Is Remote Control Important?

Now hold on, guys. Before you put me in the ivory tower category, please realize that I thought that we, as audiophiles, were striving for the "ivory tower" of audio. I agree that if we can get the performance we want, with a remote control included, that is great. In my case, I either couldn't afford that performance level w/remote, or it just couldn't be had w/remote. My main question was, would you pick a 2nd choice in performance, simply because it had a remote, and your 1st choice didn't. The question was posed because I saw an example in my friend, who sacrificed huge levels of performance, because the remote was the most important thing for him. I have noticed a sentiment toward this idea on this site, and was wondering how deep it goes. Of course, I realize that some things are done in the name of convenience in all equipment, such as some of you mention like interconnects. But I think that skirts the issue. I am wanting to find out how much influence the mass market, Home Theater, and extraneous bells and whistles is having on our hobby. Since the ubiquitous remote control is the number one feature in the low-to-mid fi category, it is a good guage. At one time, the presence of a remote control simply screamed "mid-fi". No serious audiophile would take any component seriously that was equipped with one. Now it seems that many audiophiles wouldn't take a component seriously that does not have one. Perhaps another question would be appropriate here. Do you believe that the remote control adds cost, and degrades performance at it's price point? And are you willing to accept those negatives, simply because you don't want to get up off the couch?

Onhwy61/Stehno,

I would not disagree with your thoughts as convenience to some level is always present (volume control, etc). I would love the George Jetson life. However, I feel it is more of an issue of opportunity cost. What is more important to me, spending time soldering cable and thus enjoying better sound or using that time to play with my kids, read, etc.? For ME, it is usually playing with my kids, etc.

Maybe when they are older, we can solder together.

Regards,

Matty

Twl, obviously for me I chose performance over the remote, but on my limited budget I was trying to scrape all the performance I could get.

It sounds like your friend was dealing with much higher end equipment and therefore probably couldn't justify buying such a big ticket item that didn't have a remote.

On the topic of convenience, I find that a remote is vital in my home theater with all the different components and listening modes.

Also, the size of the room and the distance from listening chair to equipment is a strong factor. In a large HT room I think a remote would have to be considered as carefully as any other piece of gear in the system.

On the other hand, My 2-channel environment is something I would consider to be somewhat near-field. I sit in a Herman Miller Aeron chair which is easily adjustable and is on rollers so I can move backward or forward in relation to my setup which is only 6-7 feet away. And, I only use two or three volume settings on those big dark cherry knobs. Nooo, I'm talking about volume and source!!

From a psychological stand point my guess is that I perceive 2-channel as being superior, so maybe in my search for purer unadulterated sound I'm able to discount a remote much easier for than I am when watching movies.

Twl, I'm not really sure there's such a clear cut distinction between convenience and performance. Consider tonearm VTA adjustments. Since getting VTA spot on is critical to performance and the correct setting can differ from record to record, then is an adjustable VTA feature a performance item or is it convenience? At first it appears to be a performance issue, but if the adjustment cannot be easily, accurately and quickly performed, in other words conveniently, then how likely is the user to optimally adjust the VTA? In other words the lack of convenience could lead to lowered performance. (Didn't someone actually make a tonearm with remote control adjustable VTA?)

Regarding cost, nothing is for free, and a properly implemented, audiophile remote control that covers just the basic preamp functions (source, volume, balance and mute) has to increase the price. I imagine that for purist oriented tube equipment that the added cost can be quite significant.

Onhwy61, yes I'd like on-the-fly VTA. But I don't really need it to be motorized/remote. I could get up to do it. I think that part would lead to degradation of sound, because when you motorize something, it depends on the motor bearings for stability, and probably would not sound as good. I'd definitely go for a manual on-the-fly VTA if it was made right.

On the cost issues, that is part of my point. For the money that gets put into remote controls and stuff, people could get higher parts quality instead, and reap better sound for the same money. I like convenience, but I don't want to trade performance off for it.