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Scott amps - anyone use the loudness control?

njcanuck

njcanuck

aka: MacGyver
My Scott amp (LK-48B) has had the volume pot replaced with one that is missing the on-off switch and loudness tap. The loudness switch is now out of the circuit and the associated components are gone. I've located an NOS pot with loudness tap and switch at the (to me) exorbitant price of $55 + 7.50 shipping. :eek:

I would love to restore this amp to original but have to question if it is really worth it and if I would actually ever use the loudness function. So, Scott owners, do you use your loudness switches or is it one of those functions that gets largely ignored?
 
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leave it gone.
loudness "switches" are junk.
it's just a single freq bass boost and not true "loudness" control.
 
No, Since restoring it and changing the volume control I don't use sound
nice without it in it's all tube glory!

Tube
 
I am not a fan of blanket statements. A good system synergy can sound awesome without extra loudness. Other times it is a necessity. If you are OK without it and don't seem to lack bass in your system at low volume by all means leave it out. If you want it restored to original for value or possible resale purposes, use the correct switch. Although it may be the case with this amp, I am not real familiar with Scott equipment, not all loudness circuits just increase a single bass frequency. Some circuits increase both bass and treble frequencies, and other circuits decrease midrange frequencies.
 
mpholland said:
I am not a fan of blanket statements. A good system synergy can sound awesome without extra loudness. Other times it is a necessity. If you are OK without it and don't seem to lack bass in your system at low volume by all means leave it out. If you want it restored to original for value or possible resale purposes, use the correct switch. Although it may be the case with this amp, I am not real familiar with Scott equipment, not all loudness circuits just increase a single bass frequency. Some circuits increase both bass and treble frequencies, and other circuits decrease midrange frequencies.
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Yep, I use it from time to time, yes. :thmbsp:
Depends more on the source than anything when I do...sometimes it just sounds right, others, not so much.
 
I'll use loudness for when I'm using speakers at a low volume at my computer (not to disturb my roommates). Sometimes it just sounds anemic with it unbiased. Turning up the volume...i do defeat it and also when I listen to headphones on since it puts out too much bass (for my taste).
 
I never turn the loudness off on my Sansui 1000A. I think it makes it run the way it should and is thin sounding without it. The KX-200 I had I never liked with or without the loudness on but that's personal preference. I've had several tube and SS amps that sounded much better with the loudness on and many that sounded great running everything straight up neutral. So like most things it depends. The blanket statement for blanket statements is that blanket statements are always wrong. :yes:
 
On my LK48 (my primary amp) I leave the Loudness switch on all the time. When it's wired up correctly and working properly, the function is out of the circuit once you're up past half way on the volume. You get the benefit of it at low volume, but past that, it doesn't really have any effect. Very helpful with speakers that require a bit more oomph behind them at lower volume.
 
I've found that loudness contours can range from, quote, "not natural", to very transparent. But generally speaking, brand to brand, model to model, they all seem to be the most "transparent" when the input signal is coming in at a level that the amplifier can only "minimally" distort its output at full maximum setting of the volume control.

Otherwise, if input levels are too strong the operator now uses the volume control through a shorter "throw" more towards the lower end of the volume pot range- and directly in the area where the loudness circuit does the most work.

In other words and in my opinion, loudness contours work best when the operator has a very wide area of the volume control to utilize.
 
Blast said:
In other words and in my opinion, loudness contours work best when the operator has a very wide area of the volume control to utilize.
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That's an interesting observation. I use very effecient Klipsch speakers (101db) and can only utilize the bottom third of the volume range.

I believe I read somewhere that the loudness control on the Scotts only affects the bass (and not the treble). Does it do anything that slightly boosting the bass control doesn't do?
 
It's not about the speakers as much as it is about the level of the source(s).

I didn't actually hook my audio generator and scope up to confirm. But, on my 222C I think I hear the treble being affected. Not to the high degree that the bass is, though.
 
I leave all mine on loud all the time. Take the volume knob past half way and it makes little difference. At low volumes, loudness is a must IMO.
 
Thanks for all the input. My conclusion is that I will never really know until I try it for myself. Since the ol' girl deserves a proper restoration, I swallowed really, really hard and ponied up the $62.50 for the pot. :yikes: I kept thinking I might not ever get another chance to buy this NOS 'unobtainium' part and would be kicking myself forever. Now I have to figure out what caps and resistors I need for the rest of the loudness circuit.

I'm never, ever going to do this again. Ever! :screwy:
 
njcanuck said:
Thanks for all the input. My conclusion is that I will never really know until I try it for myself. Since the ol' girl deserves a proper restoration, I swallowed really, really hard and ponied up the $62.50 for the pot. :yikes: I kept thinking I might not ever get another chance to buy this NOS 'unobtainium' part and would be kicking myself forever. Now I have to figure out what caps and resistors I need for the rest of the loudness circuit.

I'm never, ever going to do this again. Ever! :screwy:
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Do me a favor. Before you spend the money, contact me. I am a fan of HH Scott and most likely have a good used volume control at home. I will send it to you for a lot less than what they want for a new one. Probably for $0.00. Here is the caveat, I am out of town until next week so after Tuesday (A week from today) let's get a PM dialog going and go from there. As I type this, I don't remember if my email address is in my profile so post here if you like and we can go from there.

HH Scott is my favorite and I have the entire line of 299 amplifiers, most of the LK integrated kits etc. I hate to see a Scott that is not brought back to factory specs. If it works for you, let me know.

Oh, Yeah, BTW, I have a Sansui 990DB, 1000A, and of course the Scotts etc. and I use the loudness control all of the time (switch on) and add some bass and treble depending on the source.

OK?

BTW, you can send a PM. But I am only on the Internet a couple of times while I am out of town.
 
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Personally, I never use it, but I wouldn't want it removed. I like that my amp is complete and totally functional, I know that if the switch were gone, it would dig at me that there is something not right about it...

BTW, is that your car in your avitar? If so, NICE!

kvflyer, would you happen to have one of those little copper covers for one of the bass/treble knobs in your stash of spare parts?
 
kvflyer, thank you for the very generous offer but I placed the order last night. The vendor was on ePay with only a buy-it-now option. Since he had already sold half-a-dozen, I was afraid this might be his last one. I had already asked around on AK and posted a WTB in Barter Town with no luck so I went for it while I could.

I am really looking forward to restoring this amp to factory specs (and learning as I go). I want to keep the vintage Scott sound and am not looking to make it into modern amp (I have modern amps). If you don't mind, I will pm you for some information and draw on your experience.

Thanks again,
Rich
 
El Pee said:
Personally, I never use it, but I wouldn't want it removed. I like that my amp is complete and totally functional, I know that if the switch were gone, it would dig at me that there is something not right about it...

BTW, is that your car in your avitar? If so, NICE!
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As you can tell, it was digging at me too. I can't believe I just spent $60 on a pot! I guess that's the going rate for unobtainium. At least it's new. :mad:

Yes, that's my car - a 1960 Austin Healey 3000 - I like old stuff. It is also pretty much factory spec. Ironically, it has no electronics in it anywhere - a capacitor on the distributor is as close as it gets. Of course, like vintage stereos, it has few aging problems here and there. Its fuel pump is on my bench being diagnosed at the moment. :dunno:
 
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