PreSonus Central Station Studio Monitor Control Center
The PreSonus Central Station is a studio monitor control center that features a passive audio path, 5 stereo inputs and 3 sets of monitor outputs.
Overall User Ratings (based on 19 ratings)
Submitted December 24, 2007 by a customer from gmail.com
"This is the best purchase I've made in a long time."
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I really can't imagine doing a mix without the Central Station now that I've had it in my studio for a while. Only small gripe is that I wish it had AES inputs. But hey, you can't ask for too much with a $500 pricetag.
Sound
what you put in is what you get out. Also the D/A converter sounded better than my interface.
Features
I can't mix without this box ever again. It is designed perfectly for professionals and allows you to check your mix through different speakers plus compare your mix with other sources. I have a CD player plugged into the optical inputs, my IPOD in the RCA inputs and my DAW coming in from SPDIF of my RME interface.
Ease of Use
It's really self explanatory. one thing i just discovered is the fact that you can send different mixes to the headphone amps than what you hear in the control room. GREAT FEATURE.
Quality
It's built solid. Doesn't feel cheap at all.
Value
Just buy it. You won't regret it. There's nothing that comes close to this below $3k.
Manufacturer Support
I haven't needed any support with the Central Station I've called Presonus in the past and they were very helpful.
The Wow Factor
Works perfectly. This is a great addition to any studio.
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Submitted May 18, 2012 by Crad B in Glendale, CA
"Great all around monitor "
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zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I love this thing. The remote allows my work surface to be free of messy cables. The main unit sits in the rack with all the needed connections. Sonically, it is very open and clean, the volume control is passive and the DA sounds really good. I like the fact that the headphone feeds can monitor different sources. For instance, in the same studio with multiple rigs, the speakers can play one source, as an editor on a second rig can work in headphones listening to different program simultaneously. This is pretty cool in one box at any price. I also like the tos-link in, it allows me to monitor itunes and Wavelab on my MacPro, along with Pro Tools being open without the digi-core audio. The workmanship on mine has been fine and not faulty... maybe there were some bad ones, I'd think Presonus would fix what was not satisfactory.
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Submitted April 20, 2012 by Randy Emata in North Hollywood, CA
"The Center of my Studiverse"
I was just looking at my Central Station and realized I've had this thing for quite a while. It's been rock solid and delivers just the right amount of ins and outs at a great price. The remote is handy and the talkback pedal option rules. My favorite feature is it's quiet. I like the fact that it's designed as passive. I've used other summing boxes and they were always noisy. Not a good characteristic for someone who produces, composes and mixes full time. Stick a headphone jack on the remote and I'll be happier than I already am.
rE
Musical Background:
Full time music since birth and pretty much born on a piano...
Musical Style:
Whatever check clears...
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Submitted March 27, 2009 by a customer from beatkamp.com
"Bad Build Quality, Unreliable, Not Passive"
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zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This thing is garbage. It just stops working. Not nice when every monitor in your room (on the right side) starts blazing away at full volume. Potential for hearing damage and studio damage. I feel I have earned the right to knock this thing; I paid a lot for it. There is a certain amount of trust that musicians put into gear purchases. We assume that there is a minimal build quality with everything (music equipment generally is very well built); Presonus has betrayed that trust and made a complete lemon of a box. Our dear retailers like Zzounds, etc. also put trust into the labels they carry. In my personal opinion, Presonus is a bad apple in the music gear business. This is my opinion.
Sound
It is simply not true that this thing does not colour the sound. It does just like anything else. There is nothing passive about it. It is powered and has a big light farm on the front. The build quality is absolutely terrible. Mine has been in the shop 3 times and it keeps leaking audio out the right channel. Even more ominous, rapping the front of the case (like The Fonz) makes it better for a short time. So completely frustrating! It is so rare for a piece of musical gear to be this crappy. Even a $20 Behringer stomp box has a higher build quality.
Features
I did not get any accessories so I cannot judge them.
Ease of Use
Very easy to use and install however it will crap out quickly.
Quality
This thing is so porrly made that it is hard to believe that anyone promotes it as "studio" equipment. I have a 20 year old MPC that works perfectly (I replace the pads every 3 to 5 years...) and the Central Station is just crap. Now the right channel is always at full volume no matter whether DIM is pushed or the VOLUME knob is all the way down. Perhaps Presonus should put some of their massive advertising budget into actual quality?
Value
I cannot say much about the price. Free would be too high. This thing is simply a dead brick. If you have one that works, count your blessings and start saving for the Mackie or Dangerous Music box.
Manufacturer Support
No information about the total disaster this product is from the company. Glossy adverts and impressive statistics. None of it is true. This company has terrible build quality and terrible service. I would suggest to them that they hire some decent operations engineers, a good design is nothing if it is poorly manufactured.
The Wow Factor
The sex appeal of this thing is very high. It looks exactly like a real piece of gear. It is not.
Musical Background:
Producer
Musical Style:
Electronic
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Submitted May 17, 2006
"Everything was good the second time around."
as long as it works it will be my control station.
Sound
its passive so you hear what you get no color, or any other additives. It sounds great.
Features
the features would be nice, but out of the box, the led's didn't work. besides that the talk back is nice, and the fact that you can hook up a sustain pedle as the controller of the t/b is really cool.
Ease of Use
real up and down, a monkey could do it.
Quality
again I wasn't to impressed with the quality. It was right out of a mint box, and the machine wasn't fully functional.
Value
you might want to try the mackie big knob, thats what I was gonna get but they gave me this for the same price. Well now I know why.
Manufacturer Support
the people were nice.
The Wow Factor
it goes good on my rack with my fire pod and eurika
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