Tone controls

[PhilofCas]

Who's got them? who hasn't? who avoids amplifiers with them? who uses them? who thinks they're a waste of time? who can't do without them? who thinks they degrade sound? who set them initially and hasn't touched them since? etc etc.

(Not that it needs any help, but just to stoke the fire, a man who I greatly admire in the industry, Alan Shaw (Harbeth), see's them as nigh on critical).

:^ or :nup: ?

 

[kernow]

I had dick/awkwardbydesign over today and we were farting with the quad tilt controls for a laugh. I don't mind either way really, but do leave them on default pretty much.

 

[Tel]

I have never owned an amp that had them.

Mind you if more amps had them it might stop so many people dicking about with cables.

 

[tomart]

I have an old Lux amp with tone controls and filters.

 

[kernow]

I have never owned an amp that had them.Mind you if more amps had them it might stop so many people dicking about with cables.

:^ definitely, makes far more sense.

 

[pmac]

Last amp I had with TC's was an Armstrong 621

I don't miss them :nup:

 

[russ abbott - royds broth]

I had dick/awkwardbydesign over today and we were farting with the quad tilt controls for a laugh. I don't mind either way really, but do leave them on default pretty much.

Hope he opened it up to have a look at them.

Don't have any but would be happy enough to have some.

 

[awkwardbydesign]

Hope he opened it up to have a look at them.

No, but I opened up his Gyro PSU to stop it rattling. Good at screwing, me.

As for tone controls, the theory's good but the practice is frequently poor. variable parametric, several of, would be good, The Quad tilt controls are probably the best of the common ones. IMO.

I just use different cables, solid to tame, silver to brighten, etc.

 

[PhilofCas]

I've been brought up on thinking (marketing/reviews) tone controls degrade sound. Now (30+ years later) I'm not so sure. Currently using them, set as to boost treble and reduce bass, to give a better balanced sound with speakers in their current position, they've been adjusted and left alone. Really not sure whether sound is degraded but 100% know the sound is now very listenable with the adjustment made, whereas it wasn't before. So a thumbs up from me.

 

[awkwardbydesign]

At the moment I'm building some (more) speakers, so it's all this kind of bollocks to get it sounding right. Instead of tone controls.

 

[kernow]

It was the SUT Dick

 

[white noise]

Nope! but i have a gain knob,so at least I've still got something to play with:roll:

 

[mmar]

I've been brought up on thinking (marketing/reviews) tone controls degrade sound. Now (30+ years later) I'm not so sure. Currently using them, set as to boost treble and reduce bass, to give a better balanced sound with speakers in their current position, they've been adjusted and left alone. Really not sure whether sound is degraded but 100% know the sound is now very listenable with the adjustment made, whereas it wasn't before. So a thumbs up from me.

agree the same marketing that seen the demise of tone controls and the introduction of foo !

 

[awkwardbydesign]

It was the SUT Dick

Doh! Still, it had screws, so I was happy.

 

[whitehart]

Got tone controls on the Accuphase... the first time I've had them for many years, would be reluctant to be without now... good point about cables too.

Mac

 

[awkwardbydesign]

I just use different cables, solid to tame, silver to brighten, etc.

I baited the hook and no-one bit. Disappointed.

 

[pmac]

I baited the hook and no-one bit. Disappointed.

Write out 100 times,

"I must try harder"

;-)

 

[MJ.]

Tone controls ? Useful when you need them.

Couldn't get speakers, particularly bass, to work in my small room, so used amp with tone controls. Now I've found the right speakers I don't use an amp with tone controls.

Odd that !

 

[mmar]

I baited the hook and no-one bit. Disappointed.

not surprised no mention of effortlessly natural or musically engaging