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A Cool Little Gadget From Emotiva

Dr. Morbius

Dr. Morbius

I.N.T.E.R.O.C.I.T.O.R.
This looks like a pretty nifty gadget for $50 - $60 shipped. For a person with a single source this could cut the cost of a preamp.

I could even use it as the volume control for my Emotiva XDA-2. Even though it has a built-in digital volume control, it's very slow to respond. I like to be able to twist a knob and turn the volume down stat so I can answer the phone.

Comes in balanced and RCA (shown).


http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/accessories/products/control-freak

controlfreak_web_unbalanced_withtext_1024x1024.jpg
 
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Wow, the unbalanced sets are already sold out. I could imagine that this will be a very popular item. The ultimate "passive pre" I'm assuming thats a pretty new piece from them?

Thanks for sharing. It's good to know that something like that is an option.
 
Dr. Morbius said:
I could even use it as the volume control for my Emotiva XDA-2. Even though it has a built-in digital volume control, it's very slow to respond. I like to be able to twist a knob and turn the volume down stat so I can answer the phone.
Click to expand...

Just a quick heads up, you can just use the mute button for that. :)

I'm glad the control freak has finally come out, Emotiva said they were going to release it quite awhile ago and I always thought it was a great idea, a cheap passive pre with no frills.
 
Dr. Morbius said:
This looks like a pretty nifty gadget for $50 - $60 shipped. For a person with a single source this could cut the cost of a preamp.

I could even use it as the volume control for my Emotiva XDA-2. Even though it has a built-in digital volume control, it's very slow to respond. I like to be able to twist a knob and turn the volume down
Click to expand...

Doesn't the xda-2 have a mute button? Not positive but i think my xda-1 does.

Interesting gadget though. Saw it on the Emo site but never looked into what it actually was.
 
Doh! Yes, I guess the XDA-2 does have a mute button. :o

Here's what I'm thinking. I am going to have 3 sources on my main system soon, 2 DVD players as transports and a computer. I could connect these 3 sources to a new Gungnir DAC for $850 instead of buying a new preamp. Use one of these volume knobs between the DAC's XLR outs and the Crown's XLR ins and wallah! Now my mains have about as passive of a preamp is it gets.

If I wanted to use another amp for a pair of subs I could get the RCA Control Freak and it would be an easy way to adjust the subs too.

This is tempting, although I'm still considering a Parasound Halo P5 or an Emotiva XPS-1 Gen2 as a preamp.
 
I like the looks of the Emotiva better. It seems more substantial. Maybe it's the braided cover on the cables.
 
Dr. Morbius said:
This looks like a pretty nifty gadget for $50 - $60 shipped. For a person with a single source this could cut the cost of a preamp.

I could even use it as the volume control for my Emotiva XDA-2. Even though it has a built-in digital volume control, it's very slow to respond. I like to be able to twist a knob and turn the volume down stat so I can answer the phone.

Comes in balanced and RCA (shown).


http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/accessories/products/control-freak

controlfreak_web_unbalanced_withtext_1024x1024.jpg
Click to expand...

I just ordered one of these this morning to play around with. I figured for $50 (for the unbalanced version), I can't go wrong. They wrote me back this afternoon to let me know that it's on its way.

It should be interesting. :naughty:
 
Anybody know what kind of pot it uses? You can pick up simliar devices for less than $10 at numerous online retailers. Granted, they don't look as nice.
 
Just search on "remote amplifier volume control" on Amazon and you have many choices. Note: the cheap ones have zero lag when adjusting volume...
 
Route 66 said:
I just ordered one of these this morning to play around with. I figured for $50 (for the unbalanced version), I can't go wrong. They wrote me back this afternoon to let me know that it's on its way.

It should be interesting. :naughty:
Click to expand...
Looking forward to your review.
 
These are just cables with a gain control ? I guess it would come in handy for high sensitive speakers and amps with no gain controls. I just been using "PAC LC1 Universal Remote Level Control via RCA Audio Interconnect"
 
I ordered one when I read this thread. It came quick! Last year I switched out a bunch of stuff for some Dynaudio Focus 110A powered speakers and an Cambridge Azur 851c cd/DAC/digital preamp. I already had a Squeezebox Touch. Everything works fine and sounds great, but I missed a volume knob. Enough to consider getting rid of the Cambridge piece and getting a preamp/DAC with a volume knob. I just don't like using the remote.

So along comes this thing, and I like it. I got the unbalanced version. It's heavy enough so the interconnects don't move it around, it sits flat where you put it, the knob has a nice solid feel and it is infinitely adjustable, unlike the volume button on the remote.

I have the volume on the preamp all the way up and I am using the knob for control, but I might turn the digital preamp off so to be sure I am not reducing bits at low volume. Anyway it sounds great and I think it is just what I needed. Thanks for the heads up!
 

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FoolForARadio said:
So along comes this thing, and I like it. I got the unbalanced version. It's heavy enough so the interconnects don't move it around, it sits flat where you put it, the knob has a nice solid feel and it is infinitely adjustable, unlike the volume button on the remote.

I have the volume on the preamp all the way up and I am using the knob for control, but I might turn the digital preamp off so to be sure I am not reducing bits at low volume. Anyway it sounds great and I think it is just what I needed. Thanks for the heads up!
Click to expand...
Sounds like they use good pot. :D I also prefer a rotary knob to digital volume controls.

Just ordered the RCA version to test out with my Bifrost DAC and bypass the Acurus preamp and see how I like it. If I like it I'll also order the XLR version.
 
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