PreSonus Central Station Plus Studio Monitor Control Center with Remote

This studio monitor control center from PreSonus allows you to easily switch between stereo and analog input sources.

You mostly monitor on near-fields, but occasionally switch to big, honking Main speakers or a second set of near-fields. You want to hear what your mix sounds like with and without subwoofer bass. And you want to be able to monitor straight from digital sources as well as analog. Meet the PreSonus Central Station PLUS.

It's one of Presonus's most popular products for professional studios because it provides the perfect combination of stereo inputs, outputs, and recording-communication functions, allowing you to easily manage multiple sources and monitor speakers.

With Central Station, you can easily switch between three sets of stereo, analog input sources with individual level controls. Two stereo S/PDIF digital sources connect via one coax and one Toslink optical port. You can audition these sources with up to three pairs of speakers, with individual trim pots for each speaker-recessed to avoid accidents. You also get a pair of line-level main outputs, a pair of line-level cue outputs to feed a headphone-distributions system (such as the HP60 or HP4), and two screaming-loud headphone amplifiers with individual level controls.

Finally, with the included Control Station Remote (CSR-1), you can remote-control the Central Station's main volume, input select, output select, talkback, mute, dim, and mono functions from your desktop. The CSR-1 wires to the Central Station via a DE15 connector, enabling you to keep the Central Station in your rack and control it from your work read more surface, providing maximum convenience with minimum wiring.

The Professional's Choice

The pros know that for critical listening, a monitor-control system must be as sonically transparent as possible. That's why they gave the Central Station an audiophile-quality, passive signal path, with no op-amps or ICs, and equipped the S/PDIF inputs with high-definition, 24-bit, 192 kHz D/A converters that deliver 115 dBu of dynamic range.

To enable you to watch your levels, the Central Station sports dual 30-segment, tri-colored, fast-acting, peak-hold LED meters, which can display dBu and dBfs. You can calibrate these meters to match your DAW or other audio device, and a handy switch lets you clear the peak-hold.

Speak to the musicians over the headphone and cue buses using the onboard talkback microphone or connect a mic to the XLR talkback input. The cue signal is automatically dimmed when you use the talkback mic, and a jack admits a footswitch for hands-free talkback operation. Finally, with the optional CSR-1, you can remote-control the Central Station's main volume, input select, output select, talkback, mute, dim, and mono functions.

With pristine audio quality; the ability to switch between multiple analog and digital sources and three sets of speakers; fast, accurate metering; and all of the extras that make your studio work easier and more efficient, it's obvious why the Central Station is the professional engineer's choice for monitor control.

Features

- 3 sets of stereo analog inputs let you switch between sources
- 2 sets of S/PDIF digital inputs (coax and optical)
- 3 sets of stereo speaker outputs with:
- Speaker Select switches
- Recessed trim pot for each speaker output
- Passive audio path: no op amps or IC's in main audio path
- Onboard talkback microphone
- Talkback microphone input with level control (feeds headphone and cue outputs)
- Dual 30-segment, fast-acting, peak-hold LED metering

Cue section with:
- Input-select switch
- Output-level control

Main section with:
- Input-select switch
- Aux-input level control
- Output-level control
- Mute, Dim (-20 dB), and Mono switches
- 2 headphone outputs, each with:
- Dual-function volume controls
- Main-Cue input switches
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.p65Warnings.ca.gov.
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- Audio Inputs:
- TRS1&2:
- Type: 1/4" TRS Passive-Balanced
- Input Impedance: 2K-5K Ohm (Speaker load and Trim level dependent)
- S/N Ratio: Greater than 140dB
- THD+N: Less than .0005% (1KHz @ 0dBu)
- Frequency Response: Greater than 1MHz
- AUX:
- Type: RCA Active-Unbalanced
- Input Impedance: 8Kohm
- S/N Ratio: Greater than 115dB (1KHz @ 0dBu, Unity gain)
- THD+N: Less than .002% (1KHz @ 0dBu, Unity gain)
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-50KHz, -.5dB
- Gain Range: -90dB to +20dB
- S/PDIF:
- Types: RCA 75Ohm-coax and Toslink optical
- Dynamic Range: 117dB
- THD+N: .0025% (1KHz @ -1dBfs)
- Maximum output: +18dBu (Active-Balanced)
- Sample Rates: 44.1K, 48K, 88.2K, 96K, 176.4K, 192K

Note: All Input specifications (except Input Impedance) measured at Speaker A output, Trim and Main Level set to maximum.
- Audio Outputs:
- Speakers:
- Type: 1/4" TRS Passive-Balanced
- Type-Mono Activated: 1/4" TRS Active-Impedance Balanced
- Trim Range: -90dB to 0dB
- Main Level Range: -90dB to 0dB
- Dim Attenuation: -30dB
- Main:
- Type: 1/4" TRS Active-Balanced
- Output Impedance: 51Ohm
- THD+N: Less than 0.0025%
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-50KHz, -.5dB
- Cue:
- Type: 1/4" TRS Active-Impedance Balanced
- Output Impedance: 51Ohm
- THD+N: Less than .003% (1KHz @ 0dBu)
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-50KHz, -.5dB
- Gain Range: -90dB to 0dB
- Dim Attenuation: -30dB (Talkback activated)
- Headphones:
- Type: 1/4" TRS Active Stereo
- Maximum Output: 150mW/channel @ 60 Ohm load
- THD+N: 0.015% (150mW/channel @ 60 Ohm load)
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-50KHz, +1dB
- Talkback:
- Dynamic Microphone Input:
- Type: XLR Female Balanced
- Input Impedance: 2400 Ohm
- Internal Microphone:
- Type: Electret Condenser
- Sensitivity: -42dB
- Mic Preamp:
- Gain Range: 15-55dB
- Input Meters:
- Type: Dual 30 segment LED with Peak Hold
- Range: -48dB to +18dB (-66dBfs to 0dBfs)
- Accuracy: Better than .25dB
- Frequency Range: 10Hz-22KHz
- Calibrate Range: +/- 18dB
- Power Supply:
- Type: External A.C. Transformer/Internal Linear
- Power Consumption: 40VA
- Physical:
- Main Chassis:
- Package Type: 1U - steel chassis
- Dimensions ( W x H x D): 19 x 1.75 x 6.25"
- Weight: 5.0lbs
- External Power Supply (factory configured) :
- Package Type: Molded Plastic
- Dimensions( W x H x D): 2.5 x 2.3 x 4.0"
- Weight: 2.5lbs
Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
Base Item
Shipping Weight: 9.75 lbs
Shipping Dimensions: 24 x 12 x 5 in
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 2777400201

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 225-216-7887
Web: https://support.presonus.com

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (4 ratings)
Submitted April 21, 2014 by Jeff R in Rochester, NY

"Great product, but PreSonus support...."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Let me preface this by saying that the Central Station Plus (CSP) is a great piece of gear. I've been doing this for 40 years, and during my due-diligence, I found reviews on other sites where a few people said that the CSP colors the sound a little. Hogwash (or insert a more colorful expletive if you desire)! Anyone who thinks they hear coloration needs to buy some cotton swabs and clean their ears. There is no audible coloration (IMHO), so I think a few people were just trying to look like they knew what they were talking about when in reality, they didn't. Anyway, it is a great piece, but here is the problem... I have two other pieces of PreSonus gear (neither purchased from zZounds...SORRY GUYS, RARE OCCURRENCE SINCE I STARTED DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU!) and when I had to call PreSonus for support, IT WAS AWFUL!!!! I spent several times trying to raise someone on the phone and got disconnected after 32 minutes every time. Their message says that you can hold for a live representative, but I can guarantee that you will NEVER get one! After submitting a support ticket via email, it took two weeks to get the problem resolved. By the way, I figured it out before they did. They would say, "Try This", and I would email back immediately saying "I already did". Two days later, I would get another email...anyhow, VERY frustrating!! It almost prevented me from buying this product, but I'm glad I decided to pull the trigger. Since it doesn't interface directly with the computer, I don't read more anticipate the problems I had with my other PreSonus gear. Anyhow, the remote is very handy. I have a large desk, so I'm glad I spent the extra cash for it. As many have documented, "C" is mainly for sub-woofer use, but if I wanted to run another pair of monitors, I could. You just have to manually turn-off "A" or "B" and it's very simple. Just press two buttons instead of one. If you have multiple monitors, this is a must-have! Lots of great features at a very friendly price.

Musical Background:
Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, engineer

Musical Style:
Hard rock
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