I NEED a tone control to control bass.

There was an article on this problem recently in HIFICRITIC and it was solved by isolating the speakers from the floor by an air suspension system. It is not sold over here and was somewhat expensive but you should be able to make up something that would work fairly cheaply using rubber innertubes. I would use the slabs Elisabeth recommended and use a tube of good size between them; do not over inflate them. This system also improved the bass in the system they reviewed and greatly lessened the sound transmitted through the floor.

A subwoofer and sub-controller (like the Velodyne SMS) is one viable solution. The SMS is +/- $400, and if you have 2 pre-outs (or an active x-over like the NHT X-2 @ app $300),you can keep the EQ unit out of the main signal path. It will work in the main path, but it uses ADC prior to room correction/EQ, so, given your stated preference, I suspect that you'd be happier isolating it.

Digitally room corrected subs are a wonderful thing! One more nice benefit - multiple presets. You can store full , room corrected bass response under one preset and polite, rolled off, neighbor-sensitive bass response in another. Switch in the bass when the neighbors are out, play nice when they're at home.

However, you need a sub/main speaker set-up to make it work.

OTOH, I lived on the 32nd floor 60 E. 8th st for 16 years and I never found a truly good solution.

Good Luck,

Marty

Here's another possible solution to elevate your speakers off the floor. 2-3 sturdy, unexpensive end tables. The legs can be trimmed way down to provide a healthy air pocket between the table bottoms and floor. Paint to match decor or get lucky and buy a close match.

If you have room, longer coffee style tables may work better than trimmed end tables. The speakers can be slid back on the coffee tables, leaving the remaining length of the coffee tables facing forward in line with the drivers. The table section that extends forward will also help direct bass forward rather than downward.

Pre-finished furniture outlets and the usual discount department stores usually have sturdy tables at good prices.

Best you move to a 'bunker', as all else is just fooling around. I solved the problem by moving to a cheap missile silo, boy does the government know how to control the 'bass'.

Monitors and a sub?