Somebody Please Make This Already...

I have yet to see any device that synchronously controls the volume level of two entirely separate signals, preamp or otherwise.

With this device, for example, you can have full-range or high-pass filtered L/R signals from a DAC go through input 1 and a separate, full-range or low-pass filtered L/R signal go through input 2. The signal going into input 1 would go out to your power amp(s) and can be high-pass filtered by this device if the source signal is full-range. The signal going into input 2 would go out to your subwoofer, where you can apply a separate low-pass filter with this device or your subwoofer if it’s a full-range signal. You can then level-match the sub to the speakers using the subwoofer’s volume control, and then from there adjust the entire system’s volume in-sync.

You otherwise can’t do this if there’s no bass management upstream. So you could call this more of an independent bass-management system more than you would a preamp, especially if you sell this without a remote control.

Some people also don't like the idea of digital volume control, so something like a WiiM Ultra streamer, despite having bass management, controls volume digitally. This device would allow an analog, resistor-ladder volume control to be used even with bass management, while keeping the sub and speakers level-matched.

-Ed

Do you think there is a real market for such a commercial product?

I think there is. It’s not going to sell 800,000 units, but it has numerous potential uses and at the moment would have close to nil competition for what it can do.

-Ed

Why do you need two synchronized volume controls?

I assume you have 2 amps, one SE and on XLR. you want them to go up and down at the same rate but how are you going to set them at the same level to begin with? so you have to ask for an adjustable offset between the 2 outputs.

This is already available for AV--any AV receiver allows you to set the levels of each speaker or even automatically does it for you with a microphone.

If you are looking for something for your 2 channel system biamped, I think you’re looking for a custom piece.

Jerry

@carlsbad2 this is really more of a bass management issue than anything else. I suppose an AV receiver would solve this issue as long as it sounds as good as the end listener wants. Some people prefer to use their own DAC (for the speakers), which they would deem better sounding than the DAC in any AV receiver of similar affordability, but don’t want to use digital volume control (upstream of the DAC), so they want the analog output of the DAC (even if high-pass filtered at the digital level before the DAC) and the (analog) signal to the subwoofer to be volume synchronized when raising and lowering volume. The subwoofer itself has its own volume control to ensure they are set appropriately versus the speakers to begin with.

I’m sure you and many others would consider this a solved issue by simply, "settling," for either digital volume control upstream or using an AV receiver instead of proper high fidelity separate components (high-end DAC, pure power amplifiers etc.). I never said I expected this product to sell in the hundreds of thousands of units, but there are definitely niche uses for this. I posted this same idea to Reddit and someone else responded with, "Interesting. Like a stereo subwoofer pre-amp with L-R stereo attenuation. Could be very useful for people like me with no attenuation available on my power amplifiers, they are at 0db all the time. I’m currently using my pre-amp for volume / source selection but a little floor noise gets through when nothing is playing / quieter passages. This device could fit between my crossover and power amplifiers to allow attenuation at that point, but i’ve yet to find a device that covers this." And another person also suggested this device can be used in the process of comparing amplifiers. There are numerous potential uses for this device as I’ve outlined it.

-Ed