Why are they building Preamps without Bass & Treble controls?

[4-2-7]

In my view, nothing strikes me more "unaudiophile-like" than to not intervene when prudent to due so.

I hear the filtering of tone controls and EQs at least the ones I have had. I rather have different speaker/amps to chose from for different music. I put on a new one step issue the other night and it sounded a bit boomy bass heavy...I was surprised as the MLs with the VAC mono blocks are generally good with this kind of music.

Here

I then used my VAC Stereo amp and the Monitor Audio speakers and all was fine

Hear

 

[Powertech]

This was a purist thing mostly. All the reviewers said that less is more and we believed them - well some people did.
I have a preamp with tone controls (usually bypassed) and a 15 band stereo EQ in a tape loop if I need it which sometimes gets used to 'help' a poorly balanced recording. I also have a 7 band EQ following the DAC from the TV which I use to rebalance TV and film sound. The main thing I use to balance the system sound is the 3 way active crossovers between the pre amps and power amps (fully active system). These in general get set and left as they are.

 

[E-Stat]

You are correct I usually pretty much leave my bass wide open but mainly I have to adjust my treble. Without the control my opinion some songs are not worth listening too..

Not sure if the FVA mod changed the profile, but the stock bass control is +/- 16 db at 50 hz. You always need that kind of boost? Holy cow!

With the HT, I needed to attenuate 53 hz by 9 db and 62 hz by 6 db and still cannot entirely get rid of the 3 db rise at 50 hz and still have a null at twice that frequency. Perhaps your challenge is a severe room null - which is effectively a black hole. You can pour boost all the want in those cases and really get nowhere.

Schiit offers the Loki for those who wish to add tone control functionality to preamps lacking such.

 

[John Daly]

I don't buy the less is more argument. Don't think these guy's do either.

 

[orsen]

my pre has tone controls but they are left flat
but i want them if i feel the need
my next step is DSP and take it from there

 

[62caddy]

When the tone defeat switch on one of my preamps is depressed, the tone controls are out of the circuit. In that regard, one might say the preamplifier is a "hybrid" - essentially becoming a "tone control-less" unit when so operated.

I defy any living soul to hear a difference when the tone is defeated compared to engaged with EQ controls are set to flat. Variances in recording equalization, on the other hand are easily, and readily audible.

 

[sqlsavior]

I don't buy the less is more argument. Don't think these guy's do either.

View attachment 1430985

Guess what? We minimalists appreciate recordings made in a similar, minimalist fashion, too. Two mics, two pots. I wonder how many of the dials in the picture have never been used...

 

[E-Stat]

I don't buy the less is more argument. Don't think these guy's do either.

Others like Telarc's Jack Renner have a different take on the number of microphones and processing that is required. Nominated for 20 Grammys - winning 11, he knows how to make good sound.

I had the good fortune of meeting him during one of the ASO recordings.

 

[Lavane]

All my SS preamps and integrateds have tone controls. None of my tube equipment does. Mostly the SS equipment is set flat or tone controls defeated. But you do run into recordings that need help. An example, the album Auqalung. That album when originally recorded needs them. I bought the new remastered version recently and to my ears it's a big improvement, no tone controls needed. As for my tube equipment, tweeking tube types, mostly driver tube types helps. But again some recordings just need more. I've been seriously considering a Loki to use in my tube setup for those recordings that need a boost.

 

[imral3]

I usually pretty much leave my bass wide open

What do you mean by this?

 

[62caddy]

For reasons of practicality in living space, my speakers must be placed closely to walls, increasing bass response. Due to this, LF controls need to be attenuated so EQ is pretty much a necessity in my particular situation, the alternative being too much bass.

One remastered CD of Lester Lanin selections has too little bass. Simply punching the EQ defeat switch for this recording restores just the right amount of bass perfectly.

 

[goodolpg]

Do the tone control guys adjust them for every song/album?

I have a friend who does.

 

[4-2-7]

Guess what? We minimalists appreciate recordings made in a similar, minimalist fashion, too. Two mics, two pots. I wonder how many of the dials in the picture have never been used...

Yep things like Folk Singer and A Letter Home, this will sound live and in your room.

 

[quiet]

I don't mess with them much. Just leave them flat. The exception being some home recorded tapes made by others. Usually lots of twisting. Then never play the tape again.

 

[Bill Haywood]

Not sure if the FVA mod changed the profile, but the stock bass control is +/- 16 db at 50 hz. You always need that kind of boost? Holy cow!

With the HT, I needed to attenuate 53 hz by 9 db and 62 hz by 6 db and still cannot entirely get rid of the 3 db rise at 50 hz and still have a null at twice that frequency. Perhaps your challenge is a severe room null - which is effectively a black hole. You can pour boost all the want in those cases and really get nowhere.

Schiit offers the Loki for those who wish to add tone control functionality to preamps lacking such.

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. All I was saying is I like the tone controls and I am not complaining about the way my system sounds. I think that my system sounds spectacular but that’s my opinion and Over the years I have heard a lot of fine systems that sound better than mine but it’s not that much. What is the saying it’s in the eye of the beholder well it’s in the ear of the beholder that counts.

 

[E-Stat]

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

In post #15, you made the following observation:

"I usually pretty much leave my bass wide open"

I took that to mean bass control at max. Fully clockwise. Is that correct?

In which case, you are boosting 50 hz by 16 db or by a factor of ~40. That's a lot of boost down there!

I hI think that my system sounds spectacular

Not questioning the results, but trying to understand what you're doing to get there.

 

[easycraig]

Preamp with bass/mid/treble controls. Nice to have the ability to “play with the sound” when you want to.

 

[Bill Haywood]

In post #15, you made the following observation:

"I usually pretty much leave my bass wide open"

I took that to mean bass control at max. Fully clockwise. In which case, you are boosting 50 hz by 16 db or by a factor of ~40. That's a lot of boost down there!


Not questioning the results, but rather the means to get there.

I am not trying to be a smart ass but you guys are way ahead of me and I wish that I understood and I am sure that I can learn. Thanks for explaining..

 

[Bill Haywood]

I hear the filtering of tone controls and EQs at least the ones I have had. I rather have different speaker/amps to chose from for different music. I put on a new one step issue the other night and it sounded a bit boomy bass heavy...I was surprised as the MLs with the VAC mono blocks are generally good with this kind of music.

Here

I then used my VAC Stereo amp and the Monitor Audio speakers and all was fine

Hear

Holy Smoke mega bucks. Wow

 

[E-Stat]

I am not trying to be a smart ass but you guys are way ahead of me and I wish that I understood and I am sure that I can learn. Thanks for explaining..

No problemo. I've learned quite a bit over the years on audio forums and perhaps you might too.

Would you clarify what you meant by "bass wide open" in terms of where the knob is set?