2. amps-preamps
  3. 191272-32

How do you add remote control to a preamp, here's how.

I purchased a new passive preamp on ebay (made in China) for little over a hundred dollars and.It looks very well built. There is absolutely no gain from input to output. The only thing in the signal path is an Alps volume pot and it is remote controlled. It has four quality inputs and one pair of outputs. I connected my sources to the passive preamp inputs and the pair of outputs to one of the inputs of the non remote preamp. Adjusted the volume halfway on the non-remote preamp. Wella, the remote now controls the volume and input selection via the passive preamp and it sounds marvelous.

phd

Showing 4 responses by mashif

mashif
328 posts
 

I do a similar thing with a Schiit Kara. It's volume control is a resistor ladder so no pot. Wherever I set the volume it's just adding a couple of resistors to the path. 

mashif
328 posts
 

I think Schiit just came out with a new preamp with similar features at half the price. 

mashif
328 posts
 

Another feature of the Schiit Kara is the output impedance is the same in active and passive modes. 

mashif
328 posts
 

I run my actives into my passive. One preamp I can run wide open with no audible distortion and use the passive volume control. The other has a remote but has too much gain to run wide open without distortion. If I'm playing a complete album I run the passive wide open and set the level with the active preamp. But if I'm listening to a playlist with varying levels, I set the passive to about 2 o'clock which makes the active preamp less sensitive to volume changes and easier to set. Otherwise every click of the remote changes the volume too much. 

 

More to discover