Douk Audio VU3 PRO

Better than the other swithces that I tested. Quality finish and functionality. This switch does not add any color and the loss of output is very minimal or I can say negligible. Very userful for every audiophile to compare between to amplifiers to evaluate performance of two differnt brands of speakers instantly. In my case I was comparing and evaluating my new Yamaha A-S801 amp with my vintage Denon PMA-720 using a pair of KEF Q350 and a pair of Klipch RP600 M-II. It is so convenient and handy to switch between amps and speaker pairs while not changing your listening position , using the remote. Also gives a good look to your rack with the UV meters. I will definitely recomend this.

I was going to get the FOSI Audio version of this, but when I started hearing about the VU meter problem, I waited to see what Aiyma or Douk would do. I'm glad I did, as the VU meters dance easily, even on a low-sensitive setting. The binding posts are good and the whole unit feels premium. I didn't notice any added noise to my chain (Schiit Loki + IFI Zen Phono stage + Emotiva TA-1), but maybe in a more expensive setup, it might add something. Switching between amps and speakers is easy and the remote is very good. The VUs can adjust colors (which you can do with the remote) from a pale yellow to red and green and you can adjust the brightness, too. All in all, a fun item that you can use just on it's own because of the very sensitive mic that makes the VUs go even if not hooked into your chain.

This device does two completely separate things: 1. It is a 2x2 amplifier to speaker selector. If your amplifier doesn't have an A/B speaker switch, this will do the job (but it cannot output to both A+B at once). Less commonly, it will also switch from either of 2 amplifiers to either of the two speaker pairs as well (don't know what once would use that for). It can only handle ONE signal path at a time. 2. It has old-style VU meters with a choice of background colours. This is only for eye-candy for those who want to add a vintage look. There is no practical use for this at all (but that's what I bought it for!). I bought it for (2) and I guess it kind of does the job, though the needle is so fine that even though the meter is large and easily visible from a distance, the needle is not, so you don't really see much unless you're just a few feet away. If you only want it for eye candy, in theory you don't have to connect anything. It has a built-in microphone that will pick up the ambient sound and the meter will move with that. Unfortunately, the microphone sensitivity is low (being at the BACK of the unit doesn't help) so unless you're blasting the music, you're not going to get a satisfactory result (no real movement). So OK, you connect the device input in parallel to your amp but no, that doesn't work either since the meter will only move (according to the documentation--didn't try it) if the OUTPUT is connected to a speaker as well (why???)! So that's a pain since then I ALWAYS need to have this on since otherwise I get no sound (there is no default connection when the unit is powered off. In this mode the meter movement is fine, though at low "background-music" level volumes, it will still not move very much even at maximum gain. The gain setting works as expected. The sensitivity setting is weird. At the lowest end it increases the gain so the needle will move UP higher and more quickly, but it will move DOWN very slowly so the needle movement is sluggish and doesn't feel that it's following the music. At the highest end, it decreases the gain, but increases the responsiveness so the needle will bounce down as quickly as it bounces up. The middle position gives a more-or-less intuitive "feel" but it's not at all clear what this control is supposed to achieve. In short I'm not sure that it was worth the purchase and I think it's more trouble than it's worth to use it. It falls into the "neither here nor there" category for me. It is solidly built with a good-quality metal chassis, and the aesthetics make it look high-end (referring to the Pro model here). If you really need a 2x2 amp/speaker selector (not a switch since a 2x2 switch means you can have 2 signal paths simultaneously, which you cannot with this product), then this seems to be a good choice. As best I as I can tell, the selector is done via relays rather than via electronics, which is a good thing since you are not limiting the signal quality by passing through this unit. So I guess it gets good marks for that part, hence the 4 stars, otherwise it would be 3.

This was just what I needed. Using a tube amp and solid state amp in the same system, I'm able to switch between the two amps and use the same pre-amp, speakers and everything else is worth the price of admission. Added bonus I could always add another pair of speakers in the future if I decide I need them (doubtful). Well made, looks nice, VU meters (their accuracy which is highly debatable, but it looks cool) an added bonus and ability to change the backlighting is nice, but hardly a requirement. There is no discernable degradation of sound quality.

I really wanted to like this, it’s really a nice looking, and well built piece of equipment. It also has the features I was looking for. My biggest complaint is the needles only move when the mic is turned on, even though it has speaker connections. The speakers passing through this does absolutely nothing as far as making the needles move. I bought this for my surround sound just for looks, but if you have a tv stand like I do, where the receiver is underneath the tv you have to turn it up really loud, so the mic will pick up noise. Since I watch tv with my surround sound on, the needles don’t move because the volume doesn’t register through the mic due to where it’s placed on top of my receiver. If I play music it has to be turned up really loud and even then there is a delay with the needles which bothers me. If it worked like I thought it did, passing through and picking up the sound signal, I would have kept it. It just didn’t work for my setup.

First one had one v-meter not working, Amazon sent a new one immediately. Now is fine, nice looking, product has a a good quality. Relais, resistor and connector are fine.

If you like nice VU meters, you will really enjoy this unit. It is kind of confusing though as it does not hook up with RCA cables. It uses your speaker cables to route through. You can control the volume. The looks of it goes along with any of your equipment and you can change the colors and brightness of the screen. This unit was a pleasure to add with the rest of my equipment.

Excelente manufactura y muy fácil de usar