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Is preamp remote volume a deal breaker for you?

I've been looking for a quality active tube preamp with remote volume control. Most high quality tube preamps that are reasonably priced (ie, under $4000) do not come with remote volume. Those that do use the cheap motorized Alps pot (I've had bad experience with Alps), probably because it's cheap and widely available. I've seen some very expensive preamps us this pot, unfortunately. The two very high quality preamps I've read about are the SAS Labs 11A, Don Allens preamp, and Atma-sphere M3, but the designers refuses to implement remote because they believe the sound will suffer. Atma-sphere uses a huge hand assembled remote volume only for there expensive MP1. A preamp without remote is a deal breaker for me. How about you?
dracule1

Showing 2 responses by charles1dad

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
A remote control is a nice convenience no doubt.The maker of my linestage believes that to reach the very highest level of sound quality you should avoid them(I don`t really know). To his credit this unit`s sound is stunning and oh so pure. I`m getting along without a remote just fine.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Dracule1,
Your analogy does`nt apply. As a daily driver the Lexus would in fact be the "better performer". It we move to the race track the race car has the better performance.

I honestly don`t know if a well designed remote degrades sound at the very highest level of performance or not. It`s interesting that many of the ultra level; cost no object preamps avoid the remote control.

As in all things regarding audio, it ultimately becomes a matter of personal choice and compromise.
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