Compare speakers and Amps with Douk Audio switcher and the secret to crafting your own VU meter.

[@johnpischedda6951]

I love this unit ! I have been using it for about 6 months. I've got a valve amp and a solid state hooked up plus one set of standmount speakers and another set of larger speakers. It's really interesting comparing different speaker/ amp combo's instantly whilst listening to a single track. I keep it hooked up constantly as I don't hear any sound degradation with it in the system. A remarkable piece of gear that's inexpensive looks great and is really functional.

[@Gabster1]

Thanks for sharing

[@Roger-lz9ro]

I never realized this can be used to compare speakers and amplifiers that changes my perception of this unit

[@pauljefferies7122]

Looks like a nicely made device. One could even use this for comparing speaker cables! I wanted to make something similar myself using some nice old latching relays (so the active components, especially the relay electromagnet are completely "off" during listening). My idea was that the unit randomised which device was "A" and "B", so one could do an unbiased A/B comparison and only find out which is which after logging you preference. This kind of scientific testing is a bit out of fashion! Of course one can achieve the same thing by asking your partner to plug in the devices randomly to A or B of the Douk and not tell you which is which!

[@Gabster1]

What I often do is cover the A and B indicators Click the remote a few times till I can not remember which is which then listen and switch once I select the better sound I uncover it and see what I picked.

[@user-kh6uy5fh1g]

Thanks Gaby for showing us what this unit actually does I always thought it just displays the VU but now I realize how helpful it can be for comparing Speakers and Amps

[@patrickmccrank8414]

Nice. I've been looking for a switch to compare speakers. Adding amps to the equation is a bonus. Thanks dude.

[@Gabster1]

Glad to help!

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

Interesting, I was looking at the yesterday. That's another like from me .

[@Gabster1]

Excellent

[@jesusmoreno5568]

You can't compare two things only with a switch. You have to equal levels. For example, different speakers have different sensitivities, so the one which has the high sensitivity probably will sound louder and for some people, it will sound better

[@Gabster1]

You are correct specially if they are far off I would use a db meter and when you switch turn the volume up or down a bit to match once you know the difference you can do it fast

[@MakerTools]

Nice video. I almost bought one of these just for the VU meters...I made my own switching box for switching speakers, two knobs, no relays. I enjoy your channel, my only complaint is you putting your name on someone else's product (?) I'm thinking of offering Douk, with my new speakers I'm about to manufacture. I would never put my name on someone else's product, unless it's agreed, and I made changes to it. Anyway, very nice, thanks for this!

[@Gabster1]

Thanks I guess it is not clear in the video The douk audio product in on m’y own Dac these are 2 separate units. The Vu with my name is my own Dac that I built For my self with credit to all parts used.

[@MakerTools]

@@Gabster1 oh, I didn't realize you had made something... using the same meters as Douk? What does your unit do?

[@chrisw1745]

Can you turn the lights off completely?

[@alanalain4884]

Hi, and thank you for your video. I would have a question if you find the time about the connections with this device (Little Bear). How would I do it if my source is a computer, which I connect an amp to (say the T9) ? How would I connect a second amp (say SMSL DA-9), to my computer (acting as a content playing source) before adding it to the little bear ?? Any insight welcome, because how do you share a single audio source with two amps? I find it confusing , what about the shared audio source for the two amps one would want want to compare in real time using the splitter (little bear) ? How can the two amps be connected to the same source to be compared to start with, be it a PC, CD transport, streamer-DAC, etc. ?. Something I don't get, since, apparently, you can't connect a common audio source to the little bear. Very lost here, but relatively new to the hobbie (and dumb, don't forget dumb, rock dumb)...

[@PalaniAcoustic]

had this on my list too, but always feared that it would degrade the sound :)

[@Gabster1]

I would not leave it on permanently in a High end System but a great tool for Comparing Speakers and amps or to use in a MidFi system

[@bernhardmichaelfux308]

By the way: Do you know the Sister-Product of this switch? The One Little Bear input Switch? It looks almost the same, but is made for input switching 4 to 1. I only found 1 Single Review on YT, and he said (Recordology Channel) he had severe loss of sound quality and Distortion with this switch! OK, I can pretend, that low-voltage switched lines may distort more easily than a speaker line. But it is sad, I could not find a proper review of the product except the one from "Recordology" Your review of the speaker switch is first class again!

[@Gabster1]

Try the douk audio site there are a few there

[@bernhardmichaelfux308]

@@Gabster1 Thank you, but i don´t think that the Douk audio site will tell us anything about massive distortion on their own site so easily. ;-) This here is the VU3, but the product I am speaking of is the VU2...

[@5thlevelweb887]

So if I want to compare 2 amps with the same speakers to see which I like the sound of better, I will need to concurrently feed those amps the same signal? I do have a Schiit Saga+ preamp with 2 sets of RCA outputs so I suppose that is OK. I just got a pair of Martin Logan hybrid speakers - a challenging load to most amps, I understand - and am curious whether they will sound with Class A vs. AB solid state or either vs.push-pull tubes.

[@Gabster1]

That should work avoid very high Volumes not sure what is the rating on the Rsistors as the amp not connected to the speakers is connected to resistors.

[@davidfairchild1640]

Thanks for the review! If I were to connect this in series after the speakers using a second set of binding posts from my speakers, would this lessen the risk of signal path distortion/interference, or does the order of connection in series make no difference to SQ? Thanks!

[@tycheesey]

There are other reviewers that warn about this unit adding to significant loss of fidelity in the signal path. I love the prospect of this unit, but the quality is not there for me to be serious with comparisons.

[@bradfordivie]

Thanks Gabster. Actually looking for a device for comparing headphones and headphone amps. Anyone seen one?

[@Gabster1]

Check the Douk site not sure if I saw a variation of this

[@Gabster1]

here is one of them they have a few others doukaudio.com/en-ca/collections/signal-switcher/products/douk-audio-mc1034-portable-3-way-headphone-speaker-audio-switcher-box-splitter-for-microphones

[@bradfordivie]

Just what I am looking for. Enjoy your day and please know your videos are refreshing and inspiring.

[@wa2368]

Did it audibly degrade the signal in your higher resolution system?

[@Gabster1]

I would only use it for testing and comparing in a High quality system not as a permanent thing

[@Thoughtflux]

Gabby, I have the cheaper version of this. I always fancied a VU meter😊 I have split my DAC RCA output - one going to the VU meter and the other going to my preamp, am I taking the VU meter out of my signal path? (Should I leave it connected all the time? Is it harming the fidelity?)

[@Gabster1]

Low level signals are very sensitive so I would not connect it there. Rather connect it at the speaker level you are less likely to loose sound Quality. If the signal is too high for your older unit reduce the level and if that is not enough put a resistor in the line to the VU unit

[@robsandler1818]

Always enjoy your videos. One concern I have with these switchers is how much power they can switch. I use a 300 watt/channel amp and I believe these will only work with up to 100 wpc. Was curious if that is really the case and what the risks are?

[@Gabster1]

They can handle a lot testing one amp with 2 speakers is no problem But with 2 amplifiers you need to be careful I would not go too close to the max rating the resistors inside can not handle it for a long period of time. Bear in mind you are usually not using more then 10 to 50 watts It is the Amplifier that is not selected that is relying on the small internal resistors to dissipate the power that you need to keep in mind so make sure not run the unselected amp too high too long

[@Kevin-sh1sx]

Compared to the 100w limit, you can choose a product with a higher limit, such as Fosi Audio LC30 or NEOHIPO ET30.@@Gabster1

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Lol been using for comparrsions amps/speakers for a long time for me audio reviews ' I also showed how to hook up 1 dac to 2 Amps to have the exact same signal to both Amps But no1 watched so I deleted video 😮 I also had free giveaway of switchbox and an awesone Cd AIC but had to delete giveaway video because utube frowns on my giveaways guess i have to many strikes against my channel 😔

[@Gabster1]

people under estimate this product till they get one. For sure a very handy thing. Now you need to behave so YT stops striking you :) You should repost your how to hook up 1 dac to 2 Amps to have the exact same signal to both Amps I think some people will find it handy I sure would.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

@Gabster1 I deleted video it was with old camera maybe I make a new one but with the Ares 2 this time instead of Burson ' Just got in the new Denon PMA 1700/Audiolab 7000a 😆 1st video zi compared New Galion SE vs My Doge 10 😆