If your tone controls are A) sufficiently flexible and B)used properly, they will increase the fidelity of frequency response in virtually any system in virtually any room. Key disclaimer : "virtually".
The example I have in mind is digital room correction (DRC) in the bass region. The trade-off is that effective DRC is executed in the digital domain and subjects analog signals to ADC. Some (LP types in particular) may find that too hard to swallow and I get that. But, if you use subwoofers, you needn't go that route above the x-over point and your main signal can remain analog all the way..
Here, the trade-off is (generally) that you must employ an active x-over unit to roll off the main speakers and use corrected subwoofers.. IMO, the negative effects (if any) of a good x-over are dwarfed by the improved frequency response in the bass. I acknowledge that others will disagree on this point.
You can also use a sub/main set-up with main speakers that meaningfully roll off at/above 80hz (where room effects are doing the most damage). No x-over required in the main path and you can keep it completely pure. Just "snug up" the subs from below. The trade-off is a limited choice of main speakers.
Either way, I'm squarely in the "tone control" camp - just make mine DRC.
Marty
PS I agree with the notion that the audiophile idea of "TAS" is kind of misguided. I don't primarily ascribe that to differences in physiologyor even differences in recordings (though these are definitely significant), but to differences in listening rooms.
The example I have in mind is digital room correction (DRC) in the bass region. The trade-off is that effective DRC is executed in the digital domain and subjects analog signals to ADC. Some (LP types in particular) may find that too hard to swallow and I get that. But, if you use subwoofers, you needn't go that route above the x-over point and your main signal can remain analog all the way..
Here, the trade-off is (generally) that you must employ an active x-over unit to roll off the main speakers and use corrected subwoofers.. IMO, the negative effects (if any) of a good x-over are dwarfed by the improved frequency response in the bass. I acknowledge that others will disagree on this point.
You can also use a sub/main set-up with main speakers that meaningfully roll off at/above 80hz (where room effects are doing the most damage). No x-over required in the main path and you can keep it completely pure. Just "snug up" the subs from below. The trade-off is a limited choice of main speakers.
Either way, I'm squarely in the "tone control" camp - just make mine DRC.
Marty
PS I agree with the notion that the audiophile idea of "TAS" is kind of misguided. I don't primarily ascribe that to differences in physiologyor even differences in recordings (though these are definitely significant), but to differences in listening rooms.