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who wants tone controls on your next preamp?

I can remeber tone controls. They used to be on preamps, and integrated amplifiers. Then somehow, they vanished. I KNOW why they say they got rid of them, but really i think it was so cable manufacturers could sell billions of dollars worth of cables. Anyone else also notice tone controls disappeared same time as we all started to need 'special cables'? it's a plot!
I want tone control back on my stuff.
How about you?
Of course, they would have to be defeatable.
elizabeth

Showing 3 responses by tgrisham

tgrisham
1,179 posts
 
It is a fact that at low volume our ears are less sensitive to low frequencies hence the loudness compensation. And early CDs transferred from LP mix were too bright. I'm not a purist. Sometimes they could be handy. Interesting and provocative question!
tgrisham
1,179 posts
 
This is the classic study done in the 50's regarding perceived loudness in relation to frequencies. I think this justifies tone controls.

http://www.moultonlabs.com/gallery/image_full/79/

Now, this begs the question of how to do it. "Spatial computer" has begun to build into the computer the software to adjust the sound to your room. It is a beginning. And it may be the future. In the meantime, having some adjustment to compensate for loudness or poor recordings is reasonable. In a perfect world we have a perfect room with perfect material and is played back through a perfect system. Now, back to reality!
tgrisham
1,179 posts
 
Carlos269- You are so right. We are lemmings into the sea! "Don't mind the man behind the curtain." On the other hand, what would I do with my free time if I didn't buy new stuff, change stuff around, spend hours listening to my rig, and log onto every audio website I can get my hands on?
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