I would definitely go with the Central Station over the Big Knob. I recently bought a Central Station and couldn't be happier. To address your questions:

1) It is very transparent. I did a lot of research on this point and it was almost unanimous that the central station has the big knob beat in this department.

2) Haven't noticed any crosstalk

3) No problems here

4) Haven't found any yet

5) I would highly recommend the central station over anything under $500 (Big Knob, Samson C-control)

I've seen it used everywhere from project studios to pro mastering applications (in the same rack with manley and gml components). Hope this helps!

Boltino

Thanks. The Presonus has some useful features that the Big Knob doesn't such as a SPDIF digital input. So I was leaning towards getting it if the concensus is that the sound is transparent. That's good to know you have had a positive experience with it.

Steve

Central Station for sure. PASSIVE signal chain.

The D/A was a bonus - I didn't even know it was there until I installed it...

The Presonus works great EXCEPT that with the two units I have had here the cue output is OUT OF PHASE to the input and speaker outputs which will cause problems to people singing with headphones. Check my post about AKG headphones and absolute phase..... Switching is silent and the only odd thing I have noticed is that because it is passive, when you switch in the sub (spkr C) the mains (A&B) decrease in volume slightly. Love the meters and cal option, and the remote is cool.

This will strictly be used as a way to switch between two audio inputs and possibly at some point have a second set of monitors to A/B with. It sounds like with that scenario I will have no problems. Everyone seems to be happy with the quality and that is a key for me.

Thanks for the advice on this. It's much appreciated.

Steve

You can get a Coleman Audio MP3 used for about 450$. It is completely passive and sounds really good. 3 ins, 4 outs, volume knob with .5db increment, headphones plug, mute L and R and a mono switch.

I thought the street price on this is about $800 which puts it out of my range. It does look like a nice product, especially the precise stepped attenuation. But the Presonus is half the money and people seem happy with the quality.

Hi again,

For the Coleman, you sure can find some around 450$, I did and someone that I know did pay 465$. Just a matter of timing I guess.

Good luck with your choice !

Regards

I'll poke a round a little more and see if I can find one for under $500. Then I'll compare the two feature sets and see which one to go with. Thanks for the heads up on the Coleman.