Talking about tone controls...Speedball, I have yet to use a tone control since 1987, when I switched everything to a tone controlless preamplifier. Sumo Athena I. To be honest, I do not miss them. I think when in comes to true sound, tone controls and the like do "color" the sound a bit. The best preamplifiers out there are just gain controls, nothing too boost, just to attenuate. There is a trueness to them that once you experience, you will never go back to.
PS: The only time I used a tone control is when I had a Denon receiver to run to a junky pair of JBL monitors...this system was actually my brother's. You do not need tone controls for anything extra.