John DeVore talks about Knob Feel
Anyone here watched John DeVore discuss “knob feel” — the tactile, sensory interaction you have with your gear as much as the sonic result.
I know exactly what John DeVore means when he talks about knob feel. My Garrard 301, Degritter UCM and Softone Model IV phono are perfect examples — they exude that precise, tactile satisfaction that makes every interaction a small joy. There’s a deliberate weight and smooth resistance to the controls that you just don’t find often anymore.
It’s funny how something as simple as turning a knob can heighten the whole listening ritual — it connects you physically to the gear and, in a way, to the music itself. That sense of craftsmanship and intentionality reminds you why we love this hobby. Remote control be damned.
For those of us obsessed with system synergy, this is a reminder: don’t ignore the physical interface. The best sounding phono stage, tube amp or speaker might still feel “off” if the user interaction is clunky. That little detail influences how you listen, which affects how the music lands.
If you’ve got gear with excellent tactile controls (volume, input selector, tone controls, etc.), I’d love to hear: does the knob feel contribute to your listening enjoyment? Or do you consider it secondary to performance?
Exactly….My Accuphase’s balanced AAVA volume control has that perfect degree of tactile resistance that exudes high-end craftsmanship not to mention the seven beautifully machined knobs and selector buttons for various functions. I know what you mean…the giant speaker binding posts on my Accuphase are a tactile delight; solid built, effortless, and engineered to perfection. |
Same here. I simply haven't found knob feel to be a substantial enough distraction to draw me away from the music. Didn't mean to imply this isn't valid for you, though.
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@lalitk wrote:
As Mr. DeVore concludes towards the end of the video: "So anyway, a long-winded love letter to vintage gear and to knob feel." Yes, the second or so half of the video is about the ML-7 preamp, but I saw it mostly as a way to elaborate on his acquisition of a preamp - with a bit of history thrown in and how the ML-7 found its way to his setup - that leads to his raving on about the "creamy and delicious" Penny & Giles volume control of that time. Certainly that and what ML was in the old John Curl days rather than an endorsement more broadly of what ML currently is. John clearly has a love for vintage gear and has some good insights on the pitfalls of acquiring it, but it's worth noticing that his fondness for such gear comes down to quality and quality feel much more than nostalgia per se. It's also worth noticing his experience with properly serviced vintage gear can see many years of trouble free use and great sound quality along the way. The term 'vintage' occasionally, indeed frequently brings with it an unfortunate association among audiophiles, I find, that implies vintage gear has "had its time" and which can't hold its own when confronted with current, new designs. Sometimes it can - more than that, even - and often at a favorable price. It's nice to see a shoutout for older designs that can hold great worth and value today. |
“Yes, the second or so half of the video is about the ML-7 preamp, but I saw it mostly as a way to elaborate on his acquisition of a preamp” I’m not sure why you felt the need to defend the “real” intent of the video — my point was simply about how it came across. |
