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
gjrad
145 posts
 
No remote, no preamp. Must have a remote, I don't like getting up frequently to adjust the volume as I change the volume depending on the song. On exception would be if I could bring the preamp next to my listening chair but that is not possible so a remote is a must. Thor TA1000 MkII, Joule LA100 MKIII and BAT 5i.
t_bone
1,182 posts
 
No remote. Don't care. Another solution is to use long interconnects and put the pre next to your chair...
gearjunkie
1 posts
 
deHavilland has a remote stepped attenuator for their pre-amps. I've been using their products for years and am extremely happy with them.

http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/Products%20Page.htm
http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/TW_remote_volume_control_is_the.htm

Feel free to send me an e mail and I can tell you more about it.
jim_swantko
301 posts
 
Deal breaker.
larryi
3,982 posts
 
For me it is a deal breaker. When I found the linestage I liked, I got the designer to add a resistor ladder type volume control that is switched by relay (components can be bought and added by a designer who knows what he is doing).

A well implemented remotely controlled volume/balance setup can be just as good sonically as manual volume control. The designer/builder has to be committed to so doing.
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