2. amps-preamps
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Why is loudness compensation missing from "mid-fi"?

Very often I like to listen at low volume when writing or trying to fall asleep. Without adjusting loudness, a lot of my favorite records sound faint and hollow. My current setup lacks loudness compensation, so I simply fiddle with the tone controls, but it's a crude "solution" and a bit of a nuisance. I've been researching my next upgrade, and I find it strange that some entry level equipment has loudness compensation (e.g. Yamaha A-S301), as does some high end equipment (e.g. Accuphase), but usually nothing in between. (e.g. Yamaha A-S1100). Why is that?

Every time I'm about to pull the trigger on an A-S1100 I talk myself out of it by telling myself I'll still wish I had the Accuphase for loudness compensation. It's annoying, because my setup really doesn't warrant an Accuphase — or maybe it does, if I can't find what I want elsewhere?
lostark

Showing 2 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
15,875 posts
 
+1 @wolf_garcia
The alternative to Wolf's point is to get a pair of speakers for late night listening, and another for full volume.  Just what I need, another pair of speakers.... :D :D
erik_squires
15,875 posts
 
All of the Luxman integrateds have this. Love it for the reasons you've described.

Yamaha had (past tense, can't find it now) the best kind of loudness adjustment, continously variable. So you'd turn up the volume to the balance you liked, then turn the loudness DOWN, supressing the midrange.  Little complicated, but like the Denon version of old, works.

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