Topic: Channel Balance - suggested interface improvement
I have bought ADI-2 DAC FS just this week and I am extremely impressed with its sound quality (being at par with DAC in my hi-end Ayon CD), capabilities (insane!) and well-though user interface.
While I find the unit to be near-perfect, I believe that some important functionalities of the user interface could still be refined via some low-effort changes in the next versions of the firmware. My major „complaint" so far is the interface of CHANNEL BALANCE function:
PROBLEM:
While the changes in volume and T/B adjustments are easily read from the distance on the display (momentarily showing changed values as clear LARGE FONT), Channel Balance changes are shown only as a screen with small L/R bar + very small font beneath this = unreadable if not at the unit. There is also no way to make balance „center” from the remote - while changing the balance there is indeed a short stop at center, but w/o clear reading of the changed values it is close to impossible to catch this short moment. Thus in reality to fine-adjust the balance or to return it to center position the user must be at the unit. And using Setups+Custom Key to center the balance from the remote is possible, but not practical as this also imposes several other settings stored (e.g. volume, etc)
PROPOSED SOLUTION:
This problem seems to be easily solved by the following:
a) an option to see changed L/R balance values on the display exactly as Volume or T/B adjustments - with short display in the same large font (so it would e.g. read „L08" or „R55" or if at center - just „C" - this would be exactly same reading as currently beneath the L/R bar, but just visible from the distance. Not to confuse long-term users (that may be accustomed to the current interface) this option could be toggled in setup - you may add a line "Left/Right Balance: Standard (default) / Large Font".
b) you should also activate an option „Center L/R Balance” as one of the custom-actions that could be programmed to one of the custom keys on the remote / front. Actually you already have such function ready (double clicking rotary knob 2 while in Channel Balance subscreen does exactly this), just please add this to the list of selectable actions for key remapping.
I hope this is useful!