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Retrofit remote volume to integrated tube?

How difficult would it be to retrofit a non-remote controlled integrated amp with a motorized volume control? I want to say that there is ample room to house the parts and I can remove the LED in favor of the IR receiver "eye".

Will I be introducing potential "noise" by incorporating this "luxury" item? Am I better off finding a decent pre with remote?

I hate to add another component to my very minimalist 2 ch. tube rig just for the sake of saving a few steps from the sofa to the amp but, yes, I really am that lazy when I'm "in the groove" with my music.

TIA for any ideas and/or suggestions!

Happy Holidays!
auditude
jdombrow
371 posts
 
Also look at the remote kit available from Welbourne Labs:

http://www.welbornelabs.com/remote.htm
shiva
178 posts
 
If you are listening primarily to a CD player, you can try to find one that has its own volume control and use that. That is what I did to great effect. But I must say, that now that I have a remote controled tube amp I am much happier going that way.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Why not just use the outboard unit from Creek? You can even put it in the tape monitor loop and bypass it when the mood strikes. The box is very, very small and unobtursive. It will add a set of interconnects, but it will retain the value of the amp for future sale.
bignerd100
515 posts
 
Similar item to what Viridian advised.

http://www.jolida.com/catalogue/models/jd50a.shtml

Happy holidays!
jdcrox
119 posts
 
The Wellbourne kit looks really interesting. I wonder what the feasibility of putting the kit, including display, in a separate chassis and running shielded cables to it from the volume leads in the preamp. This way it could be easily returned to original configuration for resale, if desired.
John
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