I think equalization is a matter of taste. And because we do not live in vacuum or in a recording studio, the sounds we all hear are affected by the size, shape, and content of listening rooms. Imo the main reason we have tone controls is so we can, if we choose, compensate for differences in our room acoustics.

though i dont use tone controls on my preamp, this reminded me that i do use the frequency controls on the AR9's to compensate for the room.

I have some tone controls I like to use, but Dingus won't let me post the picture on the forum. Something about rules......................

(remember my "avatar"?)

maybe Miss Prussy will let you give her a demo ..

I sometimes us a Digiteck MEQ Dual 14 programmable EQ. Love that thing and can really bring some speakers some life. It's a fun tool.

I also have a Behringer 8024...

The DSP8024 features a 31-band graphic EQ with a real-time analyzer and an Auto-Q function for automatic room measurement and correction plus three bands of parametric equalization. Further highlights include a peak limiter, an adjustable delay of up to 2.5 seconds, a noise gate and BEHRINGER’s renowned Feedback Destroyer.

http://www.behringer.com/DSP8024/index.cfm?lang=eng

Does 32 bands of EQ, spectrum analyzer, auto room EQ (VERY cool)

I bought this after being at a friends and seeing him us the auto EQ feature with a measuring mike and take some very mediocre speakers and make them sound fantastic.

i just today ordered the right measuring mike and when it arrives i can start measuring everything and seeing whats up. Should be real fun.

additionally I have a BBE sonic maximizer that always makes gear sound better. Magic box, that one. Going to reintegrate it into the system soon. Good info here on what it does. all i know if ever time I put it in the chain of any audio signal I perceive it as better, sometime WAY better.

i am not an audio purist, I will use EQ and love to tweak when i have time.

My main system, PS Audio pre (basically what is described by MisterMaidel, with a coupla options such as MC/MM on the back) and Hafler Transnova p3000 amp, has no tone controls, and I don't find myself concerned about it. I am pleased with the tone of both my current TT, a Pioneer PL740 with a stanton 600 (though I have several others I'd like to try with an array of cartridges, esp. audiotechnica AT14SAPQ and Harman Kardon 8450 CD deck, with Polk M-7s.

I have a handful of EQs that I picked up with other gear along the way, but none of them are hooked up. I recently gave my first EQ to my son to run along with the system I gave him, and he said the BSR basic EQ really helps with the sound.

But since you have mentioned it, I might drag out an EQ or 2 to see what difference they make with the current config.

Also might try it with the bedroom system, which is really nice, but a bit bright thru the Klipsch KG3.5s. Might try toning down the treble and boosting the bass slightly.

I have almost never use the simpler 2 or 3 band tone controls much, but I have used an EQ in the past, and will often use the "loudness" (called "contour" on Adcom gear)feature if I feel a recording needs it.

The PS Audio 5.6 preamp in my home office system lacks any type of tone controls, and includes a "bypass" mode which removes the balance control from the signal path, as well as a "straightwire" mode which eliminates the preamps output stage (routing the selected input signal through without any amplification). With both of these active, you basically have a passive source selector and volume control. This is wonderful for good recordings, but sometimes it would be nice to have some controls to "fix" bad source material.

While I understand and appreciate the arguments for the simplicity of the PS Audio approach, sometimes it good to have some ability to tune things to the needs of our room, to balance out system response, or just personnal preferrence.

I only have Pioneer SX's as my main units but usually run them flat.
Once in a while a bad recording needs my help to make it listenable to Me.
The only tone controls I was fond of was a Phase Linear 1000.
Loved it , it was much better than any equalizer.

I use them once in awhile but not for long. Seems that when I power up and choose speakers it seems that some speakers need to "warm up" some. Don't know if caps need charging, or what, or maybe I'm just nutz but the speakers seem to mellow a bit and I go back to running the tone flat. With the SX-1250 and Klipsch Fortes I do trim the highs a tad though.

My Preamp does not have tone controls, My Integrated (Pioneer SA-9100) is normally set flat. But I run a Pioneer RG-2 Dynamic Enhancer, and a Pioneer SG-50 (M) Spectrum Analyzer which has a Bi channel 10 channel EQ. I have no "problem" with using tone controls or EQ's the companies produced these for a reason.