Like Vermonster, I have sold the Yamaha variable loudness concept for years, and he explains it perfectly. [They actually did make one stereo receiver model with VL on the remote (it had 2 motorized pots), as Jovian notes...this shoulda been the default design]. But I want to mention the approach taken by Crown Int'l with their IC-150 preamp. Like most pushbutton loudness buttons, it grossly overcompensated, making it a glorified bass boost at all levels...BUT...in the manual they explained its proper use...with the VC set to 2PM (where its effect disappeared), the user was to lower the input gain controls on the amplifier (which theirs had) to set the inflection point where the ear heard full range...thus calibrating the loudness button properly, making it much more effective. Also, McIntosh has a variable loudness knob on their C-20 classic tube preamp...and it's the best one I've found, with a well judged contour and that's based on 1960s research on frequency dependant hearing perception.
Loudness - Why has the industry stopped producing amplifiers with this feature any longer?
I listen to music at all times of the day and night (solid sleep eludes me the older I get). My favorite times are when the family is gone and I can select the listening level, mostly moderate to higher volumes. But the simply fact is I find myself listen at lower levels much more often then my preferred listening mode.
Piggybacking on a discussion regarding low level listening here on Audiogon, I'm posing the question: Why has the majority of industry stopped producing amplifiers with this feature any longer?
I look forward to your input
Piggybacking on a discussion regarding low level listening here on Audiogon, I'm posing the question: Why has the majority of industry stopped producing amplifiers with this feature any longer?
I look forward to your input