Hi,

after 2 years of using passive ESI MoCo I plan to change monitor controllers to active ones with more features available on devices such as Audient NERO Monitor Controller or Palmer Monicon XL?
Both are interesting and with reasonable price.
Both looks quite similar, both have similar functions.
I already have correlation meter, so I don't need these feature from Palmer.

Maybe one of these sounds better? Maybe lower noise?
What do you think?

regards

Hi again.

I did not get any sugestions from you guys, so I bought Palmer Monicon XL that seems to be more versatile for me.

And from the very beginning I believed that I found a dream device. And indeed, on the level of functionality, aesthetics and materials the Palmer XL seems to be great.
However, the charm splashes right after we connect the device.
First of all, the Volume knob does not completely mute the sound, which is not acceptable in this type of device: with the Volume knob set to the full left, you can still hear the sound from the monitors. Only the MUTE button completely mutes the sound.
The second problem occurs when you start turning the dial to the right, still at a small volume settings, you can hear the right channel first and only then the left channel. It is unacceptable bug in the equipment used for monitoring recordings.

I checked two new devices (via thomann.de shop)
Both had the same defect and it looks like it is a problem when designing the device.
This is a pity. I'm waiting for the Palmer Monicon XL mk2, where the problem will no longer exist.

At this moment I do not recommend this device.

Regards.

Hi again.

To finish this thread I decided to describe my further steps.
After I returned the Palmer Monicon XL due to design errors, I decided to purchase Audient Nero controller.

It has even more configuration options and it is also very flexible.
Nero is a bit smaller than Palmer.

Main knob in Audient is fantastic. Works smoothly as oiled.

Some advantages of Audient nero compared to Palmer:
1. External XLR microphone input for talkback mic with phantom power.
2. Four headphone outputs, each configurable
3. Additional alternative input (aux/coax/opt)

Some disadvantages of Audient Nera in comparision to Palmer Monicon XL

1. I have not found the option to play from several outputs simultaneously
2. When switching the outputs you can hear a click on the speakers
3. No correlation meter
4. No option to configure input sensivity for metering (it is fixed to +18dBu)


At this moment I can certainly recommend Audient Nero.

(If someone notices that the Palmer Monicon XL has fixed this problem with a lack of balance between channels and a lack of mute at the leftmost position of the volume knob, then the Palmer will also be a good choice.)


Regards
Radek
3PM Recording Studio

Thanks, this was a helpful post, as I had similar questions.

Thanks for doing this post! I have found it just at the time when I am considering the Audient Nero from a Mackie Big knob passive. Would you still recommend the Audient? Now that you have been using for a while are there any further disadvantages or advantages that you have noticed?

The Nero is one of the best monitor controllers I have ever used. I've tried the bog knob studio+, presonus Monitor Station V2, Palmer Xl & CMC3.
The CMC3 and Nero are very good. The others had issues.

I have the Nero which I love but recently the main volume has been going up and down. Contacted Audient and even though I registered the product they won't repair it without a receipt.

Wondering what the issue was with the PreSonus Monitor Station V2?
I currently have a Mackie Big Knob Studio and need to expand as I have another interface I need to switch between it and my original interface.
Looking for source simultaneous monitoring and at least 2 source inputs.
Was thinking of the Palmer Monicon XL but keep seeing these weird bugs like mentioned above.
Also looking at maybe the Behringer Studio XL.
I'd pull the trigger on the Nero but would like to be able to monitor sources at the same time. Nero doesn't allow for that.

Monitor Station was a horrible nightmare. It got slightly warm, the infamous low volume imbalance in the headphones and monitors outs, the audio quality always seemed degraded, and the knobs/pots started crackling, especially the monitor knob. All this happened within a few months of use. Luckily mine gave up the ghost and i got a full refund.

Maybe my unit was defective??

I have two Presonus Central Stations - simmilar bad experience. L/R imbalance, especially if remote is connected. After some time built in mic died in both units (!). And the external mic input did not work either. Seems to me a TB switch failure.

I bought the PreSonus Monitor Station V2 soon after I replied here.
It's LED meter has been giving me issues.
Probably gonna get a Nero or CM2/3.
Annoying.

Hey guys, just got the Palmer Monicon XL.

I have three issues:

1. As mentioned already, the L/R balance is tilted towards one side at the beginning of the travel of the volume knob, which is definitely a problem with +20dBu signals when you don't go up above 9 or 10 o'clock position.

2. As mentioned already, at minimum volume, there is still audible signal going into the monitors.

3. This might be an issue with my specific unit - I am curious if it is working differently on yours - the behavior of headphone outputs doesn't seem to correspond to what is specified in the manual.

The MUTE button not affect the MAIN signal on the HEADPHONES outputs. The headphone outs play the same no matter the state of the MUTE button.

Seemingly related to that is that MONO sum for headphones works only when the MUTE is NOT enabled and doesn't work when MUTE is enabled. DIM seems to work properly in both cases.

I suspect this must be some wiring issue?!

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Palmer offering is exactly what want in terms of I/O and features, including the unique ability to play multiple inputs/outputs simultaneously. Not sure what other unit I could use, most likely Drawmer, but that 2-3x more expensive then Palmer.

I find it hard to believe professional audio companies sell and promote products where issues as stated above exist. I mean "anybody" must notice this and report this as an issue right during the first few minutes of testing the unit.

pricing of second hand dangerous source is getting down to close to these.. a much better option I suspect

UPDATE:

Regarding the problems with MAIN volume knob not completely attenuating the signal and the signal being out of balance at low volumes...

...maybe we are too quick to blame the manufacturer while in fact the problem is us.

The Monicon XL comes with output trims at full volume. But once I've trimmed the outputs so that the regular listening volume is somewhere around the 12 o'clock position rather than around 9 o'clock position, both above mentioned problems become pretty much irrelevant / non-existent.

So the problems related to the volume knob are pretty much consequence of our ignorance of the nature of the analogue components rather then the design of the device.

So the solution once more, is to feed Monicon as strong signal as possible and attenuate the outputs as much as necessary for the main volume knob to be around noon position during the normal listening.

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Here is a video demonstration of my third and final problem and/or possible discrepancy between specification and function.

You might look at a Radial Nuance select.