By EnochLight
Sat Dec 26, 2020 6:32 pm
The fam picked up a set of red aluminum knobs for my Live 2 - Merry Christmas to me! Here's my hot take:
Overall, I like the way it looks (though I still wish the Big Knob had a larger circumference). I like less the way it degrades the functionality of the Q-Links, but it is what it is. I'll keep them for now, and will probably pick up a 0.8 Pentalobe long tip tool eventually. In the meantime, I'll keep my OG's near by in case one of these fall off during transport. Hitting an off grid cabin tomorrow for a few days and looking forward to getting some MPC time in.
- Build quality is pretty good, though they appear that they may scratch easy
- The big knob came with an Allen wrench to actually secure it onto the metal pot via the set screw - yay!!!
- The Q-Link knobs did NOT come with a properly sized to tool to install them, and this SUCKED. On the product page, it states that a 0.8 Pentalobe with long tip (iPhone Style) is required. IMHO, this tool should be included in the sale of the knobs and the cost rolled into them. Package these in sets of 4 (with the 0.8 Pentalobe long tip tool) as an option, at least.
- The Q-Link knobs bolt is so small, you have to have laser 20/20 vision to install them.
- 2 out of 4 of the Q-Link knobs had the set screw loose in the bag, and I almost lost them - twice.
- I don't possess a 0.8 Pentalobe long tip tool to secure the Q-Link knobs correctly, so I used the smallest flat-head screw driver I could find (had one in an eye glass repair kit thankfully). Even this does not allow me to secure them tight, and I worry that they will fall off or work their way off eventually.
- Keep your original knobs to address that last point (or buy a 0.8 Pentalobe long tip tool).
- Aesthetically, I feel this looks great on the Live 2 - the red on black just looks cool! One thing I miss about the MPC Touch was the red sides on the black body (I know the X kept this, which was the right design choice IMHO).
- Functionally, I have mixed feelings. The Big Knob is usable, but I wish it was... bigger. The Q-Links actually take a step DOWN in usability as they are so smooth that it is more difficult to grab onto them. I wish they had machined the outside circumference with bevels or pits on the Q-Links like they did on the Big Knob. That's a massive miss, MPC Stuff.com!
- The color of the Big Knob is slightly lighter than the Q-Links. This is noted on the product page of the Big Knob, so you can't really hold that against MPC Stuff.com but it's good to know for those who are OCD about stuff matching.
- Q-Links capacitive touch still works fine with the aluminum knobs, which is a relief as aluminum is a poor conductor of electricity.
Overall, I like the way it looks (though I still wish the Big Knob had a larger circumference). I like less the way it degrades the functionality of the Q-Links, but it is what it is. I'll keep them for now, and will probably pick up a 0.8 Pentalobe long tip tool eventually. In the meantime, I'll keep my OG's near by in case one of these fall off during transport. Hitting an off grid cabin tomorrow for a few days and looking forward to getting some MPC time in.
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