Audiocubics R-cube remote volume control review

If you own some vintage audio equipment and would like an excellent way to control the volume the Audiocubics R-cube is just the answer. I recently purchased the R-cube from Curt at audiocubics.com. The R-cube consists of a simple, hand crafted 3"x3"x3" brushed aluminum cube. On the top front is a 192 color LED to give you a visual indication of the volume level. Below are the volume up and volume down buttons, and IR receiver. On the rear are the quality gold/teflon RCA inputs and outputs as well as the power adaptor plug. The remote control is equally impressive-carved from a solid hardwood with aluminum volume up, volume down and mute buttons. Construction of both the R-cube itself and the remote control are exceptional with great attention to detail.

Connecting the R-cube to your system:
For receivers and integrated amplifiers the R-cube inputs can be connected to the pre-amp outputs and the R-cube outputs can be connected to the amplifier inputs, with the bypass switch open or the jumpers removed. If there are no pre-amp outputs and amplifier inputs, a tape monitor loop can be used with the R-cube inputs connected to the tape outputs and the R-cube outputs connected to the tape inputs. For component systems the R-cube inputs can be connected to the pre-amp outputs and the R-cube outputs can be connected to the amplifier inputs or an equalizer, etc. If you use a single source of appropriate output voltage and an amplifier for a minimalist system, the R-cube inputs can be connected to the source outputs and the R-cube outputs can be connected to the amplifier inputs.

I have used the R-cube with both my vintage Marantz 2270 and Yamaha CR-1020 and have been more than pleased with the results. It not only looks beautiful, but works exactly as advertised. It seems to provide acoustically neutral remote volume control without any added noise what so ever.

Curt hand manufactures these and the quality shows. Although they are not cheap at approx. $200, the R-cube is dramatically less expensive (and I think it looks much better on the audio rack) than the Placette Audio remote volume control (currently about $1000), currently the only other option I am aware of that would provide similar results.

ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Bandwidth for measurements (unless noted otherwise)
Attenuation Range (192 steps)
Attenuation Step Size
Attenuation Matching
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (VIN = 2Vrms, f = 1kHz)
Input Resistance
Input Voltage Range (without clipping)
Input Capacitance
Output Drive Capability
Load Capacitance Stability
Output Noise (VIN = AGND, Gain = 0dB)
Short Circuit Current
Interchannel Crosstalk (f = 1kHz)
Unity-Gain Bandwidth, Small Signal
Power supply 10Hz to 20kHz
-95.5dB to 0dB
0.5 dB
+ or - 0.05 dB
0.0002 %
10,000 Ohms
2.5 Vrms
3 pF
600 Ohm load
100 pF
2.5 uVrms
50 mA
-130 dBFS
10 mHz
120 VAC, 5W, 60Hz wall transformer
PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS
R-cube
R-cube remote
R-cube power supply 3" cube
4" x 1.25" x .5"
2.5" x 2" x 1.5"
USER INTERFACE
R-cube front face
Volume indicator
(+) Button
(-) Button
Remote control detector Single LED, 192 color spectrum from Blue to Red (lowest to highest).
Tactile brushed aluminum pushbutton switch, increases volume and shifts display color toward red.
Tactile brushed aluminum pushbutton switch, decreases volume and shifts display color toward blue.
Infrared.
R-cube rear face
Pwr
L IN
R IN
L OUT
R OUT Input jack for R-cube power supply.
Left channel input, gold/teflon RCA jack.
Right channel input, gold/teflon RCA jack.
Left channel output, gold/teflon RCA jack.
Right channel output, gold/teflon RCA jack.
R-cube remote
(Mute) Button
(+) Button
(-) Button
Battery Tactile brushed aluminum pushbutton switch, mutes volume and changes display color to flashing blue.
Tactile brushed aluminum pushbutton switch, increases volume and shifts display color toward red.
Tactile brushed aluminum pushbutton switch, decreases volume and shifts display color toward blue.
CR2032 Lithium

Curt is wonderful to deal with and manufactures a high quality piece of equipment. So if you've been looking for a quality remote volume control for your vintage audio equipment I highly recommend the R-cube.