As the thread veers away from the gutter a little- growing up my dad had a Mc2125 and C28. The c-28 was a fun pre to use. Lots of settings, flat, loudness, bass and treble adjustments. It was a bit of a beast. The volume on the pre was kind heavy- smooth- I'd say lower on the rating.
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?
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@phusis No, I think I summed it up quite eloquently the first time! |
”You guys' down thread with your ultra-elaborate systems got to get your high waders on because you're really shoveling it today!“ Can’t argue with that — some of us do tend to get carried away once the gear talk starts flowing. BTW, Nice system, I counted 14 knobs :-) |
- 40 posts total