Balanced/Differential tube preamplifier recommendation?


First post here. Hello

 

I have a Wyred4Sound ST-500mkII class D power amplifier. I would like a balanced/differential tube preamplifier to go with it. Ideally I would spend less than $2000 on this preamp. A remote for power and volume control is a must for me. 

I would like something that is true balanced, as my source is also true balanced

I have seen a few options, but most seem to be out of my price range, and to be an uneven match for a fairly affordable power amp like I have. Any suggestions? Thank you 🙂

thought9

Why can't the existing attenuator be motorized?

@thought9 The control has to have 4 decks because its controlling both the inverted and non-inverted phases of the signal. The stepped control has to not exceed a certain size. The switch we use can't handle the torque a motor will put on it due to the lack of a bushing in the design.

bushing in the design. @atmasphere ok, I understand. In the units with a motorized attenuator, do you just use a regular potentiometer?

@thought9 Yes, if a 4-dech control can be considered 'regular'. Turns out that due to a change we made in the volume taper about 8 years ago that the difference between the stepped control and the pot was mostly eliminated.

@atmasphere mostly eliminated.

 

in that case why not make the full switch? Your popularity seems to be shunted majorly by the lack of a remote control being standard in your offerings 

@atmasphere no offense meant by the way. I just mean to convey that today, remote controls are very important to most audiophiles, especially at the level that your firm operates