Knob Feel

Arcam A19 Knob Feel Review Lovely knob here from Arcam’s latest offering. Lovely notched feel to the rotation and only very minor axial skew. Only downside is the plastic material used. All this together provides a near perfect knob feel.

Brennan JB7 500gb Knob Feel Review Very underwhelming. Plasticy, terrible axis skew… and knob removal. unnacceptable knob feel from Brennan

Marantz PM6004 Knob Feel Review - The Marantz has two knobs worthy of reviewing. Firstly the Input Selector has a nice notched spin, with a nice weight behind it. The Volume knob has less weight in my opinion, and also a slight input lag. This being my most commonly used knob, I’d have prefered these roles reversed for long term use. Overall a very average knob experience, but not one I’d shy away from using.

Onkyo TX-NR616 Knob Feel Review Onkyo have stepped up their game here with the TX-NR616. Although it has a plastic feel, the lights and change of tone in the material between face and flange is a plus! The motion is smooth as butter, and a pleasure to rotate. Well done Onkyo!

Rotel RA-12 Knob Feel Review We have a strange one here from Rotel. The RA-12 is has a hard start to the rotation, then a nice weight when in motion. This confuses my Feel greatly. Overall very good, but hard to get over the stiff beginning. The metallic material used though sways it in a positive Feel for me.

Roksan Kandy K2 Amplifier - Knob Feel Review Here we have our Valentines day special Knob Feel. I’m very disappointed with the Roksan here. Nowhere near enough depth to the knob, and too much weight to the rotation. Also lacking in Knob grip. No satisfaction this Valentines day.

Denon RCD-M39DAB Knob Feel Review Nice outing from Denon here, with the RCD-M39DAB all in one micro hifi. Great weight (not too heavy, not too light), and lovely stiffness. Only let down by the strange chamfer.

Cyrus 6A Amplifier - Knob Feel Review Not sure what I expected here from Cyrus. The material used is slightly rubbery, which picks up any residue off your fingers and makes the knob look dirty. The rotation is ever so slightly off axis. The click isn’t too satisfying. I’m not a fan.

Pioneer SC-LX86 - Knob Feel Review Well, this behemoth from Pioneer is certainly the heaviest piece of kit to grace my table. And two knobs, both varying hugely. The input selector has a lovely light, notched rotation, whereas the Volume knob has a lot more weight to it (maybe too much). However, the axial skew on both knobs is huge. This is a deal breaker for me. If it wasn’t for the skew it’d be an A* knob feel.

Cambridge Audio 851A Amplifier - Knob Feel Review Well, here is a treat! The Cambridge Audio 851A Amplifier. Fantastic weight here, and lovely texture. Also, a first for me… They’ve clearly thought about the axial skew on the Knob, so have dampened it with what feels like rubber. So although it is present, it’s like a boat on an ocean of rotation. First class Knob Feel here! Bravo!

Marantz PM-KI PEARL LITE - Knob Feel Review Here we are, now this is special. The Marantz PM-KI Pearl Lite is a lovely piece of engineering. All metal knobs (including the Bass, Treble & Midrange adjustment knobs). While the volume knob is smooth and sumptuous, the input selector is the star of the show here! The clunk it provides on each notch of rotation is like you’ve found the love of your life. It just feels right. It feels like home. Well done Marantz.

Yamaha A-S500 Amplifier - Knob Feel Review The Yamaha here, had me feeling negative towards it from the first look. I hate a backwards/inverted taper on knobs. The plastic is a let down too, with an almost sharp edge. With no substantial weight behind the input or volume knob they have little to offer.

Yamaha RX-A820 - Knob Feel Review Here we have another Yamaha Amplifier. This time an A/V outing. Build quality is still shoddy at best. Axial skew in bucket loads. A nice rotation, but the materials used are of a low grade. Also it’s an off centre spin, which is very offputting. Why can’t Yamaha spend a bit of money on building things?

Cambridge Audio SLA25 - Knob Feel Review Here we have the first of our non-amplifier reviews! And the Cambridge Audio SLA25 Active Speakers are a good start. I love the click on feature. Nice and tactile, the rotation is on the heavy side, but only slightly. No axial skew, and the lovely click on, make this a wonderful if not small knob.

TEAC LP-R550USB - Knob Feel Review Happy Palm Sunday! Or not, if you’ve bought a Teac LP-R550USB. Initial first impressions, good! Nice weight. However, too small, and the rubber… oh dear. Usually I’d always recommend rubber on your knobs, But if it comes off, It’s just going to lead to problems down the line, I’m sure. Axial skew also leaves little to be desired.

Cambridge Audio 651R - Knob Feel Review The 651R is a mixed bag really. Many of the positive points have carried across from the 851a. Very nice dampened axial skew, and lovely weight behind the rotation. However, for some reason this seems slippier than it’s bigger brother. The lack of grip isn’t a huge downside, but does detract from the overall knob pleasure.

Rega Osiris - Knob Feel Review Here is somthing special! The Rega Osiris Reference Amplifier. weighing in at just over 25kg, I was expecting a heavy Knob. Quite the opposite was true, this is a silky smooth experience. Zero Axial Skew, and such a smooth rotation I could barely contain myself.

Sony STR-DH820 - Knob Feel Review Sony can’t make their mind up. Input selectors are notched rotations, a little on the too light side. The volume Knob feels like I’m trying to move Jupiter off it’s axis. Both at least have a consistency in the fact they feel very cheap. Cheap slippy plastic Knobs don’t please me.

Pioneer DV-939A - Retro Knob Feel Here’s the first Retro Knob Feel, It’s also the first Remote Knob Feel! The Pioneer DV-939A, while no knobs on the unit itself, has a smashing Knob on it’s remote control. Plastic is it’s only flaw, a smooth notched rotation and zero axial skew make this baby Retro Review worthy.

Onkyo TX-NR525 - World Exclusive Knob Feel Review The brand new Onkyo TX-NR 525 has only one redeeming feature, It looks pretty. With it's concave-dished front and sleek surround, I was excited to get my analytical appendage on it. But immediately, the plastic material, the sharp edges, the slippy surround & the inexcusable amount of axial skew really disappoint.

Sony MDS-JE500 - Retro Knob Feel Why is new Hi-Fi so terrible at Knobs? This MiniDisc player was regarded as semi entry level when released. And the Knobs adorning it's fascia are significantly better than the majority of modern units I’ve felt. Axial Skew doesn’t exist, and response is solid. I wish they still made them like this!

Marantz NR1504 - Knob Feel Review The input selector here has notches that for me aren’t notched enough, we know Marantz can do it because of the Pearl-Lite already reviewed. The volume Knob doesn’t have enough weight behind it. And the icing on the cake of disappointment is the plastic… It feels terrible.

Ferguson Stereophonic - Antique Knob Something a bit special here. This is our first Antique Knob Feel! The Ferguson Stereophonic combines a radio, turntable and speakers into a lovely bit of furniture. The Knobs are what I’d expect from a lovingly built Hi-Fi. Axial Skew doesn’t exist. The weight behind the rotation is deliberate and weighty. The on-click feels like I’m providing the power myself! Why can’t people make them like this now? What is stopping manufacturers from this attention to detail?

Perreaux Silhouette SXH1 - Knob Feel Review A little teeny tiny Knob from this awesome manufacturer. Although it is a bit plasticy feeling, the solidity is incredible. No axial skew and a lovely rotation. Quality Feel, from a quality headphone amp.

TEAC A-H01 - Knob Feel Review Teac have the ability to make a lovely Knob, this is a great example! They have this lovely machined signature Knob on their nicer devices. A single piece of what I think is Alumninium, giving it lovely weight. The rotation is fantastic, with zero axial skew. The downsides aren’t huge. With the knob not being perfectly centered into it’s hole. Also the tip of the Knobs is a little sharp. I love this Knob so much, I bought one just from the feel alone. Luckily it sounds pretty good too.

BOSS GT-6 - Knob Feel Review Here is a little slice of Knob Gold! It’s true what people have been telling me, the equipment that is made for musical production is a lot better quality than the reproduction equipment. The Knobs on the BOSS GT-6 are beautifully smooth to turn. Zero Axial Skew too. The little Selector Knobs are still smooth but also precise. The spinner is just a little guilty pleasure now. This seems like a genre I might spend a bit of time in until some new HI-FI comes around!

Roth DBT001 - Knob Feel Review Why would you make something look like a Knob when it doesn’t even rotate? Although very plasticy, the channel scrolling Knob is a pretty good Knob Feel. The volume however, for no reason I can imagine, is a clicky left or right abomination. Why? Just use buttons?

Onkyo A-9030 - Knob Feel Review Onkyo! This is a great Knob! The input selector has been downsized it seems to accomodate the enormity of the mammoth volume Knob. I have no problem with this. The Bass, treble and balance are all average. The input selector has a nice little clicky rotation. The star of the show is clearly the volume Knob here, with minimal axial skew, a big thanks goes out to Onkyo for making it so!

Musical Fidelity A3.5 Amplifier - Knob Feel Review Due to popular demand, here we have a lovely piece of Musical Fidelity kit. The A3.5 amplifier is as expected, an all round fantastic Knob Feel. So rather than gush about how awesome the feel is, I’ll just highlight the VERY minor flaws. The rim is a little on the sharp side, but nowhere near skin penetration. And at the extremities of the rotation, there is a little extra movement, as if the whole Knob mechanism is almost a little loose on it’s mountings. But, this is an unbelievable all rounder. True attention to quality.

Sony STR-DN1040 - Knob Feel Review Going into the Sony I was hoping they may have improved since my last review. Instead it’s gone in the opposite direction. This feels like a childs toy, incredibly cheap for such a product. They have clearly spent nothing on aesthetics for these new amplifiers. Rotation is either sluggish or too light on the volume and input respectively. I’m almost offended Sony value Knobs so little.

Musical Fidelity M6I - Knob Feel Review This review marks the first time a manufacturer has been so confident in their build quality, that they have personally brought me an amplifier to review. And right they are! The M6I from Musical Fidelity has a truly outstanding Knob Feel. Built from what feels like a solid block of heaven, the rotation is meaty. Axial Skew doesn’t exist. Quite possibly the best I have had the pleasure of feeling. Thank you MF for bringing me this outstanding piece of machinery.

Harman/Kardon… Hideous/Knob!

Palmer Pro Monicon - Passive Monitor Controller - Knob Feel Review The wonderful folks over at Adam Hall knew they had a gem on their hands… So much so, they sent me this outstanding example of engineering to review. Zero Axial Skew, no play, metal material, awesome weight. I’m humbled to be in it’s presence! If I gave out star ratings it’d be 6/5. I can’t even think how it could be improved upon!

The minx Xi might be a great little streamer, but the Knob is little to be desired. The click of the Knob may sound satisfying, but doesn’t click with me. Axial Skew is present, and the material is of the nasty variety. I expected more from the artisans over at Cambridge Audio.

What you’ve all been waiting for! Winner’s review coming soon! (maybe with an award outtake too).

Review of the "Official Knob Of The Year 2013/14"

TC Electronic - Level Pilot - Knob Feel Review OK, I’ve had MANY requests for this Knob, and boy can I see why. This volume control is what Hi-Fi companies need to aspire to! I don’t quite understand how It simultaneously is light to move, but a heavy feel. The rotation can only be described as creamy. Congratulations TC Electronic, this is by FAR the best Knob I’ve had the pleasure of feeling! To all manufacturers, buy one now to copy from. To all consumers, buy one just to have on your desk as a stress relieving Knob… that’s what mine is for!

A friend pointed this Bluetooth dock out to me. I had not heard from Edifier before, and wrongly expected a bad Knob. What this beautiful speaker has is a wonderfully smooth, well balanced, external Knob solution. A buttery, creamy rotation along with the unusual horizontal placement, make this a Knob worth trying yourself!

Naim Mu-so - Knob Feel Review The quality bar has been raised with the first review for Naim Audio. Although a bit on the large side, this Knob is truly a thing of beauty. I’m 90% convinced the light comes from the angels trapped inside.

Roksan K3 - Knob Feel Review First impressions - Pre touch… THEY HAVE MADE A BETTER KNOB! The K2 was not great (see previous review). This Knob is significantly better. However, as knobs go, it still isn’t fantastic. Axial-Skew a-plenty. On the plus side though, lovely metal finish!

WalkAbout - MESA Boogie - Knob Feel Review This is a lovely piece of Knobbage! Not only a plethora of Knobs, but each one is a little bit of heaven. Axial skew is almost non-existent. Rotation is as smooth as fur. Highly recommended if you need more Knobs in your life!

The 2015 Knob Feel Awards It’s been a glorious year for the industry, and for Knobs worldwide. Certain brands improved. Others knocked it out of the park. One thing is for certain, although we are entering a digital future, the Knob is here to stay!

Cambridge CXA60 - Knob Feel Review Cambridge Audio are back, but with a shorter name and nicer Knobs. Volume, Bass, Treble and Balance all make an appearance. Bass and Treble are a little to attentive on the protrusion, whereas the Balance is dampened and smooth on the rotation. Volume, being the big boy, seems to have taken some notes from the 851A previously reviewed. Lovely smooth rotation with a little weight behind it. Axial skew is present, but not a game changer. Cambridge are back and taking Knobs seriously!

Marshall Acton - Knob Feel Review Wow. We at Knob Feel have heard great things from many people about guitar amplifiers. If this bluetooth speaker is anything to go by, then Marshall are a force to be reckoned with. Super smooth rotation with a heavy, but not hard twist. Axial Skew? I’m not sure Marshall know what it means! A++ Would twist again.

Arcam A29 - Integrated Amplifier - Knob Feel Review The A29 is another home run for Arcam. Lovely feel here, solidly built Knob. Incredibly weighted rotation.Also includes a lovely slight click to the rotation, which does not deter from the smoothness of it. This is one satisfying Knob.

REL - T-Zero - Knob Feel Review Well, this is definitely not sub-par! This Sub’s Knobs have some of the finest construction I’ve felt on such a product. Solid, refined, slightly clicky rotation. Zero Axial Skew. Lovely attention to detail for the rear of a product.

The Nvidia - Geforce GTX 1080 Graphics card tested for Knob Feel

Marantz PM7200 - Knob Feel Review This was a video that was uploaded in 2013, but never made public… Enjoy!

Uher CR240 - Knob Feel Review Great knobs, with an incredible linked set! What’s better than two knobs at once???

What this little gem lacks in size, it makes up in smoothness. You sometimes have to check that it’s even turning, it glides that easily! A nice little click, which usually would be marks against, but not here. Zero axial-skew to be seen.

Oh. My. God! This is a thing of beauty. A 350g aluminium Knob, solidly attached to a lovely wooden base. No Axial skew and not a sharp edge in sight. Able to control ANY on screen knob or slider straight out of the box, on either PC or MAC. I’m in awe. I’m sure many graphic designers and audio engineers could benefit from the precise and fine control this gives… But any audiophiles who used to rely on clunky digital apps can now also bring back that oh so important analogue volume control!

noblechairs - ICON - Gaming Chair - Knob Feel Review I could gush about the lovely, soft, PU Leather… I could talk about the enormous amount of customisability… or even the tasteful nature of a usually gaudy product range. But of course, the star is the great big Knob! It has a lovely firm rotation, as to be hoped for in this kind of purpose. A+ Would Feel Again!