[bmed]

A friend and I were having this conversation yesterday.  He was telling me that I needed to get my components out from in between my speakers, placing my source and pre near my listening position.  He likes the idea of having his volume control chair-side (pseudo remote control) even at the expense of extra long IC's 15-20 feet.  I thought that long IC's would lead to degradation of sound, with prolonged signal propagation, and signal losses.  But, on the flip side, I 've heard it stated before that installing a remote control in the pre has some sonic consequences (never heard it explained satisfactorily).  Seeing that a 15-20 ft run of IC's runs anywhere between $500-$1000 and remote options run around $500 for most pre's, which is the lesser of two evils?  Is there any sonic advantage to getting the sources out from in between the speakers leaving only the amp?  We obviously disagreed.  Any thoughts out there.

Brad

[Marbles]

Bent has a remote control option for most Dact type ladder stepped attenuators that is mechanical and DOES NOT degrade the sound in any way.

It costs around $225 IIRC.


The sound should be better with nothing between the speakers.

[nathanm]

Good idea.  It will be a visual, psychological and acoustic improvement.  I mean, how is that imaginary band supposed to play with your gear in the way?    

Seeing that a 15-20 ft run of IC's runs anywhere between $500-$1000 and remote options run around $500 for most pre's, which is the lesser of two evils?

Well, I only see one 'evil' here, but it goes without saying.  Anyway, once you put the gubbins off to the side of your chair and are free to concentrate on the beauty that is your front wall you'll forget all about such things.  It's all good.  Put that credit card away!  

[bmed]

Just looking for a better way...uhh...easier way..uhh...actually, lazier way to turn down the volume when my wife starts yelling at me to turn it down or "honey could you....?".

Hey maybe that should be a better way to turn it up!!  

I've read all the archives over at AA on the subject of long IC's, low capacitance and the like.  The cost associated with these extra long IC's is ridiculous.  Hell, even 1m pairs can be rather ridiculous.  

I understand what you mean

It will be a visual, psychological and acoustic improvement.  

Even though my components sit pretty low, it's hard to get that front wall to disappear orange, green, blue lights glaring.

Brad

[Tonto Yoder]

bmed,
for quite some time, I've had most of my gear on the side of the room with a 3M IC running from pre to amp which sits between the speakers on a low stand. I thought it might improve imaging, but I'm unsure if I can tell a difference; however, it definitely is less distracting--less of a reminder that I'm listening to gear rather than music. The lighting on my equipment is minimal, but still it's slightly distracting and I prefer to not look at it.

As to remote volume, I now find it indispensable since upgrading my system: I think there's a RIGHT volume where things sound best (not just louder or softer, but tonally right). Since that volume can really only be determined while sitting in the listening position, a remote volume control is almost necessary.  I recently switched back temporarily to one of my former preamps without remote volume and missed my remote.  

BTW, the designer of my preamp makes a big deal over how he has implemented a remote volume that doesn't degrade the sonics and that feature adds $500 to the retail price.  If I had bought my preamp new, I probably would have foregone the remote just to save $$$;since it was second hand, the remote was included in the reasonable price and I'm glad it was.

[Ernest]

Don't you all listen with your eyes closed?  I thought all audiophiles did...

I no longer have a preamp with remote control and have found that I don't miss it.

[Sedona Sky Sound]

My personal and professional opinion is to get the ICs as short as possible. As long as you are not putting a 36"+ TV right in the middle of the speakers, the effects of having an open rack with an amp, pre-amp, and CD player is negligable. Putting your equipment rack on the side wall is infinitely worse since it is likely to screw up the imaging as well (assuming you started with a symetric room to begin with. If your room is not symetrical, then the effect if the ICs is probably an order of magnitude less than the effect of the room anyway). However, the difference in going from a 1m interconnect to a 4m interconnect is very noticable in my system.  

As long as your remote is mechanically actuated you are probably OK. I am not a fan of trying to do attenuation in the digital domain even when the designer claims it is not technically in the signal path (typically done in pre/pros but in some stereo pres as well).

Best of luck.

Julian
www.sedonaskysound.com

[mgalusha]

I have my rack on the side wall and behind me and run long speaker cables. In my mind a high voltage/high current signal is much less likely to be degraded than a low voltage/low current signal in the IC's. All the IC's in my system are about as short as physically possible.

I do like having nothing between the speakers, no distraction from the music and IMO the speakers tend to disappear easier because there is nothing to draw your attention to that area. Like Ernest, I tend to listen with my eyes closed but even then, a bright LED can still be seen. I would like a remote tho...

Just my wooden nickels worth.

mike g

[Rob Babcock]

I go with short ICs and long speaker cables, too.  My gear occuppies two racks (my "twin towers") at the rear of the room.  This clears the front for a 100" Da-Lite screen, but has the nice side benefit or removing any visual cues/distractions with music.

[bmed]

I guess the main thing for me is having volume control from the seating position.  Finding that perfect listening level for a particular song is important, and differs between songs on the same album.  My center stack is only ~3 ft tall with mono's on either side, not that distracting.  There are alot of glowing tubes but I love that.  Trying to find the ultimate in convenience with as little detrimental sonic effect as possible.  

Talking with the manufacturer of my pre, it's supposedly able to drive longer IC's due to its "wide bandwidth"-not exactly sure what that means.  Looks like I'd need about 14-15ft of IC's to reach both monos.   But they are more than willing to let me send in my pre for installation of a remote to the tune of $500 big ones.   Neither are very cheap alternatives, except getting my rear up outa my chair and walking 6ft---that's free.  I'm not willing to run long speaker cables as I just got mono's for the purpose of shortening that distance.

Appreciate everyone's thoughts and experiences,

Brad

[Rocket]

Hi Brad,

What preamp are you currently using?

I have an n.e.w. p3 tube preamp which didn't have remote volume control.

I bought a remote volume kit from audio electronic supply (cary electronics) for $220us and had an electronics technician install it for me.

Cary quoted me $500us to install the same kit.

it works perfectly.  the instructions were lousy and you definitely have to know what you are going to install this kit.

regards

rocket

[bmed]

Actually Rocket, it is a AES AE-3 DJH.  $500 for install by Cary.  I've looked into ordering and installing it, but alas, there are no technicians in my area that I am aware of.  Anyone know of one in the St. Louis area??

Brad

[bmed]

Actually Rocket, it is a AES AE-3 DJH.  $500 for install by Cary.  I've looked into ordering and installing it, but alas, there are no technicians in my area that I am aware of.  Anyone know of one in the St. Louis area??

Brad