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Tube Pre-Amp, vs Solid State with Tone Controls/EQ to take edge off the top end?

Ok,

Really dig my current speaker set-up, they do 90% of what I want at a reasonable price.   (leaving brand out of here so as to not go off track).  

Using a Pass Labs 250.8, and really like it.  Trading out for a lower priced amp immediately gave me a smaller soundstage.  I believe Nelson voices his amps to have a bit of tube like sound but while keeping a solid low end.

Using a Pass XP-12 pre-amp, it's a great piece.  Does what it does really well.

But... I'd like to ever so slightly de-tune the top end on my speaker.  Just take it down a slight bit (usually only when above 90db).

Thoughts on trying a pre-amp with tone controls or an EQ, vs a tube pre-amp? (or a big integrated amp even)

Just looking for others thoughts. Thanks.

dep14
dentdog's avatar
dentdog
506 posts
 
+1 Elizabeth. Really good AC conditioning will calm down a bright high end and leave the music to be heard. Initially thought my speakers were too bright and went to work toning them down with tubes, tweaks, then got the power right and voila. The hint that led me in the right direction was that after midnight SQ. 
That AC 'noise" is like white noise and the effects are nothing short of horrific. 
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,989 posts
 
+1 for Mac preamps with tone controls.....
get Jim Smiths very excellent book, check your setup......
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,861 posts
 
As above, B.A.T. and Pass Labs are a sonic match.  Happy Listening!
luxmancl38
580 posts
 
I have a Luxman CL38U-SE. It has quite a few functions to tweek your sound. There is a low frequency switch that allows you to select frequencies from 150, 300 and 600hz. High frequency switch where you can select frequencies from 1.5, 3 and 6kz. The preamp also has old fashioned bass and treble controls. I use a Bryston 2.5 SST2 amp. I get a nice detailed smooth sound from my Aerial 5T's.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,894 posts
 
The brightness on top is distortion (trace amounts of higher ordered harmonics to which the ear is keenly sensitive). Tone controls won't fix it.
Tube preamps make less of this distortion than solid state. For this reason a good tube preamp can tone things down, without a loss of speed or highs.
There are tube preamps that can drive the balanced inputs of the Pass no worries. I'd stay away from tone controls if I were you (and fix the problem instead of putting a bandaid on it)- the more circuits you introduce, the more coloration and less transparency. The reason to go with high end audio is to get closer to the music, not further away!
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