2. amps-preamps
  3. 986669323

To tone control or not to tone control

I recently stepped up to a Conrad Johnson PFR preamp to mate with my CJ MF-2200 amp (200 wpc). Was previously running an Adcom GTP-450 pre/tuner which had bass/treble controls which help to compensate for those recordings which are recorded poorly. Though the CJ PFR sounds really good on most of my cd's there are some of my favorite artists whose recordings are really pitiful. Is there a good tone control which I can use on the PFR to use for these poor recordings? Is there a way to connect both preamps to one system. I do have an older cdp that I could connect to the Adcom preamp for the poor cd's and use the main system for the good stuff. I have also thought of trying a subwoofer to help with filling in the bottom end since most of the poor recordings are R&B and Rock N'Roll and that is where they seem to be lacking the most. The rest of my system consists of a Sherwood Newcastle 980 cdp and Infinity RS 5000 speakers (12 yrs old) and next to be replaced. As always your help is appreciated
128x128artemus_5
gregm
3,405 posts
 
Artemus, you cannot compensate for what is not on the S/W in the first place so adding a tone control will distort your sound, rather than fix it. If it's not there, or it is but the system is not picking it up, you can't add it after the fact... I think that, simply, your system is now more revealing of weaknesses in recordings and other system components. (Check out yr CDP; maybe yr new pre is revealing weaknesses in yr source equipment, or maybe there's bad synergy there.)

You can, however, make sure U extract the most information out of these and other recordings by tweaking the system: play w/ speaker placement, cables (ALL cables), dampening 1st reflection points, cones... and the sound may become better than before on "bad" recordings and awesome on good ones. IMHO, DON'T add anything between yr source and yr front-end amplification. As a kid I thought that Stones' recordings were terrible because Jagger wanted it that way; I was surprised at the amount of detail and musical involvement I got when I first tweaked my system and listened to Sticky Fingers again... 20 yrs after.
Regards.
sean
6,231 posts
 
I agree with Greg. Look into upgrading your source and making sure that the rest of the room ( cables, speaker placement & room acoustics ) are as good as they get BEFORE adding "unnecessary gadgets". Adding some type of "band aid" will not "heal" the system, it will simply "cover up" the "wound" that still exists. Sean
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bruce1483
72 posts
 
You could hook up the Adcom in the tape loop of the CJ and then use the tone controls of the Adcom. Hook the tape out of the CJ to a line level input to the Adcom ( like the AUX in) and the preamp out of the Adcom to the tape in of the CJ. Engage the tape monitor of the CJ and the signal will be going thru the Adcom also. You will need to adjust the level of the Adcom so you don't overload the CJ. Start with the volume on the Adcom down low and the tone controls flat. Then turn it up until you have the same volume level with the CJ tape monitor in or out. When the tape monitor is out, you will be playing straight through the CJ.

The purists in the crowd may abhore this, but if you can doctor some of your bass shy recordings and are happy with the result, enjoy the music. That's what it's all about.
billspecfoc
103 posts
 
I am in full agreement with Greg and Sean. Tone controls will only add distortion. That is one good reason you don't find them on high end pieces.
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