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Question about Tone Controls + Equalizers

So I wanted to get opinions on Tone Controls.

I listen to all my music including LP's with Tone Controls defeated.

Why do I do that, you say? Because when I started on this journey I had the impression in my mind that in order to be an Audiophile, you have to listen to all music in it's purest form otherwise you are degrading the sound (I know, a very novice and naive mentality). 

So my first questions, do you all listen to LP's with tone controls on or off (if you have the capability in your system)?

My second question is about equalizers and in particular the Schiit Loki. If you have Tone Controls in your system, is adding a equalizer or tone control system useless or does it interfere whit your built in Tone Controls? Would you have defeat the Tone Controls on your own system in order to use the Loki or could they work with each other? I am not sure.

Do you all think a device like the Loki could possibly help fine tune your system sound? Is anyone using it in their own rig with LP playback?

That is what I would use it for, LP Playback, if I ever got the Loki or anything similar.

Thanks
jay73
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
I don't use tone controls with vinyl playback.  My pre-amp does have tone controls but i don't use them.  I do use the digital equalizer in iTunes for a very few early digital recordings.   
jay73's avatar
jay73 OP
219 posts
 
Thanks everyone for their inputs and suggestions.

Always looking to learn about how a system can be improved even though we may not all agree on the approach we can still learning something new, at least I do.
danvignau's avatar
danvignau
935 posts
 
My "Tone Controls" consist of adjustable vertical blinds in front of the 12" windows behind my speakers for the high end and mids, plus removing the grills.  For the bass, I use a separate, but matched amp and preamp for subs, with a double pole double toggle to switch or remove bass crossovers, for the purpose of keeping things in phase while having the ability to add harmonics for old, crappy recordings, especially on LP.  Yes, I did measure the center of the main and sub magnets to place every thing in the same plane.  If you have an extra amp and preamp, give it a try on subs..
bigfishhk
12 posts
 
LOKI works great for me. I use it most of the time because in my living room my speakers have too much bass despite positioning adjustments and bass traps. So I tame the bass a bit more on many recordings with the LOKI.
its easy to defeat During use,  and doesn’t add any noise to the signal as far as I can hear.
If i were you I would defeat the tone control on the amp if I had the Loki in the system.
Simply a bargain. Check out the Audiophiliac review on YouTube for Steve G review.
genez
220 posts
 
Music in "its purest form" is what sounds most like real music.  Having no tone controls to use and the room makes the sound thin?  Is far from purest sound when compared to real music.  From what I understand, the problem with most tone controls is the major phase shift that they caused.  Instead of just adding bass, it muddles the bass.  What we need is a linear tone control.  I have owned various small audiophile speakers. I have been using a Barcus Berry Sonic Maximizer for years. When using its adjustable linear bass boost it makes small speakers sound satisfying without any muddy sound that typical tone controls can introduce.  With the high quality small speakers I leave the processor for the high frequencies off and find a very natural balance.
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