Are tone controls worth a second look ?

Ikonetic,

My thoughts exactly. The recording that is heard through the "perfect" audiophile system with no tone controls is the results of a sound engineer mixing, tweaking, equalizing, etc. to get the "best" sound. Even a live concert has sound engineers adding their touch.

Bill

Luxman with tone controls on the remote. Can't beat that. I mean, if you are like me and play music via Itunes/Pure Music into a USB DAC, no need to get up if you choose a recording that is not so good, just make the adjustment on the remote. Now, anyone have 7 grand I can borrow for a Luxman L-507u integrated. :-).

Actually, I don't think the new Luxmans have tone controls on the remote. Oh well.

After re-visited my own thread a year later, I might as well share my updated experience.

After a good decade+ of not having tone controls, I could hardly let them go now. After owning mega-dollar amps, I ''downgraded'' to an Anthem 225 with tones, and now the amazing Yamaha AS 2000 integrated with microprocessor (defeatable) tone and volume control.

My heaviest use of controls has been with FM broadcast - Internet radio from ipod to digital transport (cambridge id-100) to DacMagic. And of course the many less-than-stellar cd recordings I own. Almost no use of tone controls with analog vinyl though, except a few '70s rock albums. most Jazz albums sound fine, at least the ones I own.

Not to mention my imperfect listening room with bare flooring.

Funny, since using the tone controls again - I have stopped switching speaker cables and interconnects every other month - and probably saved a lot of money and frustration in the process - which leaves me a bit more or my increasingly rare time available to enjoy music - and that's the whole point right?

After re-visited my own thread a year later, I might as well share my updated experience.

After a good decade+ of not having tone controls, I could hardly let them go now. After owning mega-dollar amps, I ''downgraded'' to an Anthem 225 with tones, and now the amazing Yamaha AS 2000 integrated with microprocessor (defeatable) tone and volume control.

My heaviest use of controls as been with FM broadcast - Internet radio from ipod to digital transport (cambridge id-100) to DacMagic. And of course the many less-than-stellar cd recordings. Almost none with analog vinyl though.

Not to mention my imperfect listening room with bare flooring.

Funny, since using the tone controls again - I have stopped switching speaker cables and interconnects every other month - and probably save a lot of money and frustration in the process - which leaves me a bit more or my rare time available to enjoy music - and that's the whole point right?