2. misc-audio
  3. 138437-114756

Bass and treble levels

Where would you mostly set bass and treble levels on a good quality integrated amp? Any difference for vinyl vs. streaming? 
mysteriousmrm
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,741 posts
 

Your are so right erik_squires.

 some of those early U2 Albums are dreadful to listen to even their arguably best Joshua Tree (spelling?) love the music but the eq. on them and compression is horrible.

to the OP. Many on here will turn there heads at tone controls but not all of us have perfect rooms with perfect records. so use them to make it sound best to you. If you don't have an amp with them and think you need them the best rendition i've come across are the ones with cut off Frequency adjustment they will have two extras tone control nobs for quick ID.

tobor007's avatar
tobor007
135 posts
 
Over the last 40 years I have never used them. I have always tweaked my room and speaker placement. However, now I have a new room, speakers and power (McIntosh) units. I am currently using a McIntosh c47 preamp. After dialing everything in the sound was very good. However, it was still a bit bright for me. I bumped the treble down 1 notch and it sounds better to me. I don't think it was the amp/preamp, I have used McIntosh forever. But with the new speakers, new room and my older ears things have changed. I would say (for me) perhaps a small change (knowing that tone controls affect a pretty broad range of frequencies) may help.
erik_squires
16,644 posts
 
I think it's important to note what we are sensitive to as well. 

I like tone controls, but my current pre's tone controls definitely dull the sound, even when set to neutral. 

Sadly, the design and parts quality of tone controls has really diminished. 

So this is gear dependent. I'm sure others may totally not hear this issue at all. 

So, I don't think there's one answer, except to please yourself, and pay attention to your perception in long term listening sessions. You'll eventually become your own mastering engineer and decide what's best. 
brayeagle
362 posts
 
eric_squires

Gotta' agree with you about the quality of current tone controls. . Unfortunately, some of the earlier CD recordings certainly need treble cut.
mysteriousmrm's avatar
mysteriousmrm OP
37 posts
 
Great point about early U2 and some 80s music from Eric_squires. There are some albums from that era I would love to hear reconfigured for our modern ears, but I guess that can't happen without recutting the masters. 
More to discover