Jim, this and the AVP-18 are what I was referring to when you were looking for something like this, but the MCP-18 was not available at the time.
Thanks! Looks like the perfect complement for a Trinaural based system, allowing (I presume) remote adjustment of Center Ch and Bass level.
There is a great recent discussion at DIYAudio, in which myself, Lynn Olson, and possibly another agreed that C Ch trim is critical with a proper 3-ch system. Conversely, Trinaural inventor Bongiorno sternly instructs users to set and forget C Ch level. On this point, I can only presume the late Brian Cheney would have preferred remote C Ch trim. This is based on the fact that, IIRC, he never ceased making C Ch trim adjustments on the Trinaural faceplate the year he displayed it at CES and Trinaural won Best of High End Award. I'd go so far as to say I'd switch back to measly stereo if I had to go without remote C Ch trim, and that's saying a lot because properly setup Trinaural kills stereo.
Does this allow for remote channel trim? Range? Volume steps (I can live with 1 dB).
Trinaural system setup allowing C Ch (and Bass trim if subs present, which should be) looks like this:
Source stereo analog output > Trinaural 3.0 or 3.1 output > NuForce MCP-18 with remote ch trim > power amps including sub amps if present.
Whereas, "normal" (what I'd call inadequate) Trinaural setup looks like this:
Source stereo analog output > stereo preamp > Trinural 3.0/3.1 output > power amps including subs if present.
I know, it may seem like too much hassle to trim C Ch depending on software. You won't think so if you hear it. Most times you can set it once per album. Albums with wide variety of recording venues might require separate setting per track.
It's worth it.
As per every preamp with which I've tried this, I can not more highly recommend shorting every single open unused input on this lovely new NuForce preamp.
IIRC, twenty years ago Steve McCormack's MAP-1 had only six unbalanced channels with $2500 MSRP.
