Lake People present their first monitor controller, the MC100. Building on their expertise in converters and headphone amplifiers, the MC100 has been designed to become the centrepiece for any modern studio.
The MC100 allows four analogue audio inputs and digital audio over USB-C. Two analogue stereo signals can be plugged into balanced XLR sockets, one to unbalanced RCA connectors, and another via a 3.5mm jack. The USB-C connections provides input to the device’s internal D-A converter that works with sample rates up to 384 kHz and 32-bit as well as supporting the digital audio format DSD 256. Users can set these inputs to operate separately or as a summed signal.
The output stage of the MC100 is equipped with three balanced XLR outputs to allow switching between different sets of speakers as well as an assignable subwoofer output. Each output can be attenuated by up to 12 dB, and as with the inputs can operate simultaneously or individually. In addition to these speaker outputs, the MC100 features two XLR slave outputs which pass the selected input signal with no influence from the level control, ideal for level meters and other analysis tools.
Using their experience in high-end headphone amplifiers such as the G103 & G105, (reviewed in SOS Aug 2022), Lake People have incorporated a powerful amp in the MC100 which can connect to headphones via 6.3mm or 3.5mm jack outputs on the front panel. There is a switch to activate the headphone output, a volume knob, and an additional switch and knob control for the X-Feed circuit. This regulates crosstalk between left and right cans to simulate speaker playback and counteract common headphone playback problems, designed to make prolonged listening sessions more comfortable.
The Lake People MC100 offers many features for controlling monitors. The device includes mute and dim switches, a mono switch and a control to swap the left and right channels. The left channel can be phase reversed to check the side signal or to investigate phase alignment issues. The level is controlled with a proven Alps RK27 potentiometer with 41 steps and a solid 50mm knob. The optional MC100 PRO variant replaces the Alps potentiometer with a 256-step reed relay control, adding advantages in terms of both sound and longevity.
Synthax UK
Update 1 July 2024: Synthax UK have announced that they have been appointed as Lake People's offical UK distributor, and will now been supplying the company's entire range of high-quality headphone amplifiers, monitor controllers, microphone preamps and signal converters.
“We’re thrilled to add Lake People to our distribution portfolio,” says Martin Warr, Managing Director of Synthax Audio UK. “Founder Fried Reim is highly respected in our industry for his knowledge and expertise in electronics, and Lake People are emblematic of that renowned German philosophy for exceptional engineering and build quality. We also have a long-established relationship with owner Christof Mallmann, and I’m pleased to welcome another German manufacturer to the family of brands we supply to the UK market.”
Lake People joins other renowned pro audio brands in Synthax UK’s offering such as RME, Ferrofish, Calrec, DirectOut, Dynaudio PRO monitors, Appsys ProAudio, Lauten Audio microphones and TIERRA Audio.
Pricing & Availability
The Lake People MC100 will be available from late May 2023 at a price of €1,799, with the MC100 PRO retailing at €2399.
