Amps with remote controls...?

Does remote tone/volume/balance control affect sound quality?

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stephensmith

New Member
So I've been looking into upgrading my old Sony AV receiver (from 1994) I bought used years ago in college to a more modern stereo amp with network capabilities (bluetooth and wifi) but I don't absolutely need the wifi feature and I can always get a bluetooth adapter for line in) Anyways, I noticed the Onkyo, Yamaha and Pioneer network amps have a smartphone app that acts as a remote (as well as a regular remote control) that you can change volume, bass/treble and balance with. Now... usually the bass/treble and balance knobs have limits and are (what I assume) are analog and use a pot of some sort to change resistance to change internal crossovers for the bass/treble.. and please correct me if I am wrong, this is a somewhat new hobby for me. My question is, when you change this stuff from a remote, does it get changed digitally and how does that affect the sound? I feel as though there would have to be a whole other circuit for the remote changes to these settings because the physical knob wouldn't have moved... In my car (Buick Park Ave.) when i change the volume with my steering wheel, the volume knob actually rotates on it's own so (I presume) it uses the same circuit to adjust the volume and the knob must have a small step motor in it so essentially when i use the steering wheel button the stereo thinks I turned the knob.. it's just the standard stereo in there, nothing fancy. Is this the case on these stereos? Do the knobs move when the remote changes the settings? I have not had a chance to audition or look at them in person, the Frys (only place that sells higher end equipment) doesn't have most of these in stock) so I am relying off of a lot of research and reviews.

I guess what I'm asking in a TL;DR is: Does having remote control over tone and volume affect the sound or is it going through the same circuit?

I listen to vinyl and I was planning on using the built in pre-amp for now until I can get a higher grade pre-amp. I just enjoy listening to youtube, pandora and my itunes library as well so some of the features of the new amps are attractive. I want it to sound as good as it can for that price point (400-600 bucks)

I hope this made sense! Thanks in advance!
 
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there is no difference in the adjustment method. if a unit has tone controls and a remote, using the remote just changes the same tone controls remotely.

if im understanding your query
 
moewillis said:
there is no difference in the adjustment method. if a unit has tone controls and a remote, using the remote just changes the same tone controls remotely.

if im understanding your query
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Thanks for the reply, that was what I initially thought... it just seems weird that you can control the tone without turning the physical knob, unless that knob just changes a digital circuit and the remote control changes the same circuit... Let's say that you have your bass turned up with the knob but then turn it down by the remote, would the knob then just be bypassed? If you change the knob control physically, will it reset the remote settings? Maybe I am just over thinking this concept... :dunno:
 
For example my pre has volume control from the remote. The volume knob is motorized and turns when the remote is pressed. The tone controls aren't adjustable from the remote and have a standard knob that must be adjusted at the unit
 
moewillis said:
For example my pre has volume control from the remote. The volume knob is motorized and turns when the remote is pressed. The tone controls aren't adjustable from the remote and have a standard knob that must be adjusted at the unit
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So that's similar to what it is in my car... The models are: Onkyo TX-8160, Yamaha R-N602 and Pioneer SX-N30. The app that pairs with the stereo has control over A/B speakers, Tone, Balance, Volume and many other features. I don't really need wifi and bluetooth on my amp, I'd rather have a better sound, but at the pricepoint it would be nice to have those features... and I don't know if I'd be able to hear the difference anyway, my speakers are decent but not anything top of the line (DCM KX10 Series 2)
 
to be honest im not interested in digging into the circuity of each as they are not on my radar but in the end i would say maybe looking to deep into it. there is no way they have 2 separate tonal circuits built into the unit (one being for the remote)
 
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moewillis said:
to be honest im not interested in digging into the circuity of each as they are not on my radar but in the end i would say maybe looking to deep into it. there is no way they have 2 separate tonal circuits built into the (one being for the remote)
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Thanks for the replies! I guess I'll just have to see the units in person and listen to them and base my decision off of that.
 
You can try my method to get my volume knob motorized.

1. Buy a remote car toy
2. Stick your volume knob to car toy's tire with a belt

It's just for fun but it actually work haha
 
I have live human legs that don't work so well. My new Emotiva presmp's extensive remote control is not an option for many of us anymore, but a requirement. The preamp sounds great, with dead silent backgrounds. I very much prefer its ladder-type volume control to a motorized pot, but have had good sound with those, as well.
 
i agree - some remote functions are necessary....have to be able to mute the sound if someone calls, and adjust the volume. i don't need to be able to flip sources or anything like that, but i don't think having a remote sacrifices sound quality, necessarily....it just has to be designed thoughtfully.
 
My last stereo preamp was a Parasound 2100. (I go through preamps like socks!) You can find one used for around $3-400 on the bay. It uses a motorized volume control but there is no light on the volume knob. I solved that by putting a long (~2") thin piece of aluminum tape on the volume knob and it rotated and was easily visible. It also has a display so small and dim that I had trouble reading which input was active and I sit about 8' from the audio rack. The tape took care of the first problem I encountered with the 2100 but the small display could not be easily solved. Maybe a Fresnel lens over the display? Just a thought.

I bought my Emotiva XSP-1 Gen 1 from an Emotiva Lounge member and I'm very happy with it. The display is easily read by these 68 YO eyes just fine from 8' and I can see the volume as it ramps up/down since it shows in the display. It is adjusted in .5db increments. The volume knob does not move with volume changes. Why Emotiva bothered to put a dimple on a non-moving knob is a mystery. Both preamps are very nice sounding but for the $150 I paid over the 2100 I'll take the XSP-1 every time. I might change this XSP-1 out but it isn't because it does anything wrong or less well than other preamps - I get bored with audio gear after a time. Case in point: I have a pair of UPA-1 mono block amps showing up later in the week. I think I'll keep the Acurus regardless. It'll go on my pile of stored stuff!
 
So I ended up going with the Onkyo TX8160 and one of the main reasons I chose this over the Yamaha was the fact that it has a line out connection so I can have a different amplifier plugged into it to do the amplification (tube or solid state) and I can use the receiver for more of a receiver and less as the amplifier. I am happy with the sound and the power output though, I just want to keep my options open. It also has a zone 2 option. And for $200 less than the yamaha, I think it was a good deal. The internet apps are awesome. Having the Pandora and other streaming services right on the receiver makes listening to music so much easier than having to use my phone with an RCA cable.... I haven't heard pandora sound so good (I pay for the premium membership with the higher bit rate). The phono stage seems like it's alright... better than what I had before! I'll eventually get a proper phono pre amp but for now it does just fine. The Onkyo iPhone App is simple but effective. The tone knobs are not motorized or anything and they are not limited... meaning when the unit is off you can spin them clockwise or counter clockwise as many times as you want whereas some other stereos I've had have limitations to how far you can turn them (like 90 degrees each way from center). Anyways, so far I am very pleased with the receiver. I bought some banana plugs to make life easier as well. I just wish the receiver had a clock on it... when the unit is powered off, there is no display at all, it would be nice to have the time and day scrolling across or something... but that can always come in the firmware updates... Set up was super simple, I was connected to the internet within 10 minutes of plugging the unit in.
 
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Nice choice! I have the model prior to the TX-8160 - the TX-8050 - in my bedroom 2 channel setup for several years now. Same amp section and the addition of wireless built in and no more useless video switching so its been updated (finally!). These Onkyo stereo receivers tend to get short shrift by many audiophiles for no good reason. If it isn't a true integrated they turn their noses up at these receivers. They sound good and 'just work'. I think of my 8050 as an integrated amp with a bonus AM/FM tuner built in. I've never used the tuner. When I had to put it into service in the MLP for a few weeks it sounded very good driving my Salk speakers. Decent DAC's too. Phono section? Not so much but thats comparing it to the XSP-1 which has IMO an outstanding phono section.
 
Knucklehead said:
Nice choice! I have the model prior to the TX-8160 - the TX-8050 - in my bedroom 2 channel setup for several years now. Same amp section and the addition of wireless built in and no more useless video switching so its been updated (finally!). These Onkyo stereo receivers tend to get short shrift by many audiophiles for no good reason. If it isn't a true integrated they turn their noses up at these receivers. They sound good and 'just work'. I think of my 8050 as an integrated amp with a bonus AM/FM tuner built in. I've never used the tuner. When I had to put it into service in the MLP for a few weeks it sounded very good driving my Salk speakers. Decent DAC's too. Phono section? Not so much but thats comparing it to the XSP-1 which has IMO an outstanding phono section.
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Knucklehead, thanks for the reply! I think this is a great unit for someone just starting out in the 'audiophile' world. Of course it's not the best unit around, but it's certainly not the worst. I use mine in my bedroom too and it's got plenty of power. I have been listening to FM lately in the mornings because there's a radio show game I like to listen to but rarely make it out of the house and in the car in time to listen to it. I completely agree about the phono section. Not really impressed by it... i feel like they threw it in just to have it to attract more consumers... but I plan on getting a phono pre-amp soon anyways. I like the optical input, i have my dvd player connected to it so the Onkyo can do the D/A conversion instead of my crappy TV.
 
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