2. amps-preamps
  3. 154084-141153

Why is loudness compensation missing from "mid-fi"?

Very often I like to listen at low volume when writing or trying to fall asleep. Without adjusting loudness, a lot of my favorite records sound faint and hollow. My current setup lacks loudness compensation, so I simply fiddle with the tone controls, but it's a crude "solution" and a bit of a nuisance. I've been researching my next upgrade, and I find it strange that some entry level equipment has loudness compensation (e.g. Yamaha A-S301), as does some high end equipment (e.g. Accuphase), but usually nothing in between. (e.g. Yamaha A-S1100). Why is that?

Every time I'm about to pull the trigger on an A-S1100 I talk myself out of it by telling myself I'll still wish I had the Accuphase for loudness compensation. It's annoying, because my setup really doesn't warrant an Accuphase — or maybe it does, if I can't find what I want elsewhere?
lostark
erik_squires
16,841 posts
 
All of the Luxman integrateds have this. Love it for the reasons you've described.

Yamaha had (past tense, can't find it now) the best kind of loudness adjustment, continously variable. So you'd turn up the volume to the balance you liked, then turn the loudness DOWN, supressing the midrange.  Little complicated, but like the Denon version of old, works.

wolf_garcia
6,794 posts
 
Get a Schiit Loki...inexpensive, clean, clear, unobtrusive in all ways, doesn't make itself known when bypassed, and by raising the levels on the treble and bass sides you immediately accomplish what a loudness control does. Put it in a tape loop or between a preamp and amp. Highly recommended.
akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,395 posts
 
Many mid-fi integrated amps actually have the opposite .... they have a “DIRECT” button . This bypasses bass, treble, and balance functions when the switch is depressed. This affects all inputs, and will generally give a small improvement in sound quality.

Whatever you feel is lacking also suggests a synergy mismatch between the existing upstream components and the speakers. 
More to discover