Receivers with midrange control
- Thread starter KiltedCowboy
- Start date
I don't know that musicians have much influence on production quality unless they're doing the mastering themselves. In any event, I'm the one doing the listening- with my, ears, through my system, paid for with my money. What the artist and/or engineers "intended" is irrelevant especially since they have no way of knowing how a particular recording will sound to a given listener on a given system. Tonal flexibility is preferable to none when the occasion calls for it, as judged by the listener.
Most commonly found on larger Marantz receivers. I have a few, but have to admit I don't fiddle with tone controls much, they tend to stay at flat. What I do like however, are variable loudness controls. At low listening levels I've found variable loudness to be excellent, Mac in particular does variable very well. YMMV
RunOutGroove
Addicted Member
I have a mid control on my old Marantz 2270 and though I rarely have the tone controls set to anything but flat, I like to have the option to add a bit of EQ and as far as I'm concerned the 3 band is a nice compromise between a separate full graphic EQ and none at all...
Last edited:
JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
A continuously variable loudness control as on some current Yamaha and Mac products is IMO the only type of loudness control worth having.
My preamp has no tone controls. The preamplifier it replaced (ARC SP-3) had a variable loudness control. I used it most of the time. The tone controls it had were rarely used. So, the lack of tone controls on my current preamp (ARC SP-9) doesn't bother me. The variable loudness control is a different thing altogether. That I miss.
RemoWilliams
Addicted Member
The Yamaha RX series receivers from the late 1980's have that feature, specifically the RX 900U as well as RX 1100U, which I have. There might be some other models as well. Very decent unit with very good headroom and rated at 125 W a channel.
I think a unit with no tone controls would benefit greatly from a variable loudness setting, at least for my preferences. Don't know offhand if any of those exist though.
I'm in the camp that more adjustment is always welcome. Unless you only listen to one recording 100% of the time, there are going to be very significant differences in the mix and quality of your source material. Some recordings can use a little help to sound better.
In theory, adjusting the bass and treble effectively adjusts midrange relative to bass and treble, but a true midrange adjuster targets a specific frequency - therefore enabling an added degree of customization.
In theory, adjusting the bass and treble effectively adjusts midrange relative to bass and treble, but a true midrange adjuster targets a specific frequency - therefore enabling an added degree of customization.
Chris __R
Well-Known Member
As others have noted, my 1060 has mid control but I don't use it - because I find its sound to be Perfect as is.
However, on other units of mine in the past - like a Yamaha CA-810 - or Sony TA2000 I really miss it because the mids are just a bit too bright and I am super sensitive to that.
However, on other units of mine in the past - like a Yamaha CA-810 - or Sony TA2000 I really miss it because the mids are just a bit too bright and I am super sensitive to that.
DeadRock
Ideas Guy
It may be the speakers (Totem Model 1 Signatures) and/or it may be the room...but I leave the tone controls (including mid) on my Marantz 2265B as bypassed...it's mostly an FM/satellite radio situation/application...always sounds awesome...whether as background or cranked to party level...
My Vintage tandberg tr-2080 has midrange control.
I used it infrequently, nice to have it available.
I used it infrequently, nice to have it available.
It's funny... I keep all my tone controls at zero (including the speakers) --- on the hi-fi.
But, twirl the controls on my guitars and guitar amps like crazy.
Life is full of irony.
When i got my 2245 back in the 70's i lived in an apartment and and kept the bass turned down a bit out of consideration for the neighbors but i had the mid turned up some and got a sound i was happy with. Since moving to a house 20 years ago i mostly keep my gear centered but i still adjust my 2245 out of old habit. On certain albums i turn the balance up on one side to get the sound i like as well.
