MicroStation BT

With dimensions of 120 x 120 x 63.5 cm and a weight of 0.34 kg, this monitor controller is relatively compact and finds its place even in a cramped desktop studio. The main control element, the pleasantly large volume control with a diameter of just over 4 cm, is centrally located. There are also four buttons for Bluetooth, mute, sub bypass and pair, which already indicate the special features of the controller. After pressing the pair button, you can wirelessly integrate a Bluetooth-compatible audio device such as a smartphone. Equally practical and rarely found in an inexpensive and compact monitor controller is the separate output for a subwoofer (either RCA or jack), which can be switched on and off at any time with the bypass button to judge the mix with or without low bass. Mute is used for muting, whereby the headphones can conveniently continue to be supplied with signal (adjustable via switch). The only thing we missed was a DIM switch and the option to monitor in mono for testing purposes. A pair of monitor speakers is connected via two 6.3mm jack sockets, and there is also a headphone/Aux output in stereo mini jack format. The audio source is also connected via two jack sockets, a stereo mini jack or via Bluetooth.

Verdict

MicroStation BT offers practical equipment for the desktop studio; particularly the Bluetooth and the separate sub output real added values. Balanced inputs and outputs prevent noise, and everything worked right away and in adequate audio quality in the test. And thanks to power supplied via USB, a separate power supply can be saved when using a computer.