Teenage Engineering’s latest audio device invites you to turn its knobs

Image: Teenage Engineering’s TX-6 overview video

Teenage Engineering, the company behind ultra-stylish synthesizer, speakers, and PC cases, has released a new audio gizmo called the TX6 that is a tiny field mixer absolutely festooned. In addition to being able to mix together sound from six stereo inputs and output them to a computer, speaker, or both, the TX6 can also act as a basic synthesizer, drum sequencer, and ausb-C audio interface.

We need to talk about those knobs first. They act as controls for a three-band equalizer, allowing you to adjust the highs, mids, and lows for each input. There are tons of other things you can do with Teenage Engineering, from controlling compressor settings to adjusting pan or note length. The knobs are colorful and knurled at the top, which should help you grip something that is approximately the size of a large Q-Tip.

Image: Teenage Engineering

The rest of the controls are mint, if you can remove your eyes from the knobs. You have a bunch of buttons, a combo button, and a knob for navigating menus, which is more important than the knobs. The volume meters have controllable brightness.

Image: Teenage Engineering

The TX6 has six audio jacks for input, two for aux and cue out, and a main output of 6.35mm. Teenage Engineering says that the built-in battery is good for around eight hours of use, and that it can be charged via the USB-C port. If you have an appropriate cable or accessory, that can be a computer or an iPad. All of this, along with those delicious knobs, are packed into a tiny package.

Image: Teenage Engineering

I can hear the snickers from the UK when I talk about my love of knobs. You don't have to comment about it, my sides are still hurt from reading all the jokes. Just look at them.

Image: Teenage Engineering.

I don't want to sleep on the other parts of this design, it's got an adorable little screen to show you menus, and artificial leather backing. It looks like an old-school Sony device, but it's taken up a notch.

Teenage Engineering says the knobs are different. I'm sure there's a way you can control some of the things that go to 11.

Image: Teenage Engineering

Let's talk about the price after going past the upper limit. Deep breath now costs $1,199. The actual unit, along with a 3.5mm port for the main output, and ausb-c cable, are included. Extra cables, like a dual-TS adapter, will cost between $10 and$15.

I didn't think of any other devices like the TX 6. The Yamaha MG06X is small, but not cool, and it would be hard to call it small. The $350 Zoom H6 can be configured to have the same number of inputs, but it is substantially bulkier and is not as feature-rich as the TX 6. It is definitely more of a field recorder than a mixer. The Mackie MCaster Live is less expensive at $230, but it doesn't have a battery and only has four inputs, which could be useful if you want to plug in a microphone.

While it being in a league of its own may or may not justify its price, the TX6 is probably going to turn away a lot of DJ wannabes or music making casuals like me. If I were to be honest with myself, I would probably spend an embarrassing amount of money to play with one for a day, just so I could feel those sweet, sweet knobs.

Teenage Engineering has the TX6 on their website.