2. misc-audio
  3. 185693-162285

To Tone or Not to Tone, that is the question.

I am in the process of moving houses, and as such, I am finally getting around (not that it wasn't a priority) to hooking up my stereo system.

Room treatments, etc... are not installed/set up yet, but the "basic" components are in.

I ran into a situation where I was having an issue with my subwoofer and getting it to play nicely in the new room with different sources.

I am using a Classe CP800 preamp, which allows you to set different "tone controls" (or a complete lack thereof) for each individual source.

I currently have a Yamaha CD-s2100 SACD player and also a cheap Sony DVD/SACD 5 disc changer hooked up.

Playing around in the preamp settings, I put the Sony (borderline junk) on "bypass mode", which made a big improvement to it's sound.

Further playing around, and the Yamaha (a MUCH higher quality unit) sounds better using the tone settings turned on.

Is this normal?

Perhaps after I get the room treatments installed, this will be subject to change?

It just got me thinking/wondering if most folks use their tone controls, or tend to bypass them all together (like I say, in my particular instance, this is independently configurable for each source).

Just struck me as kind of odd, so I figured I would post it here.

 

coralkong
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,797 posts
 

Each time i used tone controls for the better , it was to compensate for some lacks in my components or from the room...

I did not use them no more  at the end...

It is  nor bad and nor  right to use tone controls...

And it is nor bad or  right to use equalization , mechanical or electronical EQ.

It is some tools...

I use EQ. now for my marvellous headphone to get them more near the Harman curve optimum.. And i use this not because i believe that the Harman curve is the ideal , even if it is statistically so, i use EQ. because my headphone need it to satisfy my ears and my ears are more satisfied near the Harman curve after my experimentation...

What matter is the musical experience through sound...You get it with your components the best you can and with your tools...

 

 

coralkong's avatar
coralkong OP
702 posts
 

@mahgister ,

That's the most comprehendible thing you've said in weeks.....just saying.

It's all just a tool. I like it.

@deadhead1000 , I'm running a Classe CP-800 preamp into a Classe-CA2200 amp. Not sure why I'd need another amp. 

To all, I was just struggling with the settings, I think. I set Aux1 out as another sub, and all of a sudden, everything has come to life.

Thanks, all.

@mahgister , I'm going to leave it where it is for now.

Nice call.

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,797 posts
 

😁😉😊😎😊

mrskeptic
262 posts
 

@deadhead1000 

 

He didn't say what amp he's using. Are you clairvoyant or how do you know what amp he needs to upgrade?

wolf_garcia
6,795 posts
 

Schiit EQs including the Lokis I own are utterly transparent unlike any other EQ I've used for personal or pro work over many decades. You can flip it in  and out with zero effect or clicking or any change in the bypassed tone as long as it's flat...the EQ curves Schiit picked are very useable, and although in my system it's bypassed most of the time (because I'm a purist like YOU) it's there when I need it for certain recordings. The Loki Max is next on my wish list just for the remote capability.

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