Description

The Pathos InControl MkII Pure Class-A Stereo Preamplifier was created to give the InPower MkII monoblock power amplifiers a control unit capable of unlocking their full potential. While it carries the InControl name for continuity with its predecessor, Pathos considers the MkII different enough from the original to represent an entirely new design — more versatile, more compact, and styled to complement the InPower MkII visually as well as sonically.

At its core, the InControl MkII is a two-stage preamplifier that is entirely and fully balanced, operating in pure Class A throughout. The amplification stage uses a double triode — a pair of prestigious Tung-Sol ECC803S tubes — arranged in balanced configuration for a pure, defined sound with high gain, while the output buffer is built from extremely low-noise components chosen specifically to favor musicality, transparency, and naturalness. Following Pathos’ traditional design guidelines, tube voltage amplification is paired with solid-state current amplification and generously sized power supplies, each individually stabilized, shielded, and installed separately to keep noise out of the signal path.

The InControl MkII features the same large, clear vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) used on Pathos’ InPol series, with adjustable brightness to suit any listening environment. Volume is set via a substantial full-aluminum knob offering 100 steps of high-precision, high-dynamic-range attenuation, with gain adjustable between 6dB and 12dB to match a wide range of source and amplifier combinations. Output polarity is remote-selectable, and the entire unit is operable via Pathos’ universal remote control, which also drives other units in the current Pathos lineup.

A dedicated headphone amplifier — the same circuit used in Pathos’ Kratos integrated amplifier — is built in as standard, delivering 3.3W into 16Ω or 2W into 32Ω, enough to comfortably drive the majority of headphones on the market. Standard connectivity includes 4 RCA and 2 balanced XLR analog inputs, with the optional HiDac Mk2 board adding four additional digital inputs (2x USB Type B, 1x coaxial S/PDIF, 1x optical S/PDIF) for listeners who want to integrate digital sources directly into the preamplifier.

As with every Pathos product, the InControl MkII is designed and hand-built in Vicenza, Italy — from the chassis and PCBs to the wood front panel — reflecting the company’s complete control over its manufacturing process from raw materials to finished component.