• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Why we need tone controls and/or equalizers

Very interesting responses. Thanks guys. Hopefully, none of my future posts will be this controversial.

On second thought.............
 
I find it weird myself but I've begun to prefer no-control approach myself. My Nad amp has no control & I'm happy with it. My Yamaha sounds best when the 'CD-Direct' is on. But My Marantz makes no real difference whether I push 'Source-Direct' or leave the tone control neutral. I leave it source direct most of time anyway. And the frequency of my using 'loudness' function is dwindling day by day.

I suspect it's psychological stuff. Plus, bothering about whether I've adjusted tone control properly sort of distracts me from listening to music. So I tend to let it stay no-tone-control.
 
my argument is easy.


The more I drink, the more I turn up the bass knob.


So yes I will always have tone controls. Take a simple preamp, say an onkyo, and pair it with some good ol rock. Now drink a few beers and crank the loudness knob on it. Enjoy. Then drink some more beer.



I am sure a few of you will find this sound logic....
 
I used to crank the treble and boost the bass a little but now i just leave it alone and go with what they intended me to hear.
 
Sometimes you get lucky with the right combination of components and sources, so that you've got no need to adjust tone or loudness. But as others have mentioned, I've also come to appreciate the diversity of speaker characteristics... and sometimes a given speaker will shine with some music sources while it will need a little "adjustment" for others. With some sources, I have to tone down treble a little or kick up the bass a little. Not much, just a notch or two. I think a well designed system will have tone controls as well as a true bypass switch that avoids the tonal circuitry, to be used as desired.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by JonL
Why do people care so much that others may prefer something different?
Click to expand...

Old_Tech said:
They don't care at all.
Click to expand...
+1 and an Amen to that, brother. Watching people get all excited and pissy about stuff like this is pretty much amusing and/or sad. No offense, but how do ya manage to get yourself kicked out of a forum discussing tone controls..? :scratch2:
 
JonL said:
Why do people care so much that others may prefer something different?
Click to expand...

Because Jon, we want you to be exactly like us so everyone gets along and the world is peacefully boring Mwhahahahahahhahah! :deal:

cwall99 said:
Better basic components generally, in my experience, mean you don't need to mess with things like tone controls.
Click to expand...

Ditto. :yes: But people should just do whatever they want. As long as they're happy with the results, it doesn't matter.
 
Well, guys...I had no idea anyone would get "excited and pissy" about this. But think about it...is there any other hobby that brings out this sort of thing in people? I mean, c'mon...what else would cause grown men to argue over something like whether speaker wires should lay flat on the floor or not??? Or should wires in cables be wound clockwise or counterclockwise??? At least tone controls DO something...whether you agree with their use or not.
 
Zygmo said:
Well, guys...I had no idea anyone would get "excited and pissy" about this. But think about it...is there any other hobby that brings out this sort of thing in people? I mean, c'mon...what else would cause grown men to argue over something like whether speaker wires should lay flat on the floor or not??? Or should wires in cables be wound clockwise or counterclockwise??? At least tone controls DO something...whether you agree with their use or not.
Click to expand...

Visit a model ship forum and ask what color the USS Arizona's turret tops were when she was sunk. You'll get an earful and somebody will eventually be called some colorful four letter descriptor.
 
Tube gear is way better than solid state gear...or was that solid state gear is better than tube gear?

Belt drive is much better than direct drive or was it vice versa?

digital is better than analogue...or is it?

I think we're splitting hairs again.
 
Meh, tone controls are extra work. I don't want to have to readjust a 31-band 1/3oct. eq everytime a new song comes on (anything less than that will maybe give you too little control to actually "shape" the sound). If I need more bass I can add a subwoofer. Problems that exist in the final mix eq-wise are normally tracking eq problems in specific instruments/tracks that you can't troublehshoot by eq'ing the entire song because it changes the the timbre of everything else at the same time.

Tone controls are useful for 'toning' down speaker deficiencies (treble roll-off, not enough bass) but even then you can quickly overload the amp or overdrive the speaker if you're not careful. Really all I would use them for is "compensation" of a weak part of the signal chain - and yes, sometimes that means a badly mixed track. I'd rather not listen to those though.

Room EQ is a different subject altogether. That can in no way be handled by simple "tone-controls".
 
I am surprised that this thread hasn't been locked yet. glad to see thoughtful post on the subject and not just bickering back and forth

so just a thought on the subject, when you are in a studio recording, you sit in the control room , listen to what you have recorded and make adjustments to the mix to get the sound that you want. now every control room is different, some have amazing room treatments and the best monitors money can buy, most do not. also so many factors go into mixing a recording and not all are sound related, EGO'S! , personal taste, billed studio time, studio equipment...etc. I believe some people have a vision of a musician obsessing over each and every detail of a recording, tweaking it till it is absolutely perfect, that is not usually the case. normally you have the "house" engineer who has his own ideas of what he wants to do with your music, each musician has an ego and wants HIS parts the loudest in the mix, you are usually on a strict budget and unfortunately it always takes longer to lay the tracks down then you thought so you have to hurry up the mix, there is a million things going into a recording and not all are to achieve the best "sound". this is why so many musicians have complete melt-downs in the studio, why so many bands don't make it through the process. now i am sure that each and every recording process is different but my point is that unless you are sitting in the same room with the same equipment that was used to record the music how can it sound " as the musician intended it"?

audiophilia is a pretty personal hobby, most of the time it is just you listening to music , sometimes in small groups. i say do whatever you want. enjoy!:thmbsp:
--
also please keep in mind that i am asking the QUESTION , how can it sound " as the musician intended it"? I am not saying it cant or wont sound " as the musician intended it"?
 
Since my gear improved over the years I haven't felt any need for tone controls with one exception. I have a pair of Minimus 7s in the bedroom system and without some messing around with tone controls they're just not enjoyable (for me at least). If I ever get around to doing the Zilch crossovers that might change, but for now they just need some tweaking with the tone controls or the loudness (depends on level).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom