PMC-2 Premium Passive 2 x 2 Studio Monitor Volume Controller

It has taken me a lot of trial error to get here. The associated gear: Vali 2 Headphone Amp with Electro-Harmonix 6922 Gold Pin tube, Topping E50 DAC, primarily streaming Tidal (Master) through an audiophile configured mini PC. A Grado Prestige Headphone 15-foot Extension Cable from the Vali 2 headphone jack connected to a 1 meter WireWorld - Pulse - Mini Jack Audio Cable into the input of the DYNASTY PROAUDIO PMC. Headphones are plugged into the back of the DYNASTY PROAUDIO PMC. In order to maximize the volume output from the DYNASTY PROAUDIO PMC, the Vali 2 was set on Hi Gain. Unlike the Schiit Audio SYS, the Bellari PP532 Passive Preamplifier and the Nobsound High Precision Passive Preamp Volume Controller VOL Control HiFi Preamplifier ALPS (I have had all 3), the DYNASTY PROAUDIO PMC background was black (dead quiet). Each of the other 3 had noise and distortion in the background when the Vali 2 was on Hi Gain. The sound - the exact same as when I plugged the Headphones directly into the Vali 2. The volume control on the DYNASTY PROAUDIO PMC works flawlessly... smooth and perfectly controlled volume adjustments with no issues. Unlike the other 3, there no sudden jumps (sometimes extreme) in volume. There was no channel distortion, channel volume mismatches or general sound distortion as the volume was increased. The mute button worked perfectly. If you are looking to be able to control the volume of your headphones (wired) from your listening position, the DYNASTY PROAUDIO PMC delivers flawlessly. At long last, my system is complete. A final thought.... the build quality is as solid as the sound quality. A beautifully engineered piece of hardware.

I am a composer and producer with a fairly modest in-home studio. As such, I don't need many of the features common to most monitor volume controls on the market. For example, my previous monitor control (Mackie Big Knob 2x2) had many functions I never used, namely dim (I'll just turn the volume down), and 2 in and 2 out groups (not needed unless you're a recording studio to send audio to the recording booth). Why am I paying money for functions I'm not even using? The Dynasty ProAudio PMC-1 cuts down significantly on features, just including a mono/stereo switch for mixing purposes, and a mute button. Honestly, if you're just a small in-home studio (like, 80% of buyers for these things), this is all you will EVER need. EVER. I've taught a few students, and shopped for equipment quite a bit, and one bit of wisdom I can share is that your studio MUST be minimalistic. Equipment doesn't just take up space on your desk, it takes up space in your brain as well. Everything SHOULD be streamlined, and you should ONLY have equipment whose features you will use. BE AWARE! This interface ONLY has XLR ins and TRS outs, except for a little audio jack input in case someone passes you the aux cord at a party and you just so happen to be in your studio for whatever reason. BE SURE YOU BUY THE CORRECT AUDIO CABLES! Probably the best feature of this product is the main function: the knob. It's smooth, with just enough weight to it that my giant hand can be exact in movement. It feels like it's gliding over butter, and stays in place. For the asking price, this product is EXCELLENT! If you're a producer looking to set up a small in-home studio, this is ALL you will EVER need, and it does the job VERY well! Not to mention, the price is the cheapest you can find on Amazon for a monitor volume control knob. Who could ask for more than that?

For an unrecognizable and unreviewed brand, I'm very pleasantly surprised by the quality of this unit. I'm using it between a PreSonus 68C audio interface (which is connected to my laptop) and Yamaha Stagepas 500 speakers. The claims on the box are actually true, it's completely "transparent" in operation, "solid" in construction, has a "large, precise" knob, and "high-quality inputs and outputs." The knob rotates smoothly and even in motion creates no static or disturbance, as the signal passes through cleanly. This product was my choice after credible claims of attenuated sound at full setting on the leading product with a large knob. It's only been a week so far, but hopefully this will continue to perform flawlessly. One thing I wanted to illustrate for customers and also the manufacturer is shown in the accompanying photo. The point of this unit is easy, quick and accurate volume adjustment. But the position marker on the knob is just a faint incision on its rim. As shown in my picture, I applied a thin strip of dark plastic tape for easy identification of knob setting. I recommend that the makers of the device add something similar in a permanent fashion on the knob. It will be more attractive to buyers, and more useful in action.

Works great as a passive volume control. No noise-buzz-hum. Knob turns smoothly and buttons press easily. UPDATE: After using this for a year...it has developed static when I adjust the volume. When I'm not changing the volume...it is crystal clear with zero static or noise. But everytime I turn it up or down it is a great deal of static. Like tuning an old car radio.

I'm a non-pro home studio musician. This was the least expensive desktop volume control I could find with XLR + RCA + AUX inputs AND outputs, which lets me run a non-pro / home-theater sub-woofer with my desktop studio monitors. Right out of the box, this device feels like something from the 1960's. Kinda heavy w/ an odd metal enclosure painted warm gray. This is a completely passive device, no power required, with great button functions - and it worked perfectly right out of the box. Yes, the device seems to attenuate the signal a bit, but it sounds fairly clean otherwise (again, non-pro here.) I'm running JBL 305P studio monitors (via the XLR outs) and a Polk Home-Studio sub (via the AUX out), and feeding the device from the monitor outputs of a Yamaha MG10XU mixer, which is also my primary audio interface. Buttons on the front panel let me A/B my monitors and sub independently, instantly switch between stereo/mono, and mute the speakers entirely. It also has an A/B switch for the inputs (XLR or RCA/AUX) and a -20db "dim" switch for the incoming signal. The volume knob itself has a nice degree of resistance (IMO) but the indicator mark is impossible to see so I literally drew a solid black line right on the top of the big dial with a sharpie. (If you want to SEE where the knob is set, you're going to have to do something similar.) The only other complaint I have is with the hard plastic feet which slide around on a typical smooth desktop surface. I removed the front two feet and replaced them with two silicon tabs, which gives it just enough grip on the desktop. Otherwise, HIGHLY recommended. This is a simple, non-computerized, physical plug-n-play desktop volume control that works exactly as I hoped it would - and I hope this review helps you.

Digital to Analog Convert = Topping D10s (~$200) Analog volume adjuster = Dynasty ProAudio PMC-2 (~$100) Studio Monitor Speakers = Rokit KRK 5" G4 (~$500) Would recommend this setup. Sound incredible, however, the Dynasty ProAudio PMC-2 starts to get a little static from wear on the components after adjusting the volume continuously for months. I would highly recommend ensuring the unit is grounded as static electricity from your hands can jump into the line and damage your DAC. The static noise only occurs while the knob is being rotated. The slower you rotate it, the more noticeable it is. Deoxit solves the issue completely. This unit is very well made. Purchased in May 2022 and updating this review in August 2024 as it is still working amazing. I've only used the deoxit once and it fixed it for good.

ABSOLUTELY USELESS IT COMES WITH NOTHING ITS A BIGGER HEADACHE THAN ITS WORTH GET SOMETHING CONSUMER FRIENDLY INSTEAD.

I absolutely love this item. I use it for my PC, I have amplified studio headphones that have their volume managed separately from my 2.1 speaker system that runs through this. Rather than turn the volume up and down on those and ruin them over time, I can easily turn up or down the volume or mute it with ease. If this thing ever kicks the bucket (I've accidentally spilled water on it several times and it still works great) I will definitely buy another one.