I did a build with remote control which I find quite satisfying. Actually it is my best preamp built so far and I did quite a few.
Apart from the input section and the power supply the amplification circuit itself is not altered in any way. I'm running it with my Seductor power amplifier which I also appreciate very much. These are the things I have changed compared to a stock Smash/SmashUp kit:
1) Replaced cinch input and output jacks with CMC silver ones
2) Replaced input selector with Seiden type
3) Integrated Lite Audio MV-04 remote volume control:
- Connected as shunt-type attenuator with 50k Audio Note tantal series resistors
- MV04 voume has a 4 channel volume pot which is wired in 2 parallel pairs
- 4 wire bridges are necessary to support shunt-mode
- Relay based input switching of MV04 is not used
- Remote IR sensor is integrated in left hand mock-up knob
- AC power supply is connected to 6SN7 heaters
- MV04 circuit board modifications necessary to divide single ground into 3 different grounds
4) Internal signal cabling is done with HGC silver solid core wire
5) Grounding scheme changed to not switch each inputs ground
6) Screening of input/output cabling with grounded copper foil
7) Output caps changed to Audyn True Copper Max types 1uf / 630V
8) Resistors changed to Audio Note tantal types
9) Power supply:
- Replaced 1st C with Mundorf Tube Cap Polypropylene 30uF / 600V
- Replaced 2nd C with Nichicon KX type 470uF / 250V
- Replaced 270Ohm / 5 W resistor with Hammnod 158M 10H choke
10) Loctal sockets:
- Remove central locking mechanism completely
- Installed contact wire from shielding pin #5 to enable proper grounding of the socket's metal parts
- Mounted O-ring on top between chassis and tube socket for further mechanical decoupling
11) C4S-boards:
- Replaced stock TL431 shunt regulators on C4S boards with lower noise types LM431
- 4P1L tubes are so noisy that after all I'm in doubt that this is really necessary
Enjoy and do not hesitate to ask questions!
