No preamp 'Balance' control?

Most of mine don't have one, at least one does. I had a preamp until this spring that had a volume control for each channel, it was a pain. I can't remember the last time I actually used a balance control. Certainly not since the 80s.

I do have a preamp, designed by Ben Duncan and built by Audio Synthesis, that has a remote and uses an optical system to change balance between the channels but I have never used this feature. I just this minute realized that the preamp I currently use, an Audio Synthesis Passion Ultimate passive, also has the same system [using only one resistor total in the preamp] and also has a balance adjustment. I had totally forgotten about it. So it is either totally unnecessary or absolutely essential, you pays your money and makes your choice.