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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
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Thanks, Kirk. Good points, of course. Re the two adverse situations you indicated as being most likely to occur when a 600 ohm load is used, those reading this should note Ralph's (Atmasphere's) reference to the need to be able to drive 600 ohms "without degradation." In other threads he has made clear that "without degradation" includes having insignificant effects on frequency response and distortion, a condition which will not be met by many (and I suspect most) preamps and source components.

Tim (Timlub), thanks for your kind comments.

Best regards,
-- Al
dracule1 OP
1,085 posts
 
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.
wolf_garcia
6,695 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.
ducks2007
30 posts
 
A volume remote is a must have convenience for me.
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