Hi end tube preamps, it’s all about functionality!!


So most preamps over $10 grand all sound very good.  But functionality varies widely and a challenge to readily figure out.


some remotes don’t turn on unit,  some leave tubes on while watching tv/movies assuming they have ht bypass functionality,  some turn off avr when change is made to stereo listening (McIntosh), some use 3 tubes and some use 8 tubes, volume control process differences, power supply being external or internal, and many more feature variations.


it is a mess.  The marketplace over time will make a buying decision abit easier as brands soon learn that the avr/stereo integration is a very important market and ease of use along with running costs need to be considered more carefully.
emergingsoul
Warning — we’re dealing with about 258MB of RAM here.  Might be kenjit’s roommate.  Participate at your own risk.  Peace out. 
Integration of high end sound system with  tv-video equipment will negatively affect SQ.  Extra functionality futures calls for extra circuitry which add interference and lowering SQ.  Solution is to have two separate systems and even better solution is to have those systems in different rooms. 
I regard having separate volume controls for left and right channels as added functionality!
I have a system for music (my top priority) and a totally separate system for movies and sports in the same room. Been this way since the beginning and works great.  I would never have even tried to have one system do both. Too many compromises. Check it out.