2. amps-preamps
  3. 1311549533

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 3 responses by wolf_garcia

wolf_garcia
6,783 posts
 
I have a well designed preamp with remote that sounds great...someday I'll replace it with a VERY expensive preamp and at that time I also plan to pay somebody to sit next to it turning it up and down for me at my whim, thus creating a "win win".
wolf_garcia
6,783 posts
 
If I didn't have a remote I'd hear even less of what people (i.e. girlfriend) attempt to say to me when I'm listening to my stereo. I've been to the Alps, and I'm staying.
wolf_garcia
6,783 posts
 
Regasrding XLRs: I've used balanced cables in pro audio for decades...I've found that better xlr cables really do sound better (surprise), and recently bought a pair of Mogami/Neutrik "Gold" ICs to connect my Kavent balanced preamp to my Forte' Model 55 amp, replacing some no name brand of ICs that came with the preamp...man...the Mogamis SUCKED with tizzy, harsh treble, weird harmonic energy...bleah...sounded so bad I couldn't tolerate an interminable break-in period and replaced them A'quest Diamondbacks that sounded great immediately (and even better after some break-in). This was surprising in that I've never had such a dramatic case of cable failure.
More to discover