Out of Balance

I love Remote Balance, a small adjustment can make a large improvement, especially while in your listening position.

I use a Chase RLC-1 Remote Line Controller specifically for that purpose, it has very many 1db steps, mute, other features you might or might not use, including automatic and progressive implementation of bass boost that only begins at very low volumes.

NIB, $167. delivered, you MUST have the remote, no controls on the unit

There haven’t been any with remotes, or new for sale for a while lately, don’t hesitate.

Sunday my friend and I were comparing both Mono and Stereo LPs with high quality streaming. Volume differences need to be adjusted for fair comparison. His Audio Research Preamp has remote mute, you can adjust the volume while muted, then change the input, then un-mute. Very nice, AND it has remote balance and a slider display I could see clear enough from 12 ft away! 

His system/speakers came alive when he got this model, he knew his prior AR Preamp had sounded better long ago, I never heard it, his memory was correct.

my friend's tube preamp with remote balance, and ability to change the volume and input remotely while muted is Audio Research REF 5 SE. Loved it!

IF my McIntosh mx110x tube tuner/preamp dies .... now I have a second choice. I think Steve at VAS has several AR pieces he is willing to part with (i.e. not listed, you need to ask him what he has, it's always a head shake when you look around).

My friend has a separate AR Tuner, I never heard it. I had a very good Carver SS Tuner, sold it for a lousy $100 same time I sold my Carver SS Cube Amp. I think the Tube Tuner in the mx110z is remarkable, and it has 2 MM Phono inputs. 

McIntosh 2 MM phonos and only 1 aux has trim controls, I bet the AR does also (to equalize the various inputs volumes) but that does not solve swapping different cartridges and/or streaming.