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No category for this response: "yes," to compensate for the ears' characteristics when listening at low volume levels I turn the bass up significantly and the treble up slightly.
Reader Stephen M. Rose wants <I>Stereophile</I> readers to confess their audio sins. Do you ever use tone controls in your current system?
They are modified out of the signal path on the AirTight pre-amp at home. That system definitely doesn't need their input. I never use them on the Classik based system at work. Frankly, it is background. However, I think we will use them on the NAD L40 based system we just put in at Skydive Dallas because of the expectations of the non-audiophile group involved in the "listening sessions" there.
Used to use them when I 'ad 'em, but I'm now told by those who know that they are pants. Actually modern balancing/mastering is very good. Only old vinyl really needs it. Any one knwo how to filter out the brass vibrato on Melodyia releases?
I don't, but I often wish that I did. I'd like to really juice my bass up. (Just kidding.) But, truth be told, there are so many recordings that are musically good but sonically horrible that could benefit. Of course, the tone controls need to be useable, and designed to be switched off when not needed. But, now as I think of it, there is another idea that might be even betterthe recording companies making decent recordings for a change.
I just dont need them. Not as though they mess the sound up. But I think good equipment shouldnt need tone controls. This goes for a whole system not just preamp or integrated. I have had to use them before when i had lesser equipment but no longer! And never again!
Last week's question asked if we listened to radio programs via the Internet. I responded that I was a faithful listener of Rush Limbaugh via the 'net. Of course, since Rush is a conservative and most of your writers (particularly Mr. Fremer) are of the liberal ilk, my response was not printed. I really didn't think that Stereophile was part of the leftist media elite, but I've changed my mind. While I'll keep my subscription (and might even renew despite the downsizing of your mag), I will no longer participate in your slanted votes!