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Loudness - Why has the industry stopped producing amplifiers with this feature any longer?

I listen to music at all times of the day and night (solid sleep eludes me the older I get).  My favorite times are when the family is gone and I can select the listening level, mostly moderate to higher volumes.  But the simply fact is I find myself listen at lower levels much more often then my preferred listening mode.

Piggybacking on a discussion regarding low level listening here on Audiogon, I'm posing the question:  Why has the majority of industry stopped producing amplifiers with this feature any longer?

I look forward to your input
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tenbar OP
3 posts
 

Thanks for the thoughts petg60 - Your logic makes sense.  I can see manufacturers cutting costs on non-essential items to remain competitive.  And, I do use the tone controls on my system without loudness.  Doesn't have the same effect but helps.


Thanks atmosphere - appreciate the detail.  I've had loudness variable type (on a McIntosh 4300V receiver) and the switch type on my current McIntosh C41, as well as many vintage Pioneer/Concept models in my youth.  It definitely colors the sound once the volume is increased.  But at low volumes I still find it adds value to the music.

roberttdid
534 posts
 
It is a feature I have seen recently in AV receivers and perhaps processors, but it wasn't labelled loudness. It is all done digitally of course. With many people having all digital systems, it does not make sense in the analog domain. At low listening levels, even digitized vinyl would be hard to argue against versus the alternative (not loudness compensation).
erik_squires
16,276 posts
 
@atmasphere : Yamaha and Denon have both implemented variable loudness controls. (Not sure if Denon does anymore).

While I applaud your neurotic insistence on exact settings, the toggle switch Loudness button on my Luxman's sounds really great.
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twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
The reason it mostly went away was a big trend towards hair-shirt purism in preamps and integrated.  Tone controls, balance control, and loudness (button or variable) all were eliminated at the altar of the fewest possible stages and connections.  This is reflected in Japanese mid-fi components where there's a "straight" or "direct" button that bypasses the tone controls they still incorporate.  Undoubtedly there's a market for a preamp with a variable loudness control, though obviously not to everyone's taste.
wolf_garcia
6,722 posts
 
Although I eschew "loudness controls" as well as mostly eschewing the word "eschew" (except for this), I don't understand why "measurement" is needed when you can simply LISTEN to the results of applying a control. I have a Loki EQ that's almost always bypassed except for the rare recording that really needs sonic first aid, but otherwise seemingly 99.999% of what I listen to needs (or personal taste dictates a determining action) nothing as far as EQ is concerned...some recordings require me to smoke pot,  but that's another story.
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