Preamps with separate L/R volume controls

Just trying to understand why limit the options if a balance control serves the same purpose.

Having Gain Trim controls allows you to not only set the balance but also the overall gain of the line section. An example might be if you have a digital source which typically has an output that is quite high (too high IMO, but that's a different matter).


With a balance control, you're pretty well stuck with the gain of the line stage which might mean that your Master volume control is most of the way down. This can make it difficult to use. With independent gain trim controls, you can set the overall gain structure and use the Master volume control as you see fit.

My old Pass Aleph P had separate left-right volume controls.  Very good preamp.

As does the Quicksilver Full Function preamp. A very fine pre.

My Pass XP10 has separate control via the remote so their other models probably do too.

In most linestage/preamps with a balance control, the signal for each channel is going through two attenuators, one being the balance control and the other being the volume control which has two separate potentiometers to attenuate each channel.  Having two separate volume controls eliminates one set of attenuators, but, it adds to difficulty in changing volume while maintaining proper channel balance.  It is particularly hard to do remote control of volume this way.

In linestages that have relay switched resistors, the signal from each channel can be independently stepped up and down so that both volume change and channel balance will be achieved through the same stepped attenuator, thereby minimizing signal degradation.  This also allows for easy remote control of both volume and balance. 

To me, remote control of volume is an absolute must have feature.  It is very hard to set the ideal volume level if you have to go back and forth between your chair and the equipment to listen to the result.  It might be good exercise, but it makes for less than ideal listening.