My new PMG Signature preamp is about 8 inches off the floor on the bottom shelf of the rack. My listening position is about 14 feet away from the preamp. When I sit down at the listening position, my right hand holding the remote is about three feet off the ground and 13 or 14 feet away from the preamp. At that position, I aim the remote down a bit at the preamp to adjust volume, mute or change inputs. The preamp was not able to pick up the remote command sometimes and I had to aim at different angle and pressed the remote button hard to make it work. Now I find out if I hold the remote about a feet off the floor and aim straight to the preamp, the preamp picks up the command every time without issue. It works normally if I hold the remote that way. No deal breaker. I am fine with it.
I wonder if this is a design choice as well as cost savings. The remote of my old preamp works at different height and angle with no issue. Just an observation. No big deal. Thanks.
I know from experience that infrared signals from a remote may not work or may work inconsistently, depending on how/from what angle the remote is aimed. But the PMG preamp uses a radio frequency signal which I thought would not be susceptible to this sort of thing. What am I missing?
For the pre and transport the new rf remote is more finicky than the older one, at least in my case. There are positions that work better than others but sometimes these donāt work either. At times a given position works easily other times not at all. You just have try several until one works.
Usually pointed directly at the unit does not work but once that was the only one that did work. On one occasion no position worked for the pre; I tried pressing āpreā and ātransportā buttons to change the mode for the remote but still no response. I finally cycled the rear power switch and that fixed it. Another time I had to change volume from the touch screen before it would respond via the remote.
Occasionally there is no remote response when just coming out of standby but after getting some response it starts working fairly well. Sort of like they were out drinking the night before.
These problems donāt happen all that often and the fixes are easy.
Iāve heard early reports of this very thing in another thread as well. Given these reports, it seems as though the remote function was not thoroughly tested before launch. However good the preamp, an intermittent remote problem could keep a good portion of potential customers away. Iād love to hear that this is an issue PS Audio is tracking and a fix is in the works, but IIRC thereās been no official response as of yet.
It would impact me and how I listen. Iām involved in the music hopefullyā¦not playing twister with a remote..
The Mk1 works spot on every timeā¦ā¦
Previous life I was sending a bunch of data 20 miles out on 1 watt. And Iām betting there are not many trees, bushes, tall grass etc between your couch and rackā¦..
Where is that antenna? Bottom? Behind the 1.5in of aluminum? RF should = a great interface vs old schoolā¦..
I have the PMG pre and agree: the remote is buggy. I have to be careful about where it is held and pointed, etc. My listening chair is only 7 feet away, and the PMG is 2 feet about the floor. Several others have made similar observations. This should be fixed.
If it is a true RF remote, you should not have to āpoint" it at anything. It should work from another room or in a theater.
The transmitter is right in your hand and Iām guessing the remote is of proven design.
How and where the receiving antenna is placed may be key. Hopefully it is not a major issue to either adjust sensitivity or move it if thatās the issue. Sounds like a pain point.
The remote RF receiver is located on the bottom of the unit just behind the front panel. It is a bit sensitive to positioning and other units/metal around it.
We have seen some issues as you describe. Most are solved with repositioning the unit, though one or two needed to come home.
Try changing the preampās place on the shelf to see if that helps. Also, although itās counter intuitive, the RF remote seems directional sensitive.
If it becomes a real issue certainly reach out to Delia in support and sheāll get you fixed up.
@paul Although I am not a PMG Pre owner yet, I appreciate the response. If this continues to be an issue for a good portion of users, I wonder if an optional external RF receiver could be devised. MY guess is that the substantial thickness of the front panel is contributing. So a full rack of PMG components would likely be hard to control with the remote as some components could be bottom rack vs mid or upper rack.
Sounds like an engineering problem solving challenge that PS Audio is perfectly capable of solving. Iām rooting for you!
That was my thoughts. When DāAgostino preamp went to RF remotes they added a little RF antenna sprouting up from back of the Chassis to deal with their thick chassis . Itās an interesting EMI issue your chassis needs holes small enough to block interference but right diameter to let wavelengths in equipment needs or provide cooling . But they can also block the remote RF frequencies based on placement. If you put a block of metal inside a metal perforated box with holes in bottom to let in remote signal that could help without needing a DāAgostino type antenna dongle looking like prehistoric cell phones.
Some modern cell phones use engineered layering of RF absorption to only let pass the frequencies they need for reception and transmission. The antenna protruding through Faraday cage seems the cheapest highest reliability solution for vastly different placement strategies that users racks require. One could always point that ugly bottom from the photo earlier in the other PMG Pre thread by suspending your unit with bungee cords for vibration isolation to solve remote issues. But only the most desperate tweaker PS Audio fanboy is ready for that and call it awesome.
The problem with recordings these days you have to ride volume like a hawk to keep sound level in tune with your listening space. Maybe a foot pedal volume controller guitar type stomp box on the floor to go with the air guitar needs while listening? Just having some fun here. I know I lived through tweakitis on various PSA products I bought to overcome product shortcomings. But still have the products after resolving to my satisfaction. This should be fun to watch.
PS Audio has determined that this is a problem. I received my preamp probably six weeks ago. I worked with Delia at PS Audio and the conclusion was that I shipped the unit, also the sacd player. This week they informed me that they have moved the placement of the receiving part and this seems to work. I expect my replacment units in the next two weeks. So, if you want this fixed you should talk to them and you will have to return the unit so they can move the antennae receiver in the unit. Good liuck.
But only the most desperate tweaker PS Audio fanboy is ready for that and call it awesome.
Just having some fun here. I know I lived through tweakitis on various PSA products I bought to overcome product shortcomings. But still have the products after resolving to my satisfaction. This should be fun to watch. 