Pathos InControl MkII Preamplifier

The natural partner of the InPower MkII power amp, the InControl MkII is a fully balanced differential design using Tung-Sol ECC803S tubes. It uses the same big, clean VFD display as the InPol series, and the large aluminum volume knob offers 100 steps of high-precision, high dynamic range attenuation. The on-board headphone amp supplies 2 W at 32 Ohm to drive most headphones on the market. 

In-House Manufacturing and Design

From the wood panel to the PCBs to the chassis, everything at Pathos is either manufactured in-house or sourced from the Vicenza area. 

For example, to make the wood front panel, Pathos buys an entire padouk tree trunk, which is cut into planks in-house, and the final pieces are hand-polished by the son of the Pathos owner himself.

The panel may not contribute to the sound, but this approach says everything about the great sonics you do hear. Having control of the entire manufacturing process from start to finish means that the Pathos InCOntrol is the very best amp it can possibly be at its price-point. These are the very best amps Kevin has heard, and it is Pathos that he has picked for his reference system at home.

Specifications

Tube complement: 2 x Tung-Sol ECC803S

Max input voltage: 4.4 VRMS

Input impedance: 100 kΩ

Output impedance: 110 Ω

Gain: Adjustable 6 dB / 12 dB

Frequency response: 2 Hz - 200 kHz, ±0.5 dB

Inputs
Analog: 2 x balanced XLR, 2 x RCA
Digital (add-on HiDac Mk2 board needed): 2 x USB B, 1 x coaxial S/PDIF, 1 x optical

Outputs: 1 x balanced XLR, 1 x RCA

Headphone
Output power: 3.3 W at 16 Ω, 2 W at 32 Ω
Max output level: 10 VRMS

Dimensions (DWH): 11.4" x 14.1" x 6.1"

Weight: 39.6