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I miss my Loudness Button and Tone Controls....

So I recently upgraded my system to a Rogue Audio Sphinx integrated amplifier, V2.

Prior to this purchase I was using a NAD C162 preamp, and an Emotive UA-200 amplifier.

After a month of listening, I have to say, I miss the tone controls and the loudness feature on the old NAD pre-amp, especially when listening at lower volumes. The Rogue amp sounds great when played at a minimum of 50% of its output, but at lower volumes, it just seems flat. I do use a sub (SVS SB-2000 pro, and I'm using a very efficient speaker (Zu Audio DW's).

I've toyed with the idea of buying an EQ of some sort that has a bypass so that I can boost some of the frequencies when listening at lower volumes, and then bypass when I listening at higher volumes.

Any thoughts on this? Anyone experience anything similar? I'm about to pack and sell the Rogue amp, as the cons outweigh the pros for me.

 

 

barkeyzee1
wolf_garcia
6,631 posts
 

I have 2 Lokis (dos loki?), the original and the improved...original in my video system, numero uno el improvo in the hifi rig generally off until called on (on but bypassed). An amazing gizmo that after many decades dealing with this stuff (pro musician, live sound dude, insufferable old guy creep) has astonished an audio cynic like me. I'm absolutely a Schiit Head...the Freya + (I own the original with NOS GE tubes) just got into Class A Recomended blah blah in Stereophile...among 2 inexpensive preamps, the other being a Topping that isn't tube. Still.

ricmech23
102 posts
 

If you’re using only one sub I would suggest to get another one. I use two makes a big difference at low levels with two subs instead of one. 

travelinjack's avatar
travelinjack
160 posts
 

I loved the variable loudness control on my old Yamaha integrated amplifier.  I wish all amps and receivers came with such a thing.

cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 

Get a schiit lokius. Its 20 hz setting is almost equivalent to the loudness control. Anything over 50 hz and the bass will sound a bit bloated hence the very good frequency selection on the Lokius. 

styleman
132 posts
 

"All McIntosh integrated amps come with tone controls."

Not all of them - the slightly more expensive ones do.  For example, the MA 252 hybrid integrated does not come with equalizers but the MA 352 does. It cost $6,500 (I can't remember the cost of the MA 252).  The  MA 252 puts out 100 watts but has no equalizer. The MA 352 puts out 200 watts but has a 5-button equalizer.  

 

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