2. amps-preamps
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I miss my Loudness Button and Tone Controls....

So I recently upgraded my system to a Rogue Audio Sphinx integrated amplifier, V2.

Prior to this purchase I was using a NAD C162 preamp, and an Emotive UA-200 amplifier.

After a month of listening, I have to say, I miss the tone controls and the loudness feature on the old NAD pre-amp, especially when listening at lower volumes. The Rogue amp sounds great when played at a minimum of 50% of its output, but at lower volumes, it just seems flat. I do use a sub (SVS SB-2000 pro, and I'm using a very efficient speaker (Zu Audio DW's).

I've toyed with the idea of buying an EQ of some sort that has a bypass so that I can boost some of the frequencies when listening at lower volumes, and then bypass when I listening at higher volumes.

Any thoughts on this? Anyone experience anything similar? I'm about to pack and sell the Rogue amp, as the cons outweigh the pros for me.

 

 

barkeyzee1
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jallan
317 posts
 

+1 for the Schiit Loki. I have the original, and using it slightly foreshortened the sense of depth, but otherwise it had little detriment effect to the sound.

Like others have suggested, I did switch my preamplifier- from an old Audio Research SP6B to a Cary SLP05 with ultimate upgrade, and the need for the Loki to tame the high end tizzies on some recordings went away, so I no longer need it. But it did work wonders at taming the hot top ends of poorly mastered recordings (like the High-res anniversary edition remaster of the Chicago Transit Authority- ouch!)

moose89's avatar
moose89
183 posts
 

If you get the Bluesound Node, you will have all the controls of sound in your iOS just like your SVS sub control… all at your fingertips in your listening position. Technology! And the DAC is wonderful. 

jaudio1
121 posts
 

Get a Schiit Loki and you will be all set.  Otherwise, go back to an integrated with the tone controls you want.

blackbag20
476 posts
 

All my gear is jammed into a bedroom with no possibility of correcting without EQ ... the Loki is an amazing piece of equipment.  Sonic return per dollar invested is only to marvel.  

hugothegreat
11 posts
 

I had the same issue re tone controls.  I am using an SAE 1800 parametric equalizer.  Hard to find in a good condition..

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