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Graphic Equalizers

z-adamson said:
Don't see too many top of the receivers or preamps from the 70s that were without tone controls. I can't even think of any.

2000 and foreward, lots of nicer gear were without tone controls in my observation.
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Off the top of my head, I'm thinking Audio Research and Conrad-Johnson.
 
Route 66 said:
Off the top of my head, I'm thinking Audio Research and Conrad-Johnson.
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What were the top of the line receivers in the mid to late 70s? Pioneer sx1250 then sx1980, Sansui 9090db then the bigger G series receivers. Top of the line stuff for their time, lots of tone controls.
 
z-adamson said:
What were the top of the line receivers in the mid to late 70s? Pioneer sx1250 then sx1980, Sansui 9090db then the bigger G series receivers. Top of the line stuff for their time, lots of tone controls.
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Hey now, receivers are for suckers as well! Just ask.

:blah:
 
Point being, high end preamps, receivers and integrated amplifiers without tone controls were in the minority big-time until, well, not sure exactly but top of my head without researching, about 2000, right?

Pioneer, sansui, hk, hk citation, kenwood, hafler..all that gear from entry level to totl had tone controls (60s, 70s) as far as I have seen.
 
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z-adamson said:
Point being, high end preamps, receivers and integrated amplifiers without tone controls were in the minority big-time until, well, not sure exactly but top of my head without researching, about 2000, right?

Pioneer, sansui, hk, hk citation, kenwood, hafler..all that gear from entry level to totl had tone controls (60s, 70s) as far as I have seen.
Click to expand...

Somewhere around then. That's about when speakers stopped sounding like they came from particular regions of the planet and consensus on flat response showed up in the marketplace. Prior to that it was accepted that tone controls were necessary because very few speakers were flat. The 90's saw companies like Magnepan, Theil, Wilson Audio, and Focal set new benchmarks for neutral response and old school acts like JBL, Advent, and Boston began looking pretty bad with their regional character. Some accepted the new paradigm and changed, like B&W and KEF. Others just died or became hen's teeth in the marketplace.

That's my impression of things anyways....
 
I've been using EQ's for close to 40 years. I like them, the option to tweak if I FEEL LIKE IT. Everyone likes what they like. Doesn't make one wrong or right.
It has nothing to do with short comings of speakers to me most of the time. More to taylor to the listening environment. I dare to say most of us do not have perfect listening spaces, with base bins in corners, acoustic tiles and wall treatments. I sure don't! I may want to customize the sound a little because I can, and it's fun! Who made the rule, no EQ's, no tone controls? It's blasphemy! Who cares really.
The hobby is about the fun and love of music, and how you want to hear it.
 
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