Looks like about half of you have to have a remote. I'm like Realreno, all my music is now on computer server, so you can switch between CDs on the fly. Problem is the recording levels between CDs can be drastic. It's too distracting for me to change the volume level between songs from different CDs and sometimes within the same song when dynamic swings can be very large. Speaking to designers, the volume attenuator seems to be one of the most important components of a preamp, and there just ain't any good commercially available remote volume controls. That's why some designer build their own remotes, but at a significant cost increase. I believe the remote control option on the Atma-sphere MP1 is close to $1000.
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?
Showing 6 responses by dracule1
I hope designers who don't have a remote in their current preamp consider spending the extra time designing or implementing a remote that works to their satisfaction -- but no motorized Alps pot please! I didn't realize such for a large percent of audiophiles a remote was a deal breaker. Manufacturers may be losing more than half their business because a lack of a remote. |
Do be honest, I know of an guy who has Atmasphere preamp and amps. He compared balanced interconnects made by Mogami, I think, and a high end cable manufacturer. He said the latter sounded better to him and bought the high end cable at a considerable cost. I have a hard time believing that with Atmasphere electronics, interconnects don't change the sound. I heard differences in interconnect sound in fully balanced system, although not Atmasphere. For some people, having your equipment rack next to the listening seat may not be practical and may actually affect the sound from all the reflections from the rack next to you. I still think a remote properly done will not affect the sound. Why would Atmasphere, or any other high end preamp desingers, have done it with the MP1 if this was not the case? |
Here are some quality remote controlled attenuators (the ubiquitous motorized Alps pot excluded) that can be added dto an active preamp. http://www.tentlabs.com/Products/page31/page31.html http://www.tubewizard.com/new_remote_volume_control_is_the.htm http://www.marchandelec.com/att.html (this one looks like the one used by Atma-sphere MP1) http://bentaudio.com/index2.html http://www.partsconnexion.com/tkd_73340.html |
Charles1dad, I thought it was a good analogy because performance in car parlance has do with horse power, handling, top speed/acceleration which are analogous to power output, dynamics, and frequency extension in audiophile terms. Soft pillowy quiet ride and leather interior etc of Lexus sedan are all conveniences like a remote. We, at least me, listen to music almost every day so the daily driver analogy applies. But we are digressing from the original point of my thread. |