Absolutely needs to be of same quality standard as the base component . It is the main interface with the unit after all. You pay 10k for a pre and operate it with a $20 remote would only occur in audio. The logic that the manufacturer is putting the dollars into the unit is not compelling to me. ARC about the most shameful in my experience. Hopefully they have also evolved beyond the lightweight stamped metal chassis of the Ref 3 era which was the last one I owned. A look at the total Ref 3 package told me that they had enough left in funds to provide a nice remote. After all, the money is either in your pocket or theirs. ARC certainly not alone in this practice I'm sure.
