Tone controls -- assuming you're ok with them, when would you try them?

Well, thanks for quoting me but I want to address a couple of things:

a standing debate whether tone controls are worth the (likely) sound degradation

This is very equipment specific. My current integrated, a Luxman, has totally transparent tone controls. I can’t hear them do more to the sound than I want. My previous Parasound P7 pre however noticeably veiled the sound when engaged, so this seems to be specific to the implementation.

Also, audiophiles are curious creatures. We don’t always think about pros and cons, we think exclusively of the cons, or we ignore the cons of whatever our trendy solution might be. Too bright? Well, let’s’ go spending thousands of dollars on interconnects until we get it right!!

Lastly, I do think in our genetically transmitted knowledge, audiophiles too often equate modest tone controls with the heavy handed use of noisy, crappy EQ’s from the 80’s.

what do you try next?

Room acoustics are always a place to start.

At what point do you go for tone controls?

Whenever you want to. It’s not as if you are going to taint yourself or be arrested. The police won’t come and take away your gear. Take some deep breaths and try it in the privacy of your own home. Draw the shades if you are afraid of being seen. :)  But, don't try to fix a speaker with them. If a speaker doesn't sound right to you most of the time, and the room isn't it, chances are that's what needs to change for you.

For me, typically though it is late at night. I find the loudness switch a real benefit to listening at low volumes.  It's a lot better than having two pairs of spaekers, one for late night, one for the afternoon. :)

Above all, try it. Ask yourself what your own benefits and issues are when you use tone controls. :)

Best,

E

@erik_squires I always love your answers.
Good point about the gear. I'd heard that about Luxman.

"It’s not as if you are going to taint yourself or be arrested."

LOL!
I hear you about room acoustics, and I know there are ways of dealing with that that does not require specialty equipment, necessarily.
When I lived in apartments, loudness buttons were frequently useful.

I'm lucky enough that I don't need them. And if I felt like I did, I would explore other avenues before using a band aid approach.

YMMV........

Another way to think of this is like this:

"I don't always drink beer, but when I do..."

Meaning, it's' good to set up your system so that it's in the middle of the lane for the music you listen to, at the volumes you listen to. If you like rock or heavy metal, get speakers for that, instead of buying neutral and jacking up the bass and treble.

But, once you know where the middle of the road is, your tone controls act as subtle adjustments.  Also, tone controls can be lifestyle tools. :)  Need to keep the speakers too close to the rear wall? Turn the bass down.