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I was not enjoying the performance until I ......

Equalized it with the Schiit Loki unit.  Miraculously, when I boosted the bass which was lacking, the performance came to life.  It’s amazing how my long term  prejudice against using an equalizer caused me to reject so many recordings on the basis of sound deficiencies.  Now I can enjoy previously rejected wonderful performances.
The Loki is an amazing device.  The ingrained bias against tampering with the “purity” or sanctity of the original artifact is rendered ridiculous with it.  It’s of such high quality that it does  not interfere with the 
good qualities of the original disc.  By manipulating the frequencies slightly you can, to use a cliche, turn a sows ear into a silk purse.
128x128rvpiano
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,673 posts
 
The vast majority of the CDs I own sound fine. I couldn’t be happier with them.
HOWEVER, there are SOME discs that I really like, but avoid playing because of poor mastering or engineering. With the Loki, these discs can be rehabilitated by equalization so that they really shine.
I totally agree it would be ridiculous if you had to adjust the settings on everything you played. It would be foolhardy. That’s not the point.
The point is, you shouldn’t have to suffer listening to discs with aberrations just to prove that equalization is a bad thing.

oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
OP, folks can say what they want. We all get in our cars, PU, SUVs, on our Scoots, or however we're getting there and what do we do?

You turn on the stereo, check the weather report, traffic conditions, and put on some music.. Did you leave everything in the transportation device the same? OR did you tinker with every part of that fancy new EQ, fadder, balance, bass boost, treble trim and And AND!! LOL  Bull pucky.

People use Tone Control, what do you do, toss the CD, Tape, MP3, RtR? NOPE, you use the tone control.. Hardheads!!! 

Pay 400.00 for a record, when the last one needed a little bump on the bottom, HuH!!!

Don't think so...

Regards
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
I suppose I do the same thing through tube rolling so I can't knock this approach at all.  I can significantly add bass with a Mullard ECC35 or create more air and a deeper soundstage with some 1940s Tung-Sol 6SN7 round tops, or get more articulation and slam with some vintage RCA 805 power tubes...every change we make has the potential to affect sonic presentation....so what's wrong with turning a knob if that's how you choose to get to your listening preferences?
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,634 posts
 

You will have to adjust on each recording.

Who is this you?
geof3
1,129 posts
 
Given most speaker cables “character” really is a matter of “tone control” as are most things we tweak in this game, a separate tone/eq is a worthwhile discussion. However, I also agree the first and foremost thing to do is get the overall symmetry of the system as dialed as possible. Then, if additional tone tweaking is what your ears want to hear, go for it. I’ve become a BIG fan of less is more in terms of overall equipment. Each cable introduced adds another potential for interference, noise, etc. more power cables increase the chance of ground loops. If these things get introduced, regardless of why, a tone control becomes pointless.
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