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Messing with treble and bass makes ok speakers sound great

angelaudio

angelaudio

Super Member
Just a few notches up on bass and one on treble has turned my subpar speakers into very engaging and formidable music reproducing machines!

Now tell me...why the hell do audio purists refuse to mess with eq and leave everything flat when just a few eq adjustments can dramatically affect the sound in a positive manner? Beats me. Well anyway....let me know what ya think.


now back to daft punk on my Heathkit Ambassador 3-ways!
 
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When I was an undereducated budding audiophile, I had a graphic equalizer and was always fiddling around with the bass and treble knobs. And when I became an educated audiophile, I left everything flat because I didn't want to Sully the listening experience. And now that have I become an over-educated audiophile, I'm back to using the EQ and the bass and treble controls. And you're right, it can greatly enhance the listening experience.
 
Most "audiophiles" choose to leave the settings flat to maintain a "purer" signal and reduce stress on the amplifier. Some amplifiers even have a tone bypass feature to reduce the number of circuits in the signal path.

Some also believe if you need to boost the bass or treble you really just need better speakers.
 
I will probably disagree with all the other answers you will get. I think people find speakers that give them the sound they want with the controls centered. It doesn't mean that i wouldn't go over someone's house and want to tweak the tone controls for what I want to hear.

I have no issues with tweaking a little. I have my treble turned -1 and bass+1 from flat on the controls. I am not going to search out speakers where I can put everything to flat. It just seems silly to me.
 
ibog1 said:
When I was an undereducated budding audiophile, I had a graphic equalizer and was always fiddling around with the bass and treble knobs. And when I became an educated audiophile, I left everything flat because I didn't want to Sully the listening experience. And now that have I become an over-educated audiophile, I'm back to using the EQ and the bass and treble controls. And you're right, it can greatly enhance the listening experience.
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you made a full circle back to where ya started aye? do you fiddle with eq with all your speakers or are there any pair that you like to leave flat?
 
wmgwizard said:
Some also believe if you need to boost the bass or treble you really just need better speakers.
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I used to be one of those. I still am in a way but after quite a bit of fiddling I’ve found it difficult to match speakers to a room without some type of eq adjustment. I wish I would have not been such a “flat fiend” these past few years of collecting vintage audio, I might have saved some $$$
 
wmgwizard said:
Some also believe if you need to boost the bass or treble you really just need better speakers.
Click to expand...
I used to be one of those. I still am in a way but after quite a bit of fiddling I’ve found it difficult to match speakers to a room without some type of eq adjustment. I wish I would have not been such a “flat fiend” these past few years of collecting vintage audio, I might have saved some $$$
faber12 said:
I seldom make decisions based on the emotional needs of persons outside my immediate family.

If I want to use an EQ I will. :)
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Good to know you’re not eq shy! I’m having a blast with mine :D
 
NH-MAN said:
I will probably disagree with all the other answers you will get. I think people find speakers that give them the sound they want with the controls centered. It doesn't mean that i wouldn't go over someone's house and want to tweak the tone controls for what I want to hear.

I have no issues with tweaking a little. I have my treble turned -1 and bass+1 from flat on the controls. I am not going to search out speakers where I can put everything to flat. It just seems silly to me.
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Up until today I might have opposed, but after today I completely agree. There are too many variables when it comes to choosing correct apeaker for the correct room size. Of course, I wouldn’t put something like La Scalas in a 10x10, we do have to use some common knowledge, but yes it is silly otherwise:beatnik:
 
My main system doesn't have tone controls, and between the equipment and speakers I'm using I seldom need them. But, some recordings just palin need help. So I have a SS integrated with tone controls I can switch in just for that purpose. I like having a treble, midrange and bass controls when I need them. Just bass and treble isn't enough. I've thought about adding one of those Shitte Loki's to my system since it has a bypass. Then I wouldn't need the SS integrated and power amp. Tone controls, no tone controls, its whatever floats your boat. One integrated amp I have has turnover points for each tone control. Its a nice feature.
I was given a set of speakers that are by far the shoutiest beasts I've ever heard. A 4 or 5 inch midrange, a large horn tweeter and a 10 inch woofer with only a tweeter control on the back. Without turning the tweeter all the way down, stuffing cotton balls into the horns, bumping the bass and reducing the tremble and midrange, they are unlistenable. Its like having an angry drill Sargent screaming in your face. But after all that tone tweeking, they ain't half bad. :D
 
I am a big fan of having bass and treble controls, had them on many of my 90s Yamaha electronics and miss them when they are not in my system. Basically, I like various forms of a U shape on an equalizer, with boosted highs and low, or conversely lowered midrange. As you said, lesser speakers can be improved with these controls. And, with better speakers, it can be amazing what they can reproduce in the upper and power ranges.
 
angelaudio said:
why the hell do audio purists refuse to mess with eq and leave everything flat
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We are seeing more and more posts like yours these days in support of tone controls. People are finally starting to rebel against stupid fads inflicted on this hobby. It started way back in the 70s - at least when I first heard a salesdroid belittling his customers with this rubbish. A little logical reasoning is all you need to confirm it's just plain stupid. Tone controls are very useful.

I must admit, multiband eq is not something I commonly need. I usually end up just using them like a tone control. Occasionally, the need to vary the frequency at which the tone control acts is good. My Luxman amp has switches to change this, but that wasn't common. A parametric equaliser would be useful in this situation.
 
Lavane said:
My main system doesn't have tone controls, and between the equipment and speakers I'm using I seldom need them. But, some recordings just palin need help. So I have a SS integrated with tone controls I can switch in just for that purpose. I like having a treble, midrange and bass controls when I need them. Just bass and treble isn't enough. I've thought about adding one of those Shitte Loki's to my system since it has a bypass. Then I wouldn't need the SS integrated and power amp. Tone controls, no tone controls, its whatever floats your boat. One integrated amp I have has turnover points for each tone control. Its a nice feature.
I was given a set of speakers that are by far the shoutiest beasts I've ever heard. A 4 or 5 inch midrange, a large horn tweeter and a 10 inch woofer with only a tweeter control on the back. Without turning the tweeter all the way down, stuffing cotton balls into the horns, bumping the bass and reducing the tremble and midrange, they are unlistenable. Its like having an angry drill Sargent screaming in your face. But after all that tone tweeking, they ain't half bad. :D
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Good to hear that you welcome tone controls especially when just a tick or two up or down changes things for the better. My heathkits were so dull before eq. It had me questioning everything in the signal chain if ya catch my drift. For instance would I really need a big macho amp to get my “x brand soeajers” workin just right in my room, or do I just need to get a parametric or mess with treble and bass knobs to get that sweet sound i’m lookin’ for.
 
Yamahalic said:
I am a big fan of having bass and treble controls, had them on many of my 90s Yamaha electronics and miss them when they are not in my system. Basically, I like various forms of a U shape on an equalizer, with boosted highs and low, or conversely lowered midrange. As you said, lesser speakers can be improved with these controls. And, with better speakers, it can be amazing what they can reproduce in the upper and power ranges.
Click to expand...
U shape i’ve found does wonders. Parametric offers more control but it’s amazing what the U curve can do to contribute to sound quality and so on. I used to loathe the heathkits when it came to bassy music but now after some adjustments particularly in the bass section, they are singin smoothly like never before
 
angelaudio said:
Just a few notches up on bass and one on treble has turned my subpar speakers into very engaging and formidable music reproducing machines!

Now tell me...why the hell do audio purists refuse to mess with eq and leave everything flat when just a few eq adjustments can dramatically affect the sound in a positive manner? Beats me. Well anyway....let me know what ya think.


now back to daft punk on my Heathkit Ambassador 3-ways!
Click to expand...
I don't know why... at some level of high end maybe but even then it seems some kind of eq would be nice to switch in and experiment a little. Mixing/recording consoles have EQ for each input. It just so happens that my system seems to be most pleasant flat but sometimes on certain sources I add or subtract a bit of treble or bass. If there is a challenging source though tone controls can be most helpful... I have a VHS available as a source and often use the eq to improve it's sound, especially if it only has a linear track.
 
spicer said:
I don't know why... at some level of high end maybe but even then it seems some kind of eq would be nice to switch in and experiment a little. Mixing/recording consoles have EQ for each input. It just so happens that my system seems to be most pleasant flat but sometimes on certain sources I add or subtract a bit of treble or bass. If there is a challenging source though tone controls can be most helpful... I have a VHS available as a source and often use the eq to improve it's sound, especially if it only has a linear track.
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ok this is the oost i was waiting for. spot on. sources! ok tracked down the “culprit”. but ok then, vinyl and reel tape reign supreme? DAC second? lesser formats after?
 
It's a fun hobby isn't it dialing in a rig. For me it's speaker, electronics and room dependent as some rigs need help and some don't. My garage kabukis sound terrible without some boost and cut while my mains sound worse with it and only need a little help from a sub.
 
angelaudio said:
@MaxP whatchu rockin ? and do u add any eq?
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I guess I’m a habitual loudness button user. But as others have pointed out, I too think it’s all room dependent. I don’t fear making the treble, midrange and bass adjustments - that’s why they are there! My main system consists of a Sansui 9090DB and I alternate between BA A200s, JBL L110s and OLA Advents.
 
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