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I like my system flat, no tone controls, no eq..........what is your preference, and why.

A poster on another thread here has encouraged me to post this. Been an audio professional and a hobbyist for 50 tears. I had my time with eq, tone controls ( even reverb and time delay units ). I am currently at the point where I need nothing to alter the recordings I listen to, nor to compensate for room aberrations. I have spent lots of money on equipment , had equipment on loan, of all types ( pretty much a bit of everything, for the most part ) and I have tweaked, and tweaked, and tweaked. I have recently tooled down to a much simpler and less expensive system, and I find I am the happiest I have ever been. Might be my amp, my passive unit, my speakers...…….yes, all of that. Yes, all of that is important, but it is the system synergy that has made me realize that changing anything with an eq or tone controls took me further from that synergy, that balance. I accept, and enjoy my recordings for what they are. Some better than others ( sq ). But, I am enjoying the brilliance of all the studio work put into them,  exactly as they were intended to be listened to. This is me. I do not believe in right or wrong, better or worse, newer vs older, yada yada yada. I have believed, and have stated, particularly in this hobby, to each his own. I hear fuse differences, power cable differences, etc. Some believe I was born a bat. I am happy of my gift, not just hearing well, but through the years, teaching myself " what it is I like ", which is the key for most of us. I am not sure where this thread will go, but I put it out there, and hope folks will drop in, even though much of it might have been stated before in other threads. Thank you A'gon family, be well, and Enjoy ! MrD.
mrdecibel
mrdecibel OP
3,025 posts
 
@heardthat, I am really not preaching eq or tone shaping is bad, and if it appears that way, I apologize. I am making a point that for me, it does nothing. At this time anyway. I wanted some feedback from others, as I thought it would be an interesting topic. I am happy for you with your 5 band eq.                                                                        @douglas_schroeder In my second post on this thread, I asked you a question about a location. Do you have an answer ? If the answer is yes, you might know why I ask. If the answer is no, I will explain. Enjoy ! MrD.
tgrisham
1,291 posts
 
I really appreciate the original thread and the responses. To me flat means I didn’t change the signal to suit my ears. When I perceive the tonal balance is off, I assume the studio engineer wanted something different than what I prefer. Conversely, when it is spot on, the engineer and I agree and I can reproduce that sound in my my listening space. No easy feat for an engineer. It’s an art. Maybe lost in these these times. Listening to my vinyl LP of Rhapsody And Blues by Crusaders, I am totally in tune with the studio recording and the band intent. And, with Adele 25. A different time and a different genre but the recording is honest and truthful. I’m grateful for the recording engineers and their dedication. 
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
MrDecibel, no, I have no knowledge (appreciation?) of the store. 
mrdecibel OP
3,025 posts
 
@douglas_schroeder I knew someone with your same name, when I managed that store, that came in often and he became an audio reviewer. I believe he worked for Sony in the R & D division. He told me I was wasting my time, and I needed to go out and become an independent consultant, which I did. Enjoy ! MrD.
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Audiophilia is truly bifurcated, and that's a very good thing, as there is a path for the purist and the technologist.  

My review of the Legacy Audio Whisper DSW was a lesson in appreciation of both approaches. With the speaker I can run either outboard processor (Wavelet DAC/Room Correction/Pre), OR I can switch to hybrid with active x-over (Wavelet) for bass and passive for Mid/Teb, OR I can go fully� passive X-over. I can go as simple as one amp try-wired to the speakers, or as complex as six discrete channels with outboard amplification! 

For some that might sound like a headache, but for me it's a playground! My conclusion was, apples to apples the active system is superior, but when it's apples to oranges in terms of amps and cables I can make the passive superior. Then again, if I keep switching things I can make the active better... It simply isn't cut and dried one way or the other, in my experience. So much depends on how well each on is executed. 

There are a lot of ways to run a rig, and blessed is the audiophile who figures out their preference and can pursue it to satisfaction.  
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