I’ve also been told many times that true Audiophiles don’t use Tone Controls at all and prefer the Music flat without any EQ.

I like that I have the luxury of playing with the Tone Controls on my Yamaha Amp and for times I don’t want to use them I use the pure direct mode that bypasses the tone controls.

Now here’s my dilemma. I’m looking to buy my second amp and I just can’t think of anything else except Yamaha. Or even when I do find something that has a good spec sheet I cancel it out as soon as I release they don’t have tone controls.

Is this Blasphemy in the Audiophile world? Am I chasing the wrong thing’s looking for that perfect sound setup?

Any kind response will be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

  • AudioHTIT@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Tone controls are great, best if they’re out of the circuit when in the ‘neutral’ position. If you want them, get them, I wouldn’t buy a preamp or integrated without them.

  • Shhhh_Peaceful@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    The frequency response of your speakers in your room is most likely far from flat anyway, so there’s nothing wrong with using tone controls (either analog or digital/DSP) to correct that

  • jimmyl_82104@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    To me, a flat signal is unbearable. Sound like the speakers are inside of a wet paper bag. A good boost in bass and some treble boost always makes speakers sound better, I will die on that hill.

    You buy an amp for your use to do as you wish.

  • OATP1B1@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    If you have a large wallet look at Accuphase or McIntosh. Or consider an external EQ, e.g. one of Schiit’s offerings.

  • BoringAgent8657@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I use an old NAD C165 preamp and love the bass and treble controls. Also have a NAD C165BEE integrated with tone controls

  • BerCle@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    It depends. I’m lucky enough to own a high end amplifier, that doesn’t have tone controls, and matching speakers. It sounds amazing in its puristic state.

  • kiddredd@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Tone controls or an EQ with knobs or sliders: hell yes. Y’all listen flat all you want; me, I’m not producing this shit. I’m rocking.

  • 42dudes@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    EQ is having flexibility to change the sound to fit your preferences, and the engineer who mixed and mastered the music you listen to isn’t the only one allowed to impart their own choices on the music.

  • invalid404@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I guess it depends on why you think you need tone controls. I used to feel the same way when I bought big-box retailer equipment like mid-fi Sony, Yamaha, etc… stuff. You needed them as the amps/preamps/receivers/speakers just didn’t sound good and you’d want that smile curve of boosted bass and boosted treble.

    Someone told me that with a good amp and good set of speakers I wouldn’t need tone controls. And they were right. Since I’ve been buying actual audiophile-grade equipment, I haven’t once wished I had tone knobs on my boxes.

    So maybe branch out and find an amplifier/preamp/speaker combo that doesn’t need support to sound good.

    Of course, like others say here, do what you like. This is just my experience.

  • minnesotajersey@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Those who eschew tone controls for “purity” are kidding themselves and living in denial.

    You want the music to sound “like the engineer or the artists intended”? Then, you’d better go listen in the mastering studio, because there’s no way your home system sounds anything like that studio.