The Lake People MC100 monitor controller promises to open new territory of studio devices for the Lake Constance company, renowned for its headphones amplifiers and converters.
The MC100 combines everything required of a modern monitor controller – comprehensive connectivity for analogue and digital signal sources, multiple selectable monitor outputs with subwoofer options, monitoring functionalities for technical checks and a headphone amplifier with X-Feed.
The unit supports the connection of very different devices via the front panel. Two analogue stereo signals can be plugged into the balanced XLR sockets, and a further analogue input can be attached up to the unbalanced RCA connectors. For the quick and easy integration of mobile devices, the front panel offers a 3.5mm jack input. The fifth source option is a USB-C input with a D/A converter that works with PCM up to 384kHz at 32 bits, as well as with DSD 256. Users can opt to have the input selectors releasing each other, or allow for multiple inputs to be selected at the same time, summing the signals.
The output stage of the Lake People MC100 is equally well equipped. Three balanced XLR outs allow switching between three different sets of loudspeakers. Each output can be attenuated by up to 12dB. Like the inputs, the outputs can mutually deactivate, or select multiple outs at the same time, as per user choice. The subwoofer output can be activated independently to enhance the selected output – its status is saved with the respective active loudspeaker output, so the subwoofer automatically activates or deactivates with the output selection. In addition to these outputs, the MC100 features two slave outputs as balanced XLR. These carry the selected input signal with no influence from the level knob, so they can feed measuring devices like level meters or analysers.
A powerful amplifier is capable of driving challenging sets of headphones via the quarter-inch or 3.5mm jack outputs on the front panel. A switch activates the headphone output, a separate volume knob defines its level. An additional switch and knob control the X-Feed circuit that regulates the crosstalk between left and right ears to simulate loudspeaker playback and counteract localisation problems that often occur in headphone playback.
For monitor control, the Lake People MC100 has mute and dim switches to reduce listening levels, a mono switch to check for mono compatibility. Left and right channels can be swapped and monitored separately. The left channel can be phase reversed to check the side signal or investigate phase alignment issues. The level is controlled with a proven Alps RK27 potentiometer with 41 steps and a solid 50mm knob. The MC100 Pro variant replaces the Alps potentiometer with a 256-step reed relay control, adding advantages in terms of both sound and longevity.
More: www.lake-people.de
