who wants tone controls on your next preamp?

If you are in this hobby to enjoy music, good tone controls of some sort is the way to go. However, it cannot and should not be use as band-aid to correct flawed tonal balance of a system.

Many good reasons and opinions have already been voiced above. IMO, when done right, and everything else is in order--It simply lets one enjoy and explore more varieties of music--bearing in mind the diverse recording quality releases in the market, even to this day.

I'd love to have these implemented well on a piece that didn't cost as much as a used car. By the way I tried what I thought was my dream piece, an Avalon AD2055 parametric and it did not work out in my system, disappointingly. Luxman and Accuphase integrated tone controls have always been attractive to me; both have exceptional reputations. I was always intrigued about trying both. I almost bought a McIntosh preamp, almost....

Balance controls are just as bad. Just move your head.

Kijanki,
I'm not surprised and that's why this whole concept of "Absolute Sound" (the basis for Audiophilia) is so bogus as we all perceive sound slightly differently due to anatomical differences. It kind of lends even greater value to such devices doesn't it?

Carlos269 - It depends how you approach it. I wouldn't adjust bass on my bass heavy or bass light CDs because it changes character of performer/performance. Some CDs are recorded darkish and some with too much treble and again, I don't want to adjust anything to equalize it.

I can see value of high quality equalizer to compensate for the room acoustics if it cannot be done by treatments but don't have any experience with that. Simple tone controls are just not for me. I don't mind them as long as I can bypass them and don't have to pay for them.