Monitor Controller

[Sam Spoons]

JBL M-Patch Active 1*, Heritage Audio Baby Ram, Heritage Audio Ram 100 or something else?

I need at least two inputs and two outputs, three of each would be nice. USB or BT is nice too but not essential. I don't need a headphone output. The Baby Ram has everything I need, the other two offer a few things that fall into the 'nice to have' box but at either potentially lower quality or a much higher price. Is there anything else out there that I'm missing?

* There is a used M-Patch Active 1 on ebay for under £90 buy it now.

Edit to add :- This is what I envisage running through it

Inputs :-
Mixer Control Room outputs
Playback from CD player, phone, computer or other device (hence BT/USB on the nice to have list but can easily be plugged in).

Outputs :-
Main monitors
Avantone mono 'grot box'
I don't have and don't plan on getting one.

I also have the option of building a passive controller which could then be tailored to my exact needs, it offends my OCD to have features I don't need .

[Hugh Robjohns]

I'm always wary of passive controllers, primarily because of the (typically) high output impedance which can cause problems with long cables and/or moderate impedance destinations. They can work perfectly, but its highly dependent on the partnering equipment.

So I'd always prefer an active monitor controller, just for greater compatibility and consistency... which would make me lean towards the JBL. Other active controllers worth consideration in this price range include models from Audient, Drawmer and SPL.

If you want to stick with passive the Heritage RAM1000 ticks all your boxes. I also like the switched volume control which neatly overcomes the stereo-tracking issues of most volume pots, although the 3dB steps are larger than I'd like.

I think the Presonus Central Station might be worth consideration too.

[Sam Spoons]

Thanks Hugh, I'll look into those others. WRT active vs passive there are no long runs between devices in my studio, probably 1.5m max (and all balanced).

The RAM 1000 is very tempting but it's hard to overlook the JBL M-Patch on ebay for £84 + postage. The Baby RAM just does enough but lacks the 'nice to haves'.

I've just checked and discovered that my Mac Pro can send audio to BT or headphone outputs while Reaper is sending audio via the X32 which, with a monitor controller, makes for a very convenient way of switching between mixing/tracking and playing back tracks from YT or from the Music app without needing to change the desk or fiddle in settings. No need for aggregate devices either. But a 3rd input then becomes more necessary.

Has anybody experience of the JBL M-Patch Active 1 (which I can't find anywhere retail so I wonder if it's discontinued despite JBL still listing it on their website.

[Kwackman]

From memory this was the original, although they look different, so feel free to ignore this!
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/sm-pro-m-patch-2

[Sam Spoons]

Yes, I think JBL made their version but that one is passive, the M-Patch 1 is active.

TBH I don't think passive or active matters in my case, everything is close together so cable runs will be short but the Mackie BK active is thought to be noisy so I'm just fishing to find out if the M-Patch active is the same.

The JBL M-Patch Active 1 on ebay is the best featured of the ones on my shortlist above but has USB rather than BT for it's 'extra' input (but also has one more analogue input than the RAM 1000). If it's decent it's by far the best VFM option but I still fancy one of the Heritage boxes from a build quality/aesthetic POV and there is a value to 'Joy of Ownership' which increases as cost becomes less of an issue (and as I spend more time just enjoying the process of playing and recording in the studio and less being concerned with the results).

I was also considering buying a passive like a Big Knob and modifying it by replacing the potentiometer with a stepped attenuator but by the time I've added in the cost of parts I'm ¾ of the way to the price of the Baby RAM anyway and with no extra features.

So I'm still undecided between the three having checked out the other options and found nothing that fits the features list quite so well.

[Watchmaker]

I went from Mackie big knob (original) to an Audient Nero. Very well pleased with it. Might be more than you need?

[Sam Spoons]

Thanks, I found a review with some measurements on the M-Patch 1 Active and it only performed 'okay' so I think I'll probably pass on the ebay one (it also seems to be discontinued and they were being sold in the US recently for $100 which is a bit off putting). The Audient looks good but has a lot of features I don't need so the Heritage (either the Baby RAM or the RAM 1000) is favourite. Really it's a matter of deciding if I can justify the extra cost of the RAM 1000 over the Baby RAM, the difference is significant (£169/£435) for the addition of Bluetooth (which I'd use) and a headphone output (which I probably won't) and and a few pretty lights.

[jimjazzdad]

Sam: I have owned a JBL M-Patch Active 1 for over five years, during which time I have logged many hours using this controller. It was cheap as chips on a Black Friday sale but it has worked flawlessly and it seems to be transparent to my ears. The only downside I have noticed is the digital conversion via the USB socket is not the greatest (but I only tried it once, as I don't need it anyway). And, as Hugh would point out, no 'BBC-style phase check switch'. I don't think JBL makes these anymore.

[Sam Spoons]

Thanks, that's encouraging, the USB was noted for being noisy in the aforementioned review while the main monitoring signal path (which is what matters) was decent. It does have a lot of features and for £85 off ebay it's half the price of the Baby RAM. Maybe it's worth a punt after all (watch it be sold when I decide to go for it tomorrow ).

[Drew Stephenson]

Don't know if this has crossed your radar Sam?
https://www.thomann.co.uk/palmer_monico ... GYQAvD_BwE
Think it meets most of your requirements?
Only thing it seems to be lacking to me is a polarity reverse to check your sides signal.

[Sam Spoons]

It has indeed, and has a lot to commend it. But, it lacks the stepped attenuator and the BT input is shared with the aux/input 2. It does have a headphone out (which I don't need) and a third mono/sub output (which I would like) so it has been considered.

Too many choices I think and I'm back at my original three, M-Patch active, Baby RAM and RAM 1000 but I'm back to thinking maybe I should just build my own which would be like a Baby RAM with a couple of extras... But then I think I could buy the Baby RAM because if I build one it will work fine but will look like a dogs breakfast (or at least a dodgy DIY job) and the cost of making it look half as good as the Heritage box makes the RAM 1000 look like a bargain

[Hugh Robjohns]

Depending on what extras are needed, maybe you could modify the Heritage unit?

[Sam Spoons]

Yes, that's what I was thinking, a BT receiver (which I have) connected to the second analogue input on the Baby RAM would cover most of the bases and a switch box to choose BT or an analogue input as I'm unlikely to need more than desk output and one extra source during a session, I may even have a suitable source switch box buried somewhere. That would allow me to maintain a clean signal path between the desk and monitors but add different alternative sources as required.

Thanks guys.

[Sam Spoons]

I still can't decide between the Heritage Baby RAM and the RAM 1000. Really the RAM 1000 is a no brainer until I look at the price difference £170 extra for a few sparkly LEDS, a Bluetooth connection and a headphone amp I don't really need and probably won't use seems too much

But there doesn't seem to be anything else that gets as close to my required feature set...

[adrian_k]

Sam, you may be suffering from something I recognise as a retired person having spent a lifetime scrimping and saving, not spending too much on anything, getting best value etc. It’s hard to treat yourself to something that would make your life a bit better without old habits occupying and directing your brain.

My financial advisor told me how hard it would be to go from a saving mindset to a spending one. He was right. But often that extra £170 is nothing in the scheme of things once you put ideas of value for money to one side. Buy the RAM 1000 and then you can stop fretting about it and enjoy life

[Hugh Robjohns]

But there doesn't seem to be anything else that gets as close to my required feature set...

Then just go for it. Life is too short for pointless compromises. £170 isn't a lot of money averaged out over the expected lifetime of usage. Get the model that meets your needs and enjoy using it.

[Sam Spoons]

But there doesn't seem to be anything else that gets as close to my required feature set...

Then just go for it. Life is too short for pointless compromises. £170 isn't a lot of money averaged out over the expected lifetime of usage. Get the model that meets your needs and enjoy using it.

I too love spending other peoples money Hugh but you're right, it's in the shopping cart and I'll pull the trigger later. Thanks.

[Matt Houghton]

I have a RAM1000 here. It's decent. The BT input is really handy, and as Hugh says the big, stepped gain control is great to have. Makes it really easy to nudge the levels up or down and return quickly to the reference level. Seems solidly built too. I've not noticed any audible degradation of the signal. Switching is super easy. Only downsides are (1) as with any of these sort of devices, there can be a LOT of cables trailing from the back. I have them going down through a hole in the desktop so it's not so bad, but ideally I'd prefer a rackmount unit + remote; and (2) the USB-C port for power is handy in many ways, but the supplied cable is short, and obviously it's not a locking type so relatively easily pulled out unless you do something to secure it in position. I reckon you'd fetch a decent proportion of the asking price back if you tried it and decided to sell it on...

[Hugh Robjohns]

Wasn't really trying to spend your money, just bring some logic and clarity to the decision process.

Fundamentally, the RAM1000 is, by your own reckoning, the best fit for your requirements.

So it's the best option.

Can you afford it?

If no, then compromise on the Baby RAM.

If yes, why dither? The cost is justified because it fits your needs when nothing else does.

And if you use it for five years its higher cost amounts to an extra 10p a day. Is the extra convenience worth 10p a day to you?

...and although you say you won't use the headphone amp, you probably will...

[Sam Spoons]

Wasn't really trying to spend your money, just bring some logic and clarity to the decision process.

Yes Hugh, I know you weren't I was just being flippant (please note the winky emoji ) your advice is appreciated. I have bought the RAM 1000, expecting it next week, thanks everybody (and, Matt, my desktop may soon be perforated).

[ef37a]

It occurs to me that the main* problem with passive controllers is, as Hugh pointed out, their much higher output resistance than an active leading to possible HF loss? Therefore a possible fix is a simple buffer amp close to the outputs. This could be just an NE5532 in a tin per output or, even better one of those Sparkfun balanced driver PCBs. Power is always a bind but a 24V 500mA rat is overkill current wise and cheap enough?

*The passive BK has extra issues. The input resistance on the 'cold', ring contact is low, 1k and can cause distortion with some output chips, notably the ubiquitous TL072. The tip/ring output resistances are far from equal and thus the output is not balanced. My son uses a BK passive but the OP driver of his M4 is easily up to the load and the cable run to his speakers short.

His reason for use of the BK is perhaps unique? The large knob means he has little danger of breaking a nail on his right hand! Left hand nails are of course vestigial.

Dave.

[adrian_k]

Thinking about this thread a phrase popped into my head:

Money has the value we give to it.
Life has the value it gives to us.

Don’t think I’ve heard that anywhere so I suspect it’ll find its way into a song if I write another one.

[Hugh Robjohns]

[Martin Walker]

Sam, you may be suffering from something I recognise as a retired person having spent a lifetime scrimping and saving, not spending too much on anything, getting best value etc.

It’s hard to treat yourself to something that would make your life a bit better without old habits occupying and directing your brain.

Wow - you've hit the nail on the head as far as I'm concerned adrian!

That's me to a T

[ef37a]

These last few threads have girded my loins!
I had decided on a pair of KH150s in the new year. They seem to embrace the accuracy I want (never had) together with a higher than usual SPL capability which I want to enjoy on occasion.
At some £3300 they are a huge outlay for me but I hope to be substantially better off in 2026 but even if not, once Bcard is down to double figures or better I shall make the jump. I keep looking at Phil's speaker reviews hoping to find something AS good for under two bags but know, in me ticker, that is not going to happen!

Yes, well known I think that I am clinically deaf but even sans aids I can enjoy music and at elevated SPLs (>90) I can detect most of the piano register and about half the top string range of the violin...if I don't do it soon?

Dave.