Integrating tone controlls in preamplifier is extra cost and less profit hence the new philosophy of an audio market such as "addiional distortion", "loss of purity" etc... has taken place instead.
This philosophy is OK when you're dealing with good recording but if you're not, you're simply let the system reveal an unpleasant sound reproduction.
Many of us force ourselves to be pleased with bad recordings with no tone controlls having in mind that they're completely unneccessary.
A good external high-end EQ might struck your budget and for now I'd recommend you to visit www.themusicfriend.com where you can select one of your choice in the low-hundreds range tube or SS and try it out risk-free(in many cases you don't even pay for s/h).
This philosophy is OK when you're dealing with good recording but if you're not, you're simply let the system reveal an unpleasant sound reproduction.
Many of us force ourselves to be pleased with bad recordings with no tone controlls having in mind that they're completely unneccessary.
A good external high-end EQ might struck your budget and for now I'd recommend you to visit www.themusicfriend.com where you can select one of your choice in the low-hundreds range tube or SS and try it out risk-free(in many cases you don't even pay for s/h).