Tube Sound With Equalization?

I doubt that you would have any success with an equalizer. I owned the Benchmark LA4 and I really liked it, but it is neutral, bordering on sterile. I replaced it with a Pass XP-12, and kept the good resolution and gained a degree of warmth. 

With my limited experience, I agree with zlone about decay and equalization. For perhaps some tube dimensionality within and between your Benchmark system I’d be curious how something like a Modwright Analog Bridge would sound. I’ve never heard myself, but I’m intrigued. 
 

For tube equalization, the Decware ZRock3 seemed to add a slight increase in dimensionality and space, while allowing a somewhat broad adjustment to the lower end. I think it would be a stretch for me to say that this perceived dimensionality also included decay, though. Unsure if I would have explored this option if I had a tube preamp tbh.

" @zlone ...owned the Benchmark LA4 and I really liked it, but it is neutral, bordering on sterile."

"@toro3 ...some tube dimensionality within and between your Benchmark system I’d be curious how something like a Modwright Analog Bridge would sound."

Thus potentially adding some good old ear pleasing distortion back in to the mix to make it sound less sterile and more engaging. Kinda helps to surface once again that perfect signal and response graphs, and best of class signal to noise ratios  aren’t everything when it gets down to actual listening enjoyment for some folks.

I agree with others, equalization will not help. It has to do with individual sounds across the audio spectrum... a function of the components themselves. Very discrete / detailed sounding gear truncates decay. Good tube equipment extends and articulates the notes in a very natural way. Benchmark is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Mac gear is very good in the midrange... but tends to lack detail... so, perhaps some combination of Benchmark / Mac would work. But in this case you would have equipment at opposite ends of the spectrum... working against each other. I’d have a listen to some Conrad Johnson, Audio Research, or VAC equipment. See if that is too far in the warm musical direction.

Well... I think it's worth having one, the Schiit Loki is often recommended.  Try a little boost on the right two dials.

You could try a tube buffer between your amp/preamp.

Don't know what's available now, but maybe look for a used iFi micro iTube2?

I wouldn't recommend the old Musical Fidelity unit (X10D I think), but the 2nd version of the iFi was well received and they pop up occasionally.

DeKay

The tube sound I go after isn’t typically just something to do with frequency response fluctuations, but comes via an enhanced sense of clarity, at least partly from the harmonic structure of the tubes. Not sure how that can be eq’d into the equation minus the tubes.

No a Eq expands the frequency response but a true Vacuum tube preamp is just more expansive ,call it coloration or even harmonic distortion  much it sounds nice to the ear, with many brands ,most brands the critical volume attenuator most use a passive,$20 Alps pot which robs detail especially low level micro detail .  A Resistive ladder ,with relay much much better.I-just Purchased a Linear Tube Audio Micro Zotl  ,it’s a Excellent Vacuum tube preamp. my brother bought one , I had to have one with my Very under the radar BelCanto E1X Amplifier which has a lot of the Black series technologies not any regular class D ,.The LTA preamp for $6350 with excellent sounding tubes and build quality 2nd to none competes with ease anything at 2x+ it’s cost, well worth checking out for added realism in your recordings.

TMR has a Modwright tube buffer used at a decent price. I think it also has balanced inputs.

No to the equalizer as others have said.  Sell the Benchmark pre and get a tube preamp.  

I sold my Benchmark and got a LTA MicroZOTL Level 2.  Thought I would keep the Benchmark and switch out, but after hearing the MicroZOTL for a week decided to sell the LA4. Waiting to try some upgraded tubes from LTA for even more improvement.

EQ, nah, tube buffer, some…tube preamp, more. 

Equalizer have their place - in the frequency domain - but what youre looking for isn't in there. 

@erik_squires  Ha…tried a Loki … Sent it Back within the 15 Day Window…All it did was add noise. I like to sit back and enjoy my music, the thing made me have to fiddle with it for just about every track to make it sound anything near acceptable…Basically provided fixes for problems I didn’t have !  

I recommend, from personal ongoing experience, the Jolida Foz SSX soundstage expander. It does three things, and I found the sonic costs are not too great relative to the gifts. It has a tube buffer, and that allows you to tube roll to get the best fit. It has the soundstage expander, which does as it suggests - using a knob to dial in the degree of effect. And most useful (to me) is a bass control, which I use as a “thickening agent,” to boost the bass, upper bass, and even the lower midrange. I found that I could take an underpowered solid state amp and make it perfectly acceptable by playing with this device. It also works with good amps. Worth trying.

David

I've heard the Jolida expander at shows and enjoyed what it does in the analog domain without causing damage.   At a much higher price point the Manley Massive Passive can make your system sound pretty much however you want it across four parallel bands.   There is a bit of a learning curve, and as Manley says in its manual, as much art as science. 

I do want to point out that Mc has a particular sound quality, it's not really about tubes.  If you liked a Mc demo in the way you are describing it may be hard to find another brand which performs the same way.   For instance, listen to a modern AR integrated and I think you'll find that sound more laid back and less detailed by comparison.

Space tech lab makes many different tube buffers, there is even one with a builtin super rectifier. I don’t own a space tech lab buffer, but I do own a preamp, dac, hybrid amp and super rectifier. The tube preamp made my big Krell amp I also own sound much better than the solid state preamps I tried. Then I added a super rectifier and the detail was better the soundstage was much better and the decay was spectacular.

Hello All, Thanks for all the replies. What about inserting one of those BSG QOL boxes. They go for about $500 used once in a while. Would that give some openness and air to the sound?