Another new member.

Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste. . . . Sorry, I borrowed that line. I'm a senior citizen who recently completed a "new" retro system and I decided to join this forum. The heart (and soul) of it is Bob Latino's VTA 120 amp which I built as a kit. The other components: An AR XB turntable restored by Vinyl Nirvana with a Shure m97e cart; Aric Audio's "Unlimited" tube preamp; a JVC SEA10 equalizer restored by Oaktree Enterprises; a modern Yamaha CD player; and original Large Advents with new caps and woofer surrounds. I wasn't trying to build an "ultimate" or high end system. Rather, I wanted components from "my era", perhaps to show that technology from the 60s and 70s can reproduce accurate sound equal to or better than much of what is available today. The system sounds superb to my ears and better than my previous ones which used Yamaha solid state amps. I have recently listened to 50 year-old records and heard musical details I've not heard before! The so-called "warmth" coloration of tube amplification is there and I love it, especially when listening to CDs. The greatest pleasure of the system is derived from listening to vinyl from my large collection of albums which I've kept all these decades. I'll try to figure out how to post a photo of my system and I look forward to participating in this forum. Thanks.

Did you say " equalizer"? Get out!....Go to your room and stay there and think about what you said! Just kidding, welcome! When I hear that word or see it written my right eye starts to twitch a little. After using a pre-amp with a built in EQ for almost 30 years and stopping about 6 weeks ago cold turkey, I get a little crazy when the subject comes up. Do they make an EQ patch like the nicotine ones you get at the drug store?

I understand that many audiophiles cast dispersions on these devices, but allow me to explain my reasoning. I'm 71 years old. My hearing is quite good for my age but there's no doubt that I have suffered a decline over the years, certainly in the mid-to-upper ranges. My preamp (like many these days) has no tone controls. I need to adjust the tone to help me hear all that's on the record. Wait till you get old! Plus, I believe the criticism of EQs (or the use of standard tone controls) is misplaced. Do these devices actually add distortion that even the most discerning ear can hear? I bet not not. Then there's the argument that one must NOT modify the "pure sound" that flows from the source, through the amp to the speakers. What? Tube guys like you and me love the way our amps distort the sound. We admit it. That lovely warm effect. Triode or pentode? Which method distorts the sound the best? Depends on the individual, doesn't it. Also, there's no way for a home listener, no matter how wealthy, to determine what the truly accurate sound is. Every wall, floor, ceiling, window, carpet, sofa, table, etc. in our listening rooms affects the character of the sound. Is there a debate that individual phono cartridges have there own characteristics (let's call it distortion)? Nope. And then there are the speakers! We all have to admit that, even among so-called high end units, there are significant differences in the way they deliver the end product . . . the sound waves that reach our ears. With all these variables, is it goofy to say that some sort of hi-fi tone control is logical? Even necessary? I say we should all forget trying to get that pure undistorted sound in our home systems because it's impossible. Choose your components and adjust the sound to your preferences. Then sit back and enjoy it.

Sorry, I got on my soapbox a little.

You may call yourself a senior citizen, but you are good and feisty. Welcome, Elder.

Totally agree 100% with what Ed says. Welcome on board and looking forward to your photos.

Besides which, there are many imperfect records that benefit fro frequency recontouring.

Welcome Ed.
I sometimes use an ancient Audio Control EQ (from 1982) that was recommended by deepee here. Mostly I use it if I'm running the audio from a streaming TV show or movie through my system. Like you, I'm a little older and I sometimes need some help on the midrange with dialog (especially when the window AC is running).

About the only time I feel the need for any EQ with vinyl is on some mono reissues where the original single masters are being used (Beatles, Byrds). These usually sound astonishingly punchy but occasionally (Rain, Bells of Rhymney) I need to adjust the bass down a bit. After all, these were mastered to blast out of the 4" x 6" speaker in a '66 Mustang instead through my Tyler Acoustics with four 12" bass drivers in my small living room

GP 49 is right and so are are you. Last week I found a nice specimen of an old Linda Ronstadt record, Silk Purse, at a local store. The vinyl was in good shape and I love the songs, but the upper midrange level was much to high, at least to my ears. It sounded shrill, especially when Linda hit those high notes. I moved the 5000 hz lever on the EQ down a notch. Problem solved. It's rare that I have to do this. All records mastered based on the producer's tastes, aren't they? Ed

PS. I had a 67 Mustang with an AM radio. Back then I was only concerned about the sound from the exhaust.

cci1492 wrote:Did you say " equalizer"? Get out!....Go to your room and stay there and think about what you said! Just kidding, welcome! When I hear that word or see it written my right eye starts to twitch a little. After using a pre-amp with a built in EQ for almost 30 years and stopping about  6 weeks ago cold turkey,  I get a little crazy when the subject comes up. Do they make an EQ patch like the nicotine ones you get at the drug store?

I beg to differ. Equalizers are employed by everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, on this forum. We merely call them by different names: "tubes" and/or "capacitors." (Actually, I prefer the term "condenser" but I'm a cycles-per-second" kinda guy. Go lay down by your dish, cci1492.)

At any rate, Ed, welcome to Tommy's Holiday Camp. If you can't find a tube answer here, we'll gladly make one up so profound you'd think it was Biblical.

Ed Chambers wrote:GP 49 is right and so are are you.  Last week I found a nice specimen of an old Linda Ronstadt record, Silk Purse, at a local store.  The vinyl was in good shape and I love the songs, but the upper midrange level was much to high, at least to my ears.  It sounded shrill, especially when Linda hit those high notes.  I moved the 5000 hz lever on the EQ down a notch. Problem solved.  It's rare that I have to do this.  All records mastered based on the producer's tastes, aren't they?     Ed

PS.   I had a 67 Mustang with an AM radio.  Back then I was only concerned about the sound from the exhaust.  

Producers' tastes often seem to include boosting that approximate range. The "brightness" range is actually surprisingly low in frequency, to many audiophiles...the 3000-5000 Hz area. Maybe a smidgen lower, even.

Linda Ronstadt...I met her once, while I was a police officer in the town where she lived. Neighbor reported a prowler but we surmised correctly whom the prowler was "targeting." We had to contact her to verify nothing was wrong. She was very gracious, invited us to check her property and her windows and doors for security.