Just off the top of my head...AI uses two separate volume controls and says they are stepped attenuators. So it should have a quality volume pathway. Others can have motorized stepped attenuators so no handicap there either. The one to look out for is digital volume controllers that drop bits to control volume (not really sure they drop bits but some digital signal is dumped and lost).
Manual preamp volume control - Audible Illusions M3B
Is it true that most preamps with remote control have a lot to do with their sound quality?
Do vintage preamps with manual precision volume control have the inherent advantage over modern preamps with remote control?
After a few months of mulling over preamp upgrade, I took a plunge on Audible Illusions M3B preamp after reading some posts on the advantage of manual volume control over remote.
Some, including Michael Fremer, considered AI M3A was one of the best preamp.
" All of this adds up to what is clearly one of the finest-sounding, best-built full-function preamplifiers in the world—and the reviews from around the world reflect that."
https://www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/316/index.html
M3B is considered much better than M3A. AI still produces M3B (preamp with MM phono) and M3B MC (phono for low output) with no remote control.
If the answer to my two questions are true, when most super charged audiophiles search for holy grails, why they choose preamps with remote control over those with manual control, and prefer convenience over sound quality?
Do vintage preamps with manual precision volume control have the inherent advantage over modern preamps with remote control?
After a few months of mulling over preamp upgrade, I took a plunge on Audible Illusions M3B preamp after reading some posts on the advantage of manual volume control over remote.
Some, including Michael Fremer, considered AI M3A was one of the best preamp.
" All of this adds up to what is clearly one of the finest-sounding, best-built full-function preamplifiers in the world—and the reviews from around the world reflect that."
https://www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/316/index.html
M3B is considered much better than M3A. AI still produces M3B (preamp with MM phono) and M3B MC (phono for low output) with no remote control.
If the answer to my two questions are true, when most super charged audiophiles search for holy grails, why they choose preamps with remote control over those with manual control, and prefer convenience over sound quality?
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- 13 posts total
- 13 posts total