Monitor controllers are a useful product category that has not been fully explored and understood by the many audio manufacturers that attempted to create one of those products. The concept was mostly something that studio designers and integrators would add as a custom switcher for convenience, or that was simply embedded in the monitor section of the large studio consoles. After the original Mackie Big Knob literally invaded all home studios (although it was originally intended to serve the DJ market, the reason why it included a phono preamp), monitor selection has been offered in many studio interfaces, or with more sophisticated designs for audio mastering rooms.
Radial Engineering is a company that normally understands well the market needs, and this time focused on creating a simple product that would pay attention to the critical factor of being totally transparent in terms of audio. The Nuance Select features a large master output controller, illuminated switches, and two built-in headphone amplifiers. It allows silent switching between two audio sources and two sets of powered speakers and a separate subwoofer - all line level 1/4" balanced TRS. The full-range subwoofer output can be activated with either set of speakers as desired.
Easily accessible Mono, Mute, and Dim switches are offered for further control and versatility in monitoring. An assignable aux output is provided for connection to headphone amplifiers or other external device, available on the rear panel. The independent potentiometers for each source is also a useful feature to allow consistent levels when switching and one of the reasons why the Nuance Select also offers interesting possibilities in listening rooms.
Additionally, two independent headphone amplifiers are available for monitoring or control room tracking – each headphone output can be assigned to its own stereo source so a studio engineer can feed a cue mix to an artist or a guest, while monitoring the main mix in its own headphones. The headphone outputs are provided on easily accessible front panel jacks.
The biggest differentiator for the Nuance Select is the audio quality for seamless switching, resulting from the pristine signal path. Radial's patent pending Clarity Circuit utilizes a combination of proprietary design and selected components to achieve low distortion and transparency. The Clarity Circuit combines Class A circuitry throughout (including the headphone amplifiers), an Ultra-low noise internal power supply, a true 21-position stepped attenuator with resistors, and DC Servos instead of capacitors in the signal path to achieve a Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of -0.00001%, an unmatched THD spec for monitor controllers in this class.
Housed in a robust steel enclosure with a milled aluminum faceplate, a backlit monitor selection and control switches complemented by oversized chrome knobs on the headphone and master level controls, the Nuance Select will fit the aesthetic of any studio space.
www.radialeng.com
