Tone Controls or Equaliser?

[steveal]

I've transferred my CD collection to FLAC files on my computer. I now want to buy a new amplifier and speakers.

I'm 66 years old and suspect my hearing will not get better over the next decade or two. Consequently, I've been looking for an amp with tone controls - a bit of treble lift may be appreciated.

However, if I'm using Foobar or something similar to play my files, could I use an amplifier without tone controls and use a software equaliser instead to lift the treble?

Is there a quality difference?

Thanks for any enlightenment.

Steve

 

[MajorFubar]

However, if I'm using Foobar or something similar to play my files, could I use an amplifier without tone controls and use a software equaliser instead to lift the treble?

Is there a quality difference?

Thanks for any enlightenment.

Steve

There are many who will say yes, just use the digital EQ in Foobar or whatever sofware you use. But me, I'd say ****** that for a game of soldiers and just buy a amp with good tone controls on it. Something [probably Japanese] with a decent >= ±10dB lift/cut. You might be wondering why I don't just recommend am amp with a built-in EQ; the reason being you haven't stated your budget but off the top of my head I can't think of anything made these days at a reasonable price which still has one.

 

[davedotco]

I've transferred my CD collection to FLAC files on my computer. I now want to buy a new amplifier and speakers.

I'm 66 years old and suspect my hearing will not get better over the next decade or two. Consequently, I've been looking for an amp with tone controls - a bit of treble lift may be appreciated.

However, if I'm using Foobar or something similar to play my files, could I use an amplifier without tone controls and use a software equaliser instead to lift the treble?

Is there a quality difference?

Thanks for any enlightenment.

Steve

One somewhat off the wall suggestion is to use a pair of active monitors from the professional market. Many (though not all) have very useful eq built in that are a great help in fitting the speakers into a room and adjusting the balance to suit the circumstances.

It is worth remembering that degraded hearing affects everything that you hear, naturally you become acustomed to this, so using obvious eq to compensate on a playback system might well sound odd, as it will be 'different' to everything else that you hear.

That said, modest amounts of eq can bring very real benefits, I hold Dynaudio speakers in pretty high regard and the new LYD series might offer what you need. They have separate controls to adjust bass extension and level, which should help a lot with the positioning in a real world listening room and they have a 'Balance' control that adjusts the overall tonal balance.

I have had experience with such a control, the 'Tilt' function on some older Quad pre-amps, I found it worked very well.

 

[BigH]

Equaliser would give you far more control than tone controls ever will, its so easy, I've had tone control amps but hardly ever used them because next to useless, I have used equaliser to cut bass when I had a room bass problem, worked extremely well, also you can tone down the treble on those harsh recordings, boost the mid range if you want. Sound quality should be as good if not better than an amp with tone controls.

Why not just try it, its free?

 

[Dom]

Although Foobar2000 EQ is free I'm would say tone controls would sound nicer and be simpler to use.

Of course the SQ depends on the amp.

 

[BigH]

Although Foobar2000 EQ is free I'm would say tone controls would sound nicer and be simpler to use.

Of course the SQ depends on the amp.

Well its not my experience but it depends on the amp, the system, the room, your hearing. I found adjusting on the eq. far more controllable than tone controls, which at best are a blunt instrument.

 

[Dom]

Although Foobar2000 EQ is free I'm would say tone controls would sound nicer and be simpler to use.

Of course the SQ depends on the amp.

Well its not my experience but it depends on the amp, the system, the room, your hearing. I found adjusting on the eq. far more controllable than tone controls, which at best are a blunt instrument.

I reckoned, if the amp changes the tone it would be softer because of EQ curve, it should sound nicer than contolling alot of sliders.

But have not had any experierence as such.

 

[paulkebab]

you need to get an amp with well implemented controls; far quicker and easier than a GE.

 

[steveal]

Thanks for the comments.

I was hoping to hear that an equaliser was every bit as good as tone controls. That way the possible choices for an amplifier are many times greater. That doesn't seem to be the consensus, however.

I guess to be on the safe side, I need to include tone controls in the amplifier I choose. I can always disable the tone controls and try a software equaliser.

This seems to leave me looking at 'Japanese' amplifiers - Denon (PMA 720AE, PMA 1520AE), Rotel(RA-12, RA-1570), Marantz (PM 7005, HD-AMP1) etc.

I really like the look and reviews of the Marantz HD-AMP1, but is the 35 watts/ch. enough for say Harbeth P3 ESR or KEF LS50?

One review here:

https://andreweverard.com/2015/12/21/review-marantz-hd-amp1-is-a-classic-in-the-making/

Any further comments would be much appreciated.

Steve

 

[BigH]

Thanks for the comments.

I was hoping to hear that an equaliser was every bit as good as tone controls. That way the possible choices for an amplifier are many times greater. That doesn't seem to be the consensus, however.

I guess to be on the safe side, I need to include tone controls in the amplifier I choose. I can always disable the tone controls and try a software equaliser.

This seems to leave me looking at 'Japanese' amplifiers - Denon (PMA 720AE, PMA 1520AE), Rotel(RA-12, RA-1570), Marantz (PM 7005, HD-AMP1) etc.

I really like the look and reviews of the Marantz HD-AMP1, but is the 35 watts/ch. enough for say Harbeth P3 ESR or KEF LS50?

One review here:

https://andreweverard.com/2015/12/21/review-marantz-hd-amp1-is-a-classic...

Any further comments would be much appreciated.

Steve

It is as good if not better, tone controls are jus that, it changes the whole tone, if you just want to boost a certain high frequency then an equaliser is much better than changing the whole tone of the music? As to those who say you ahve to change a load of sliders that is not the the case you can just tweak one slightly to get the sound you want. I would try out a free equaliser see if it gives you what you want first.

I don't think those amps are anywhere near good enough or powerful enough for those speakers. Really I would be looking at amps in the £700+ range preferable around £1,000 although the Abrahamsen at £600 is probaly well worth considering. The Creek 50A has tone controls if you really want them, its about £700, not heard it with those 2 speakers though.

 

[Dom]

I was hoping to hear that an equaliser was every bit as good as tone controls.

An EQ has no loss in quality. The piont I was making, was tone control makes for easy curve, and EQ can make fine adjustments.