2. amps-preamps
  3. 185752-1614

Any High End Tube Preamps with *gasp tone controls?

After dropping in a vintage Scott 222C into my system while my amp was out for repair I'm really missing the tone controls now that my amplifier is back. It seems sacrilegious but I just can't get the bass where I want it without a bit of boost plus I'm sure my hearing is changing as I get older so why not be flexible... even if it results in me being thrown out of the audiophile club.

dhcod
dhcod OP
710 posts
 

Just popped in a Luxman CL35 MK III. Great bass but really cold vocals and the highs weren't delicate at all. Popped in some Telefunken 12AX7s from on of my other preamps and it's sounding WAY better. 

Looking forward to a long audition.

dhcod OP
710 posts
 

CL35 out. Back to the Lamm and trying out an OTL Luxman MQ-36 amplifier. Very intriguing.

dhcod OP
710 posts
 

MQ-36 with the Lamm beats all the other combos. It doesn't require any tone controls. Great match with my speakers! Never heard an OTL amp other than a unsuccessful week with a Futterman 20 years ago. This is a great turn of events...

fonoman
17 posts
 

I would love to see an ARC SP-6 with tone controls, Jasonbourne...

dhcod OP
710 posts
 

So the OTL was too forward. Fatiguing. Turned my LPs into CDs.

The end of the story is that I bought a used Ayon Crossfire III. File this under "you get what you pay for". Higher power SET is the answer to all my problems. All the bass I could need. Expensive but totally worth it, even before the NOS tubes have arrived. 

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