looking at the 905’s manual there is an ‘offset’ option for each, which is cool.
My question is what is the most accurate way to measure each pair’s output and thus be able to add the correct offset.
Pink noise and an SPL meter?
Thanks,
Keith

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Thank you for your replies, obviously I would like to accurately level match the three pairs of speakers, looking at the 905’s manual there is an ‘offset’ option for each, which is cool.
My question is what is the most accurate way to measure each pair’s output and thus be able to add the correct offset.
Pink noise and an SPL meter?
Thanks,
Keith

The recommendations I've seen are all pretty similar. Most suggest pink noise at -20, probably not full band but, say 500 Hz to 5kHz, then trim levels to be 85dB (pro studio) or 78dB home listening with an SPL meter set to C weighting, slow. It's similar to Bob Katz calibration. It's fiddly!

 

[Purité Audio]

Thanks @maxwellsEq very useful.
Best,
Keith

 

[nagster]

Measurement of the balance input - balance output of the Grace Design m905.
Other:
The display is easy to read.
Many of the important controls are located on the surface. It's intuitive to use; you don't have to think about it.
That said, the detailed menus are also easy to understand.
It responds instantly to operations. There's no lag in the display or sound changes. Even when you turn the encoder quickly, there's no frustrating jumps or reverse.
The remote control has an easy-to-use size, shape, weight, and button layout. However, the wiring is a nuisance. It would be great if it could be made wireless without compromising the above.
Note: Volume adjustments and output level offset adjustments are in 0.5dB steps, so AB(X) cannot be performed with the m905 alone.

 

[Purité Audio]

Thanks @nagster
They are a cool bit of kit, I have contacted the UK Disti, who was very helpful,
Keith

 

[EERecordist]

If I understand your post, I think there would be a use case for seamless switching, like a monitor controller, with custom EQ per monitor, single or multi custom EQ per monitor.

It corresponds to your mastering engineer example, though I would suggest better room treatment for anyone mastering.

Software in that space is Sonarworks Sound ID, Dirac Live, Trinov Nova, IK ARC, and others. Most monitor switchers are analog/digital line in and analog/digital line out. From there is the amp, or a digital in speaker. Or the software lives in the DAW with its outs. Some of those systems have a measurement microphone beyond the canned profiles, and headphone profiles.

If your use case is an speaker sales shop, a follow-on in home or in studio calibration would be nice business. I get the idea that possibly SoundID hosted on a multi-out UA Apollo might be able to deliver multiple specifically customized outputs, but not sure how the switching user interface would work.

Interested in what you find, I think it would be useful for audio shops, studios, and even in the home.