I Used Tone Controls Yesterday.

Better than a warped one...

 

Good point, I recall, when I had an equalizer, I spent the entire song getting it just right.

Then would have to do that again for the next song. Unable to enjoy the music.

No universal mixing with maters.

ARG!

 

That's a very good point. Good sound/bad sound always begins with someone else's ears, doesn't it?

I'm feeling better all the time...

 

Whatever sounds good to you is all that matters.

 

Best thread of the month . . .

 

Don't use tone controls ... change your sound with expensive cables instead.

 

or at the very least, spend a week of your time trying to get the VTA and Azimuth just so. Tone controls are just the easy fix.

 

I live in "Tone Control Free" housing.

 

If you really want to change the tone you need to get some spiked feet for the amp, and an inter tube for each speaker.

 

I don't have a problem, Lee. I can stop anytime I want to.

Really.

I can.

Anytime.

Right after I tweak this Bowie Dynaflex just a little...

 

My Denon HT receiver has a pure direct setting that I use when listening to Lp's, CDs, SACDs, and DVD-As, so the tone controls are completely bypassed. On my Sansui receivers, I can't defeat the tone controls, but they are almost always in the "flat" position. There are a few recordings that I do change the tone controls as it seems to help, so my take is that if you like what you hear, it is ok, IMO.

 

Recordings are an artificial representation anyway, so I don't see how a little tone or bass control adjustment here or there hurts a thing, especially with less-than-ideal room acoustics. Like an above poster said, whatever sounds good to you is all that matters.

 

So, you guys who don't use tone controls...if what you're listening with is say an older reciever that has no Tone Defeat switch, what, you turn the bass and treble all the way down and Loudness switch is off?

 

This has been known to change the master settings?

Cool.

 

I miss my loudness button

 

My Marantz 2238 has a sweet and seductive "midrange" knob.

I hear the siren call of the supple midrange.

How can I resist?

 

I will try it flat at first but usually it does require some added color to make up for SQ loss compared with more expensive components.

 

I keep mine with the bass slightly down and the treble slightly up, to compensate for the "old receiver" sound (bloated bass, high frequency rolloff). It's a temporary fix. When I have a job again, I'll start thinking about a modern integrated to replace it.

 

Flat if it sounds good that way, tone knobs if it doesn't. Simple as that.

 

Tone control and loudness buttons are there for a reason. I say use them as appropriate. No - I would never buy an amp without them. There are just too many legitimate reasons to use them - IMO. Differences in equipment, room differences, mastering of the material. I can't imagine trying to listen to some remastered CDs without the ability to turn down the treble.

 

I boost my bass and treble just a little and leave it that way. Flat doesn't cut it.... at all. Unless of course the source is bright to begin with, it gives me the opportunity to reduce it "that little bit"..

 

Actually, there's some truth in that statement. I did just that and have since bypassed tone controls altogether.

 

I miss my Radio Shack "IMX Stereo Expander"

 

Instead of alcohol & pills, I prefer tone control.

 

Okay, recognizing you have a problem is the first step towards recovery. Here are warning signs that your condition may be deteriorating:

You walk by the Bose section at Best Buy, and the Wave Radio sounds good to you.

You realize that you're drawn to the high end of highly compressed MP3 files.

A Escalade drives by with 3 5000 watt 15" subwoofers blasting 'Lil Wayne, and you think it could use more bass.

Tread carefully, my friend.