Do you need bass and treble? Or are you a purist that goes flat.

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by analog4011, Sep 17, 2006.

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  1. Gregory Earl

    Gregory Earl Senior Member

    Location:
    Kantucki
    Me too :agree:.

    If I need any other sound adjustment, I just pour another beer.:D

    Rock on.
     
  2. Patrick

    Patrick Senior Member

    Location:
    Colorado
    No tone controls on my pre (Threshold)
    I think a lot (dare I say most?) of the better high end pre amps DO NOT have any tone controls, many designers consider them un-needed additional circuitry that dregrade the overall sound quality. Rightly so IMHO.
    The "straight wire with gain" philosophy in action.
     
  3. dgsinner

    dgsinner New Member

    Location:
    Far East
    That's what I do as well.

    Dale
     
  4. Metoo

    Metoo Forum Hall Of Fame

    Location:
    Spain (EU)
    Since I went on a serious quest for the clearest, cleanest sound some time ago I only use the 'Direct' mode.

    I don't see myself as a 'purist', but I do see my previous 'normal' listening customs (using EQ and/or the bass and treble buttons as well as the odd effect) as adding muddiness to the sound and taking away part of the fun.
     
  5. kevinsinnott

    kevinsinnott Forum Coffeeologist

    Location:
    Chicago, IL USA
    Well stated. I find lately that I use volume adjustments, often turning something down a smidge will bring it better focus, less often it's up in volume.

    Anyone else find this?
     
  6. live evil

    live evil Senior Member

    Location:
    ohio
    i have an eq that i use all the time.
    i'm sure i'll get some negative reaction to this - but i don't care what was intended - i only care what sounds good to me in my family room.

    the creators of any record have no idea on the condition of my ears, my system, and my listening room, so i adjust until i like what i hear.
     
  7. kevinsinnott

    kevinsinnott Forum Coffeeologist

    Location:
    Chicago, IL USA
    To anyone who'd complain, I'd say the same thing I say to so-called purists who don't season their food or sweeten or cream their coffee. Have it your way, but don't take away my freedom to have it mine.

    While I admitted to using tubes to sweeten my sound, I know I sure have a good time knob-twirling any time I've had the chance.
     
  8. Doug Sclar

    Doug Sclar Forum Legend

    Location:
    The OC
    Like some others here, I have no tone controls on my Levinsion preamp. Just selector, master volume, and 1db stepped attenuators, which are great for matching levels of different sources.
     
  9. TONEPUB

    TONEPUB Senior Member

    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    Depends on the preamp. My small system has a MAC 2200 and the bass and treble really come in handy when using headphones....
     
  10. Joe Nino-Hernes

    Joe Nino-Hernes Active Member

    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    You have a C220 (unless you upgraded?). The C2200 is a different preamp.
     
  11. AudiophilePhil

    AudiophilePhil Senior Member

    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    I always bypass the tone controls to make the sound purer and natural.
     
  12. 51nocaster

    51nocaster Senior Member

    Home system: My integrated has no tone controls, so I listen flat, which is fine as I can generally listen as loud as I want.

    Work system: Marantz 2270 has tone controls, as well as the dreaded loudness button, which come in handy as I can't listen very loud.
     
  13. rhkwon

    rhkwon Forum Resident

    Location:
    Houston, TX USA
    Mostly flat with the treble at about 2:00
     
  14. Parkertown

    Parkertown Tawny Port

  15. ChrisG

    ChrisG New Member

    Location:
    New York City
    .
    .

    Whatever works for you.
    It's all about the music.
    Rock on.

    .
    .
     
  16. bhazen

    bhazen ANNOYING BEATLES FAN

    Location:
    Deepest suburbia
    My Naim Nait 5i is sans tone knobs. Changing speakers is my slow and very expensive way of controlling tone.:D

    J.M. Reynaud Twin Sigs finally tamed my room, sound great, rock, and make all but the most awfully shrill or otherwise tainted CDs work for me. Many 'philes claim purism about tone controls, but what was all that speaker auditioning, cable/i.c. changeouts, and room treatment about then?

    Yoiks,
    Bruce
     
  17. apileocole

    apileocole Lush Life Gort

    My system has a knob that controls the volume. I use that.

    On truly horrifying recordings I might dust off the midfi fisher whatever-many band EQ I have and hook it in. No question it degrades the sound, but at that point on the quality scale, a careful touch on the EQ does more good than it does harm. I think I've only done it a dozen or so times... 99% of recordings I just turn it down if it's too harsh, boomy, etc.
     
  18. vinyl anachronist

    vinyl anachronist Senior Member

    Location:
    Lakeside, Oregon
    Haven't had a tone control in years.
     
  19. Gary

    Gary Nauga Gort! Staff

    Location:
    Toronto
    I have all sorts of tone controls (McIntosh MX110) but the only ones I ocassionally use these days are the high and low filters. And that's only if the mastering is exceptionally bass or trebble heavy. :)
     
  20. Claus

    Claus Senior Member

    Location:
    Germany
    flat!!!
     
  21. spudco

    spudco Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Belews Creek, NC
    Last time I had tone controls was on early adcom preamp about 25 years ago. I'm definitely a flat guy... I'm just lucky that my main room is a good match for my speakers.
     
  22. McLover

    McLover Senior Member

    Hi,

    I normally use my systems with tone controls/EQ flat. If the recording needs it, I use tone controls/EQ as needed!
     
  23. Jeff Wong

    Jeff Wong Gort

    Location:
    NY
    I don't even have a balance control on my preamp. I suppose I could use different interconnects or power cords to alter the sound, but, generally, I just accept recordings as they are, warts and all. I've spent the last 11 years finetuning and altering my main rig and am quite happy presently; it's reasonably neutral and transparent.
     
  24. Jvalvano

    Jvalvano Senior Member

    Location:
    NH
    No tone controls in my system.
     
  25. DaveN

    DaveN Music Glutton

    Location:
    Apex, NC
    I have neither tone controls or EQ settings on either of my listening systems. But even if I did, my answer would be 'flat'. I've yet to hear any form of eq that doesn't do some other damage to the signal. I also like to hear what is really on the cd. If it is a bit bright, well....that's the way that it is.

    David
     
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