Tone Controls - Good or Bad?

Hah, so funny!
Must be masochism why so many "purists" (who have never been to any form of recording studio) are willing to suffer through the tonal vagaries of recordings-end user systems-rooms.
Good article. :)
 
I wish every preamp had tone controls with the ability to bypass them. I have a lot of older music that was recorded too bright and is fatiguing to listen too. My listening room is wood floors and several large windows and being able to turn down the treble on certain recordings would be great.

It drives me crazy when people say that you are not hearing the music as the artist intended you to hear it. We have no idea of what the music sounded like in the recording studio. We all have different speakers and electronics and our homes are not recording studios. Besides, we should be able to enjoy the music however we want too.

Fortunately, I have some music players that have various settings so I can tone down the brightness on my older brighter music.

There is a thread on the AC forum about this very topic.
 
I seldom use the tone controls on my Momentum pre-amp but it is nice to know they.are there if needed. With Roon I also have the ability to turn on the DSP settings and fiddle with the equalizer should the need arise. Nice to have tone control options even if you don't use them regularly.

I also agree with McNutt's position about the artists intention. I could care less.
 
There's no reason that they can't be used in a high-end implementation and bypassed if not in use. The T+A PA 2500 R that I had previously used had tone controls as well as loudness control and found that they didn't detract from sound quality if used. Likewise, I'm now using a Bel Canto Black EX integrated amplifier and find nothing that detracts from sound quality if I engage their various controls like tilt, HP filter, etc. I appreciate this level of flexibility.
 
still-one said:
I seldom use the tone controls on my Momentum pre-amp but it is nice to know they.are there if needed. With Roon I also have the ability to turn on the DSP settings and fiddle with the equalizer should the need arise. Nice to have tone control options even if you don't use them regularly.

I also agree with McNutt's position about the artists intention. I could care less.
Click to expand...

Like Jim, I have the Momentum pre-amp. Good to have the option but, to be honest, can’t remember the last time I used the tone controls.
 
Yep some don't like tone controls but they no problem spending big bucks on a cable or using DSP in a software program or changing the filter settings in certain dacs. There is NO Good or Bad. I say use whatever lets you enjoy the music, you're way .

Oh I forgot changing tubes to obtain a certain sound.
 
CPP said:
Yep some don't like tone controls but they no problem spending big bucks on a cable or using DSP in a software program or changing the filter settings in certain dacs. There is NO Good or Bad. I say use whatever lets you enjoy the music, you're way .
Click to expand...
Ssshhh, don't tell em what a phono preamp actually is either :P
 
Same here, I’ve always had optional tone controls - there just that “tone control” for situational adjustment.

I find myself using this when warranted more on lower volumes and fortunate to have the on/off option

Enjoy Your Sound 🤺


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
def a good thing. low volume listening etc

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top