[tmd]

I have seen many posts where people want preamps with volume controls and at least one recent one where someone wants to buy a preamp just to have the volume controlled remotely.
Do noone make a volume control that can be retrofit to machines? I have pictured in my head a small motor either hard wired or infra red controlled and attached to the spindle of the attenuator.
Seems like although it certainly wouldn't suit all types of equipment, it would be a great option for some set ups. I would love one if it was around say $50 - $75 as I have a home built passive pre at the moment and even if I invest in either the cheaper MAD unit, the Foreplay or the Zen line stage, none of them have remotes.
Neil.

[Marbles]

John Chapman of Bent just did one of these for his TX102 passive transformer based pre.

His are around $200 for the retro kit. for customers to install.  He will do the install , but I'm not sure how much he will charge.

Much of the parts for the Bent remote can be used for other pre's. You should post this ? in his forum, or email him directly.

[nathanm]

What if you jury-rigged up a piece of wire, kinda like an analog shutter release for a camera, or perhaps the cable\hose thing they use on Dremel tools that jewelers\metalworkers use?  Attach one end to the volume knob on the pre and have another remote knob turning the wire at your seat?

[JohnR]

I believe Michael Percy sells a motorized pot for about $100. He is at http://www.percyaudio.com/

[tmd]

Hi JohnR,
What Michael Percy sells would be a solution for some and might do me quite nicely. Thanks for the info.
I still wonder though if there is a retrofit solution where one doesn't want to go inside the machine at all.
nathanm's Dremel idea would work to connect a motor to the spindle but I imagine it would look less than pleasing on the front of a nice piece of equipment.
I wonder how difficult it would be to clobber something together? Anyone what to try to come up with this as a DIY project? I am fairly handy with a soldering iron and have basic electronics skills.
Neil.

[CELT]

CREEK makes an outboard passive pre-amp that has two inputs and a remote control for volume and mute. Also, if you are handy with a soldering iron, Audio Electronic Supply/CARY has an ALPS Stereo Pot that is fitted with a servo-motor and a PCB and sensor that they use on a few of their products.  I think it costs close to the same amount as the Creek unit though. (Both in the neighborhood of around $200. as I recall.)

[colwating]

So  there is an old add-on, made by the original AR corp, and I have it running!  good luck finding one! (last time I saw one go by on Ebay it was costly)  Has stereo, IR conrol, some souce switching,  and is a little black box about 8X6X1.5 inches.

Of more interest is a full set-up control for 6- Ch sources.  Virtually everything in production relies on digitzing the signal and then selecting levels oout of the master chip.  Analoge controls really don't exist, much.

In my case I have a sony DVD which outputs DTS, DVD 5.1, and SACD 5.1 all out of RCA's  I (a) don't want to re-digitze my signal, and (B) won't pay like $1800 for a B&K Pre to give me a hookup.  So what to do?

There is the analog devices chip 8400 and family which gives a true analog pot, and can be cascaded for as many channels as you want.  Problem is it takes standard serial input data and I dont know how to program this.

What is VERY INTERESTING is a new device I found (for five bucks BTW),  which is a remote control for a computer interface, made by hewlett Packard.  there is an infrared reciever to it,  AND IT OUTPUTS SERIAL DATA.  So there we have it.  can I figure out how to decode and tweak all this? No.  Any hints?

I have the name of the fellow who was selling the remote..  He should be able to come up with a lot more of them.

Oh Yeah-Hi - I'm new here.

[JoshK]

Welcome!

First off, what IS your budget?  Might be easier for us to help a bit.  Your might want to ask your question about the DIY type project in the lab as they are more knowledgeable about that thing although they do read these threads too, you might get more response over there.  

I know of a few MC analog volume control solutions.  The cheapest and not bad at all is the Sony--dang forgot the serial name, I'll have to look it up and get back to you but it was mentioned against in the latest Stereophile.  I owned it for some time.  It was really a good product and very versatile, and I am a bit upset that I got rid of it.  Around $450 street price.  It had MC inputs, MC passthrough if you are using a processor for volume, and 2 channel inputs as well.  It has relative offset controls for differring speakers and sub as well as the master volume control and it has a remote.

Bent Audio, here on this forum, makes a pretty pricey although top notch quality MC preamp (passive transformer based).  They are also looking to create a moderate priced alternative (@$1k I think).  I have demo'd their 2 channel version and it is a superb preamp!

R.E. Designs, here as well, has a 6 ch preamp as well, but again it is over your budget I am expecting.

[eric the red]

I assume the Creek goes between the CDP and the preamp with an extra set of I/Cs. Isn't there going to be somewhat of a sonics change then or are the parts that good in the Creek?