To tone control or not to tone control

I understand that tone controls add distortion. You are right Greg when you say that the system is more revealing now. This started with the addition of the CJ amp. However I am using Sorbathane isolation pads with cdp , and have replaced ic's with Wireworld Solstace-lll. The speaker cables are Monster Z-1. Certainly there are more expensive & better cables but I did check reviews before buying them. The cdp is not the best but it does have dual 20 bit Burr-Brown DACS. Was going for a higher end on it but decided to wait out the format wars before spending a large amount of money. Speaker placement may be somewhat problematic but in HT mode I can just about rattle the windows without a subwoofer. The problem then seems to be the source material. Most recordings sound great but the few that sound bad sound extremely bad. Again this is due to the very revealing CJ amp. My choices seem to come down to this. Don't listen to these cd's again or doctor them so they are fit to listen too. It is amazing how a little extra bass can fill in those areas which are lacking. It is not pure to the original recording but it may be that it sounds closer to what the engineer was trying to accomplish but did not have ability or equipment to do. That said I will probably try your suggestion Bruce. For the purists who read this please understand that this fix will be used sparingly and under duress. Thanks all for your advice. BTW I am very impressed with the CJ equip. It has given me enjoyment of musical genres which I previously had not enjoyed

Enjoying music is what counts -- so do try Bruce's suggestion before U spend mega $ on the likes of Cello. While you're at it, also try the cdp w/out isolation; it might help the bass...
And don't worry about purists: we're all in this for the music (methinks). Cheers!

Thanks Greg. Your comments have been insightful and helpful. As for my comments about the purists, they were meant for humor and not for insult. Hope no one takes it the wrong way.

I have two preamps. One a straightline low output MC preamp with separate transformer, no on/off button, no tone contros, no balance, one phono, one tape loop, only a variable (and defeatable +4 dB bas eq). It's a Biotronics Gestalt. The other preamp is a Proton with bass eq, loudness, bass, mid, treble, elrctronic crossover, dubbing, etc.

My opinion? Wish the Proton sounded as good and clean as the Biotronics!!!!! Would love to have that clean sound combined with flexibility. Closest alternative? Van Alstine's FET Hybrid preamp w/tone controls...

just an observation about the lack of tone controls on highend pre's: accuphase includes remotely controllable tone controls on their top-of-the line all digital dc-330. the control can be bypassed but if engaged allows you to select 2 frequencies in the "high" (2khz, 7khz) and "low" (200hz, 500 hz) ranges and adjust any or all of these frequencies in .5db increments. i have rarely used this feature but have found that it does not "distort" the sound, presumably since it works entirely in the digital domain.

accuphase also offers a 64 band digital "voicing equalizer" that may function as a super-sophisticated "tone control" allowing you to compensate for room anomalies. this product, the dg-28, as well as the dc 330 are quite pricy but they do work. there are less-expensive choices, too, including those sold by z systems. -kelly