Does remote control degrade the sound of tube preamps?

@music_is_life 

Understood. Thanks for sharing.

@music_is_life

Thanks for @ blackdogs reference. Helpful in seeing where he is coming from, a competitor. His examples of “crappy integrated circuit volume” used in Audio Research equipment who’s sound “has been ruined” … making it a very inferior product had me question his motives. I have not found that to be true. In fact, I think this is a very self-discrediting statement.

I have had a number of products with discrete volume controls and not found them to be greatly superior to alternatives. High end audio component are composed of hundreds and hundreds of design decisions and components and singling out and slandering a single component as a fatal flaw on some of the finest equipment manufacturer seems a bit irresponsible… especially coming from another equipment manufacturer.

Hence the reason for my question. It was clear he had a chip on his shoulder… now it is clear from whence his prejudice comes. 

@blackdoghifi 

It would be interesting to see your system under your ID to see where you are coming from. What has been your  experience with remote control / non-remote / stepped attenuators. 

OP,

Great idea… really hard to implement. Especially since keeping cables as short as possible, hiding them, and the need to have your listening position out in the room away from all the walls are all important constraints in having good sound… and not killing yourself tripping on something… an SAF. 

Great question.

For decades, meters or displays would be included in high end equipment, with the ability to defeat them. In the last few years Audio Research took the problem head on. They decided, if they were to have “silent” meters they would have to design and manufacture their own… ones that did not impact the sound (ghost meters). Before this audio companies just purchased generic meters… and they interfered with the sound quality.

This is how the high end moves forward. As a manufacturer you can choose the cheapest parts to make a piece of gear (this is how we got $20 Blu-ray players), or chose the very best component for a given design. Then, when it counts… make your own… think Focal… making their own drivers.