Grace Design m904

This is an update to my first review, since which time updates have been made to the device's firmware. Miraculously, the one thing I thought would never happen, has: the headphone output can now be toggled between any two user-defined levels by simply double-clicking the knob! Very cool. This feature has been implemented for the Main Level output, as well.

The other improvement I'd like to mention is that the incrementer of the readout now follows the dial more precisely, which wasn't previously the case when turned rapidly. This gives it a more solid feeling and speeds things up a bit.

The problem I reported in my previous review was fixed quickly and hasn't recurred. The company have been a pleasure to deal with.

Very easy to use despite a hierarchial menu layout, which is due to some intelligent planning and a clearly written manual. Mine was purchased in August, 2004 and has 9.02 firmware at this writing (12/28/04). The ability to calibrate all input and output monitor levels is essentail, and easy to do.

Something that slows operation a little is the .5dB stepped controls for the main and headphone outputs. They do not increment at the highest possible rate of dial turning (as in practically spinning--numbers will skip or not increment at some points), not that I'd expect them to--what do I know? It's great having the accurate, duplicable control over the output, and I'm not complaining at all. I do keep thinking that just pressing the dials (which double as selector buttons in calibration and programming modes) will reset the output to "00", so logical an implementation this would seem to have been to my inexpert, non-electrical engineer mind, but after trying that several hundred times out of some sort of habbit, I'm fairly convinced that this will never happen (and isn't advertised to do so, I should add). I don't know if any of these sort of devices have a delay shut-off that mutes the outputs, but one has to be careful to turn off their monitors, or switch off the signal path to them, before turning off the m904, or a loud and potentially damaging pop will be heard. I don't have experience with other high-end monitor controllers to criticize this particular behavior, though I'm used to it from experience with lesser products.

Illuminated buttons, a back-lit LED, and large, sexy blue readout panel make it easy (and Fun) to use, even at a distance in a dark studio. All input and output indicators, mute, talkback, cue, dim switches, illuminate prettily, are well situated and clearly labeled, and provide a dedicated control to each function (though a few double up where it's reasonable to do so). Having two dedicated headphone outputs is handy, too, as it allows two people to listen simultaneously on phones, eliminating the bolix of exchanging and backtracking to compare opinions when sussing out minutia that require them. The two rackspace design provides plenty of space for all of the front controls, and rear ones (there being a vast array), too.

The degree of internal settings control is astonishing, and the defaults for things such as takback microphone volume and dim value worked fine for my room right out of the box.

Crystal clear, clean DAC and signal path with plenty of power to the headphones, and a professional grade microphone preamp for the talkback system. My initial impression of the m904 was that it was "bright", which it is, because it allows the entire audible spectrum (at least as far as my ears can know it) to pass through. But I'm using them mainly with Dynaudio BM15a monitors, which are themselves considered overly bright when set flat. After four months of using this combination, I would also say the Grace with the Dynaudios excell at all frequencies, though possibly slightly less so in the midrange. (I haven't tested this qualification, and am no expert, so this requires further investigation and the opinion of a golden earred wonder with an acoustically perfect room and time on their hands to confirm or contest. In any case, every detail is clear, making the mixing process, tracking date, or just close listening, a joy. I did roll off the Dyanaudios 1 dB on top, as their built-in attenuators allow me to do in order to achieve the desired balance.

Mine has already developed a problem, for some unknown reason: apparently communication has been lost between the main audio circuit and the user interface. This results in the single symptom of having a fixed display of digital clock "out-of-lock" showing an ominous ??.?kHz where something like 44.1kHz should be. Audio still passes, however, and this problem hasn't yet been fixed, though I've just recently contacted the company and will be sending it in for repair. I am concerned that the unit may need ventilation above it, as it does get warm during extended periods of use; though I have it presently situated directly below a Lexicon 300 reverb. I've know ICBs to warp when overheating, causing operational malfunctions, but, in this case, this is pure hypothesis on my part, and supported by no evidence whatsoever at this point.

I received an immediate and useful response from Jamie at Grace Design, who supplied me via email with a quick test scenario to help identify the cause of the problem. I'll be sending it in for repair soon, and will report back if anything out of the ordinary happens, though I don't expect any problems. This is a serious company with, I think, an excellent reputation to preserve.

I use this in an office/control room every day for a variety of types of listening, and working with a wide range of musical styles as well as dialog recording, and am very happy with the way it sounds, and the drammatic extent to which my mixes have improved since using it. It also adds some visual panache, with it's silver and black housing and colorfully illuminated swtiches and output level indicators, it's a serious looking piece of equipment. It's also feature-packed, impressively well thought out in every detail, and not at all unreasonably priced for its quality. Despite the malfunction I've encountered, I expect it, once repaired, will serve it's purpose well for decades.