ANYTHING you add, will also add the cost and signal degradation of a pair of interconnects...

The Placette Audio Remote Volume Control ( US $ 1,000) seems Universally recommended / acknowledged.

http://www.placetteaudio.com/Products.htm

ANY Volume controlling done in the digital domain, will throw away bits of information ( music) to reduce the volume level.

The best choice would probably be to change your Pre / integrated amp to one that has a remote Volume control facility.

I know how you feel... I have been living with the nuisance of a manual volume control for years....

Classe's newest generation of CD players have variable volume outs if your only source is CD you might be able to do away with a preamp all together.

There is no way I have ever heard of or can conceive to add on an external volume control without seriously degrading the sound quality.

The new dcs SACD player JA just tested has an integrated output control; he was running it direct into the power amp. I'm not quite sure $14,000 was what you had in mind when you said reasonable, however...lol.

The LS17 and LS26 preamps from Audio Research have remote controls for volume and many other features, and might perhaps be a major sonic upgrade for your system in the bargain. They derive many design features from the Reference 3, which both Stereophile and The Absolute Sound have hailed as the new standard in preamps. I have the LS26, and I ccould not hear any difference in sound between it and the Reference 3 when I was able to compare them side-by-side; quite amazing sound quality from either of them!

Also, for about $2000, you could get a used LS-16 mark II; very nearly the same as the LS-17 except for the front panel; that is also avery good unit.

BluesDoc said:

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I still wonder about a DAC with remote volume. Any other suggestions?

A variable volume control on a DAC is a digital volume control, and arguably the Worst ...

I know... I am repeating myself...

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ANY Volume controlling done in the digital domain, will throw away bits of information ( music) to reduce the volume level.

You could always buy the Bryston BP26 preamp with the optional DAC installed. That would kill two birds with one stone. It's great preamp with a really nice DAC. So you'd be killing those birds in style.