Yes Bob, it has a competent remote.
The preamp is that low because I didn't want it at two shelves height because of the weight but also it helps in managing my planned interconnect paths.
I'm still spry enough that I sit on the floor in front of it when I'm mastering tapes & such but the remote comes in handy - as I have my home office across the room - at a fair distance. For what Mc' charges for their gear anymore, they should have included a Navi-babe to hold that dang remote!
I have a Sony headphone/DAC TA-ZH1ES unit that is fed by a modern Walkman but I've not really put it to good use just yet.
I do still play a good deal of music from CDs.
I may end up opting for an Aurender or something similar, with a nice big display and one that easily interfaces with that Alienware machine up-top.
Honestly, with an 18 inch laptop screen and in that position, my DAC options are wider open than I originally anticipated.
The laptop's duties for now has been for capturing vinyl off the back of the SugarCube. The Bluesound Node was originally intended to go into this system but once we started using it out in the living room, it got designated as
staying put by the better-half... for like ever.