#21
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I'm not against tone controls but I've never used them. I attempt to work on listening position, speaker position, and room acoustics first.
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#22
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I agree that listening position, speaker placement, and room acoustics should first be done to allow the system to perform as designed, however, with all due respect to individual tastes and opinions, I'll never understand folks who refuse to have or use tone/EQ controls in their system, especially those insisting on hearing the music as it was 'intended'. I doubt any of us could ever know unless we were present during final mastering. After all, every system and room sounds different, and we all know speakers sound significantly different, even within the same brand, so which system, room, or speakers are successfully projecting the music as intended? Although a strong advocate for tone/EQ adjustments when beneficial, I have my system and room dialed in well enough so that any EQ adjustments are rarely needed, but this can never correct those occasional recordings that are either poor or not EQ'd during final engineering to suite my personal preference. I mean without EQ controls what do you do for a particularly bright recording, or one with an overly dominant bottom end? I have a few such albums, and some which are otherwise excellent recordings. Engaging the tone/EQ controls will of course lengthen the signal path, and although almost imperceptible, will add a degree of distortion; but the potential benefits can outweigh any suspected reduction in signal quality if applied judiciously where and when appropriate. My only complaint of McIntosh tone and multi-band EQ's are their range of +/- 12 db. I seriously doubt anyone should ever need such extreme range. If Mc made them to be no more than +/- 6 db within the same rotational arc of 7 to 5 O'clock, it would be much easier to make minute adjustments. It's especially difficult since most of my adjustments are no more than the smallest amount off center detent, which risks the knob snapping back to detent after I sit down. In my humble opinion, an adjustment of no more than +/- 1 minute on the rotational clock is all that is needed to improve a suspect recording; any more and you risk damaging the natural presentation of the performance. Ok I'm done
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Lossless > D100 / Yami YP 450 tt > MA7000 > KEF RDM3 / SVS SB2000 / Too much music, not enough time. |
#23
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Even subs like my JL have not only level controls but cut off frequencies for high, low curves, slopes etc. these too are in a sense a type of a control for tone like an apple and orange are fruits just different. Anyway I for sure not only think it is ok but it is the user to each their own.
But it you spend mega bucks on good gear at least try to match the EQ devices etc as to not degrade your gear right. I mean heck after all look at the mixing boards from Norah Jones to Pink Floyd. Impressive stuff |
#24
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Good post and also great food for thought too. |
#25
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In fact I have rarely experienced live music that has been even close to the quality music produced by my system. The performers use cheap amps, with low cost cables, use a tone deaf sound mixer, guitars obviously out of tune. Band members who have just had a fight back stage so are ignoring each other- so they are not 'playing together', stoned & drunk artists who forget lyrics, or mix-up songs. Performers who soil themselves on stage or think that we want to see them naked. Members of the audience who insist on talking throughout the performance or who continually get up, walk in front of you, to go to the toilet or buy food or drink etc. The Who concert in Auckland a few years back was ruined due to awful set-up. My Boss's wife was ill & couldn't go, so I was invited- Boss's seats were just 12 rows from the front of the stage- bass was over powering- it actually made my tummy vibrate-not good when full of wine. The treble was muted, you could see Pete Townsend playing the guitar, but he was just producing distorted noise. Had to wear ear plugs as it was just too loud (and I LOVE music played LOUD)- but they were just blasting us off our feet- even when I escaped to the rear of the stadium. I've heard 105mm artillery firing that was not as loud! If that's 'live music' you can keep it & count me out. Its not just rock concerts. Took 'her indoors' to a Concert at the Auckland Town Hall (renown for its excellent acoustics). Only problem was that we were surrounded by people who coughed & sputtered & blew their noses throughout the performance- totally ruined the experience. Again, if that's 'live music' you can keep it & count me out. |
#26
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Yeah, I agree. With all that awful experience, I would stick to recorded music too
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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]HECTOR |
#27
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Blasphemy not to use tone controls when you need them if it makes the experience of listening to music more enjoyable.
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#28
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At one time Mc had a loudness button, that my Pioneer has. At times it helps alot. I wish Mc would bring it back.
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#29
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I use the tone controls to make inferior mono recordings such as some of the early Frank Sinatra Capitol Records (like "Songs For Swingin' Lovers) into glorious stereo. I simply turn the treble control on my C2300 to maximum on the left channel and turn down the bass control. Then I do the opposite on the right channel, turning the bass up to maximum. That way, I get New Improved Full Dimensional Stereo from those obsolete mono records. I use my Crosley record player because I can tape a quarter onto the needle if the record skips.
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#30
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I used to use a nickel, must be inflation.
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Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
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