tone controls & general

[tbewick]

I don't know why the audioholics website doesn't ever have anything on using/buying tone controls. In fact, the only mention of it I've found suggests using them as a last resort in correcting for acoustical problems.

You need to boost the 10kHz+ region and 100Hz- regions when listening at sensible volumes, to correct for the non-linearity in frequency sensitivity of human ears. I myself have had to use a dodgy old Pioneer amp to use the loudness control on it. Why don't new amps have this feature?

Some audiophile appear to dismiss tone controls as they add distortion, but the distortion is small compared to the gains. Admittedly their not required at realistic volume levels, but who wants to go deaf?

Oh yeah, I've found that my stand-mount B&W601's have a much greater depth to their sound when they're positioned far away from any walls. I tried this out based on a tip I found on the Bowers & Wilkins website.

 

[MDS]

You only have to boost at 10kHz if you want to accentuate that range; likewise for 100 Hz if you want to boost the bass. It has nothing to do with non-linearity of our hearing.

The loudness control is no different than the 'bass' tone control other than the fact that it only boosts, not cuts, and the frequency at which it works is lower than the frequency of the bass tone control.

If you like to use the tone controls to make the music more pleasing to YOUR ears, then more power to you. Why not go one step further and use an EQ so you can boost or cut alot more frequencies?

 

[WmAx]

Some audiophile appear to dismiss tone controls as they add distortion, but the distortion is small compared to the gains. Admittedly their not required at realistic volume levels, but who wants to go deaf?

.

If you need tone control - purchase and learn to use a device such as a Behringer DCX2496 or DEQ2496. This will not add any distortions or noise if used correctly. It is very powerful and precise. Also, this equipment is priced cheaply for what it is.

-Chris

 

[tbewick]

You only have to boost at 10kHz if you want to accentuate that range; likewise for 100 Hz if you want to boost the bass. It has nothing to do with non-linearity of our hearing.

The loudness control is no different than the 'bass' tone control other than the fact that it only boosts, not cuts, and the frequency at which it works is lower than the frequency of the bass tone control.

If you like to use the tone controls to make the music more pleasing to YOUR ears, then more power to you. Why not go one step further and use an EQ so you can boost or cut alot more frequencies?

I do agree that personal taste does come into it, but most of the details in the music are lost if you don't use the tone controls. I found that cymbals in pop music sound peculiar if you use the tone defeat setting, unless you set the volume at around -8dB (on my Denon receiver) - too loud for my taste!

I don't agree with you that the non-linearity of the human ear's frequency response plays no part. I refer you onto:

http://www.zero-distortion.com/start.htm

and the article:

'The Story Of The Tone Controls,' Part I, by Dejan V. Veselinovic.

My feeling is that artists master their tracks at a reasonable volume, and following this apply an 'inverse' loudness filter. This allows the track to be played correctly and utilise the full 96dB of 16-bit dynamic range at a realistic, and very loud, volume.

 

[jaxvon]

Didn't look around much at that site, but I daresay they seem to be pedling the all-too-common cable snake oil. If they enjoy being inaccurate in one part of their site, then what's to stop them with other articles? Not a credible source, IMHO.

 

[WmAx]

I do agree that personal taste does come into it, but most of the details in the music are lost if you don't use the tone controls.

Tone controls can be used to (1) adjust to preference [and/or] (2) correct for a non-linear amplitude response of your system, relative to the seating position. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that simple tone controls will allow sufficient correction. A precision tone adjustment/manipulation device is required, generic tone controls will not suffice.

I don't agree with you that the non-linearity of the human ear's frequency response plays no part. I refer you onto:

The Fletcher-Munson curve, which I presume is what you are referring to, is applicable when the reproduced sound is not played back at the approximate SPL as the original recorded sound. If the total recording and playback chain are linear, you will hear the same tonal balance as was present at the original event, provided you play back at the same SPL as the original event. If you increase or decrease SPL by an appreciable amount, then the Fletcher-Munson effect is applicable, at least in a limited capacity. By 'limited capacity', I mean that for certain sounds and/or events, especially unamplified ones that you are experienced with, will not sound correct at any SPL other than the one(s) you are accustomed to, so it is clear that the Fletcher-Munson curve is not meant to cover every aspect. The curve is meant to provide one perspective of human auditory perception dynamics.

But let's get back the recording and playback chain linearity; recordings are rarely linear, nor do you normally have a way to acquire data required to achieve the same transfer function of the original event through signal manipulation. But let's say the recording is linear, for theoretical purposes --- is your loudspeaker system providing a linear transfer function at the seating position? Unlikely.

So, face it, you are probably screwed no matter what. If your objective is an accurate reproduction of the original event's tonal balance, or just the most pleasant curve to your ears, just get a precision equalization/tone control device, as I recommended in a prior response.

-Chris

 

[MDS]

I read the article and it is fairly informative, but it does not support the conclusion that because human hearing is non-linear tone controls are a must.

From the article: Let's consider the facts, not hogwash peddled as audio wisdom. The article isn't total hogwash, but is an opinion and a convenient misinterpretation of the facts to make them fit with the premise that 'tone controls are a must'.

1. Tone controls exist on the premise that our hearing is non‑linear, a fact proved so many times it's a waste of time proving it again.
Hearing is non-linear is a fact - they even provide a nice Fletcher-Munson chart as supporting evidence, but say So far, we have subjective differences of sound perception due to volume levels, which is NOT what Fletcher and Munson proved. Subjective differences in sound levels only come into play when you consider that my ears may be different than yours. As cited in the article, the author has a small suck out in the 5-9kHz range and thus he might benefit from boosting that range. I have no such impediment and wouldn't benefit from a boost in that range. Both of our ears are still non-linear.

F&M proved that our hearing is less sensitive in the very low frequency range and the very high frequency range - meaning that in order to perceive a low bass frequency or a high frequency as being just as loud as a frequency in our most sensitive range, it must be at a much higher amplitude.

From the chart:
In order for us to perceive a 100 Hz tone at the same loudness level as a 1000Hz tone, the 100 Hz tone must be at 40 dB when the 1000Hz tone can be at 0dB (the threshold of hearing - not silence). Likewise, at 10 kHz the tone must be close to 20dB.

As you can see using the bass tone control to boost a few decibles isn't going to do squat to overcome the non-linearity of the frequency response of the ear.

2. a. Next come our loudspeakers. Theoretically, they are linear, but in practice, they are far from linear all on their own.
b. But speakers have many other problems, one of which is the room we sit in and listen to music. Depending on its size, proportions, furniture and furnishings in general, it WILL interact with the speaker, there are no two ways about it.
c. Then there's the music material. If you like a particular recording but feel it's too dark, or not coherent enough, what will you do about it?

Not exactly earth shaking revelations. The room, speakers, source material, and electronics all affect the perception of sound. Tone controls are a very crude tool to use to overcome all of those obstacles because they affect a single bass frequency or a single treble frequency. An equalizer can be used to adjust more frequencies of course, but without a skilled operator they generally make things far worse. The best solution is to treat your room properly to eliminate the problems in the first place and then maybe use tone controls for fine tuning.

Remember, the column is entitled 'Views & Opinions' and that is all it is despite trying to fit the scientific data to support the opinion. The only opinion that really matters is your own, so use the tone controls if you like them.

 

[tbewick]

Thanks Chris for the recommendation of equipment (Behringer DCX2496).

I do think that messing with the mid-range balance generally screws up the sound.

The Audioholics website could do something on the Fletcher-Munson curve. Some people don't know about our ears being less sensitive to low- and high-end frequencies at low volumes. I didn't until I accidentally came across that site (http://www.zero-distortion.com/start.htm) while looking for reviews of CD players. Incidentally I found this other site more to my liking than that one:

http://www.silcom.com/~aludwig/EARS.htm

To generalise, I see that there are three options for you when listening to music, (assuming you've got a good setup/acoustics):

1) Play it at a realistic volume with the tone defeat on,

2) Play it at a lower volume with the tone defeat on;

or

3) Play it at a lower volume and boost those frequencies your ear struggles with, using tone controls.

 

[markw]

Everyone seems to assume that all sources are created equal and perfect.

As such, when played through their own perfect system into their acousticaly perfect room, will always deliver the prefect sound to their discerning ears. ..and nary a tweak is ever needed.

Sorry, not in this world.

Even the finest steak houses put salt and pepper shakers on the table to allow for their customers personal tastes and preferences.

 

[Leprkon]

Why not go one step further and use an EQ so you can boost or cut alot more frequencies?

Please note that an EQ can be harmful to a HT system. The Dolby/DTS decoder is looking for certain signals and if you were to put an EQ in-line, distorting the signal, before the signal gets to the decoder, the decoder may cook itself trying to make the signal "right"

 

[MDS]

I agree. The question was rhetorical.

 

[Leprkon]

I agree. The question was rhetorical.

maybe it was, but we have to make sure people new to HT who need information don't go away with the wrong idea.

 

[Rip Van Woofer]

The distrust of tone controls by the high-end crowd (and their omission from much high-end gear) is one of my pet audiophool idiocies. Some time ago I posted a rant about that here.

For me, although I listen with tone controls out of the circuit 99% of the time, they are handy for quick-and-dirty FR compensation for low listening levels (where some bass and treble boost can be welcome) or as a corrective for some poor recordings. For situations like that a full-blown EQ unit is just too much trouble for my lazy butt!

One nice thing about my old Dynaco preamp was that it had a well-implemented (to my ears) "loudness" switch that gave a subtle bass and treble boost for quiet listening. Yes, at low levels our ears do become less sensitive as we approach the ends of the audio spectrum. Especially, I betcha, in guys over 40!

 

[mustang_steve]

I used my tone controls for night listening, using my tone bypass switch on my receiver as a ghetto "night mode" switch.