have you weened yourself off the treble control?

steveinaz · February 2004

Took me 42yrs, but i finally weened myself off the treble knob. I've never used the bass knob, as the flat setting always worked for me, but I have always liked a little extra sparkle in my highs.

But, alas...the "Tone Bypass" has been engaged. Is it possible my hearing is getting better with age? Don't think i could've done it without my Athena AS-F2's though; the tweeter used in these speakers is superb.

How about you?, it's alright, admit it---you do use the treble control every now & then, right? You're among friends...fess up...don't give me that "nah man, I've been an audio purist since the crib" ****....I know better...

izafar · February 2004

I havent used the treble control with any of the POLKs I had in last 3 years. I sometimes do increase treble in my car.

madmax · February 2004

I've always cut the treble slightly since birth.
madmax

tonyv1 · February 2004

I've always used the flat settings on my stereo receivers. But I did use the "loudness" adjust on the Yamaha CR1020 I used to have. When I had the Parasound P/HP 850 preamp, I used the "tone bypass" and the "direct out" connections. My Anthem tube preamp doesn't have any tone controls. I don't try to fix bad recordings, I just listen to all the warts.

steveinaz · February 2004

I have the PHP-850, I love it. Direct-out/Tone-bypass too, well, now anyways.

Jstas · February 2004

Depends on the system and the equipment. In my truck, no signal modification what so ever. Flat settings across the board. The Polk Audio dB's (older model, mid-late 90's) never really needed it.

Home stereos, yes because the equipment doesn't have as nice a response as I would like but hey, beggars can't be choosers!

VR3 · February 2004

Depends on the recording, good recording - flat. Bad recording, lower

michael_w · February 2004

Trebles always at 0 and bass usually up a bit but then again my speakers suck compared to most of yours lol

Tour2ma · February 2004

Haven't owned a home audio treble control in in a decade or so...

PolkWannabie · February 2004

Can't touch that ...

F1nut · February 2004

No tone controls here.

dorokusai · February 2004

I once got in treble with my wife, and she didn't turn my knob for over a month :mad:

hoosier21 · February 2004

running flat for so long I can't remember when I stopped

I have currently have a pre amp that has no tone controls not even a balance knob

RuSsMaN · February 2004

What's Treble?

When I was 18-22 or so, I used to run the EQ in a 'V', and took advantage of the Loudness contour, Bass, and Treble controls. EVERY SINGLE ONE.

Then again, the gear I owned leaved a lot to be desired. FULLY weened (tone control sober) for almost 10 years now. Had the shakes for a while, got really angry easily - but a lot of coffee, Marlboro's, and a weekly support group meeting got me through it.

I'm fine with it now, and have no desire to go back. I can even be around people that use tone controls, I thought that would be the hardest part - but I just don't get the urge anymore.

The first step in recovering is *admitting* you have a problem.

Cheers,
Russ

wallstreet · February 2004

Direct out all they way. Now how about video contrast? All my TV's used to be in torch mode (full contrast). Now those pictures always look washed out. I can spot a TV in torch mode a mile away.:cool:

sowen010599 · February 2004

It's set at zero baby. Shrillness reminds me of my wife.

steveinaz · February 2004

So nobody else had a "treble sweet-tooth"? You guys are good, I'm very proud.

I've been doing the weening process for some time, and for the last year I had the treble set to one click (+2dB) from flat; now she's bypassed, finally.

The Parasound PHP-850 sounds fantastic in direct mode, I can really appreciate this preamp now...

HBombToo · February 2004

I can say I never played or found the treble did much for me; however, I addicted to the bass adjust. My final fix was the dual subs with the Marchand gain control...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

HBomb

steveinaz · February 2004

HB2, where in Missouri? I'm a Missouri boy myself, born & raised in North County, Saint Louis.

HBombToo · February 2004

I was down in Jeff City but now I'm on the KC side living in Lee's Summit.

Your in Sierra Vista aren't you? I was on Ft. Huachuca for a couple years and Loved it. Alamosa, the company I work for now owns the PCS network there in SV.

I have to do a sweep of all my markets this year and when I'm down in AZ I'll look you up. Lets try to go to Bisbee(ch Sp) to the Copper Queen hotel for a beer. I had so much fun down in Bisbee.... the only land left for the 60's hippies

HBomb

PolkThug · February 2004

I guess I'm the only one....

I have my treble set at +10 and bass set at +2. Now you **** have got my brain going again that I need to do more tweaking!

Hmm, flat controls don't sound right to me, but there must be some merit to it since all of you are doing it that way.

Regards,
PolkThug

*digging mic and spectrum analyzer back out* jk

steveinaz · February 2004

HB2, Absolutely! We'll have you over for some steak & mesquite shrimp...and of course, brewski's.

steveinaz · February 2004

Originally posted by PolkThug
I guess I'm the only one....

I have my treble set at +10 and bass set at +2. Now you **** have got my brain going again that I need to do more tweaking!

FINALLY, somebody redeems me, thank you brother! I know your pain, took me forever to back that treble knob down, I just liked the "presence" it gave...but I'm getting better!

You don't need to tweak anything, just slowly reduce the treble one click a month (this is the Steve Re-habilitation method). Before you know it, you'll get addicted to the new un-adulterated sound. What amazed me about my parasound, is that the bass sounds much better with the tone by-passed, i can't figure that one out as I always left it flat. Now, when i turn up the treble, I don't like the sound--at all. Too much phase shift and the sound is too "artificial."

hoosier21 · February 2004

Originally posted by PolkThug
I guess I'm the only one....

I have my treble set at +10 and bass set at +2. Now you **** have got my brain going again that I need to do more tweaking!

Hmm, flat controls don't sound right to me, but there must be some merit to it since all of you are doing it that way.

how could adding anything to the original recording be the correct way of listening? That is why +/-0 is the way to go, flat baby. Now unusual room or sub-par equipment might need a boost here or there, but +10?? oh man that is just wrong.

As Steve pointed out, step it down a little at a time. Well actually eff that, get it flat and just live through the withdraw, you will be cured in no time lol.

steveinaz · February 2004

"WITHDRAWL" Thats the word I was looking for...when i first attempted to go "cold turkey" with the treble knob, it sounded like someone was holding a frickin pillow in front of my tweeters. You just gotta let your ears adjust to the over-emphasis they've grown accustomed to. Thats why I did the slow method of (lets call it) "treble weening" LMAO! If you have some problems or need support call:

1-800-0DB-TREBL

You can speak to other audiophiles who have made the transition and lived to talk about it....

PolkThug · February 2004

I'm going to my first Treble Abusers Anonymous meeting tonight.

"Hello, my name is PolkThug and I've been abusing the treble control for 17 years."

danger boy · February 2004

i guesss it depends on what you run for your front mains. and whether you are upping the treble for music or movies or both.

i think with a properly set up system.. you shouldn't need to adjust the treble at all. at least that's what i was always told.

mine are set to center.. big fat 0 that's with RT800i's as fronts.

steveinaz · February 2004

Aha! I figured out why I had the addiction. See, most of you youngin's never had to endure 8-track tape and cassette reproduction (make that redestruction) of music....TREBLE KNOB REQUIRED. For those of us who came up in the early days of "true" hi-fi equipment (Late 60's, early 70's), the cassette deck was the source of the day, and of course the turntable. But most everyone put their new albums on cassette, and then listened constantly to the cassette. Cassettes mind you, a whopping 15khz on the high side under the best of circumstances; high quality tape, bias properly adjusted, record levels that were high enough to avoid bad S/N ratios, but low enough not to roll-off high frequencies, ect... Most of you were still shitting yourselves when i was de-magnetizing the heads on my Teac Z6000 cassette deck, trying to eek out every last kilohertz available. You snot-noses came up with true 20-20kHz source material AND equipment! Think about it, if you were born in 1970 or later, you most likely grew up on the Compact Disc.

Whew! I feel alot better now....

scottdawg · February 2004

Dayum Russ, You sure can talk the talk, any walk to that.
The only tone control I have is in my truck, my 19 y/o wont leave them alone either. Nada one in the house tho, Id prolly have to pick up a white chip.

danger boy · February 2004

Originally posted by ATCVenom
Hmmm, a few things being said that has caught my eye. ...

Running flat does not by any stretch of the imagination mean your not adding "color" to the sound. There is plenty of equipment that adds its own "color". So can be said for speakers and the rest of the gear that makes up a whole system. Tone controls often aid in smoothing out the playing field to keep things as natural *neutral?* as possible to compinsate for the equipments coloration..

this is true.. but when you "tweak" the sound more by upping or downing the bass or treble... it affects the sound even more.

once in a great while i'll up the treble while listening to a poorly recorded CD.. such as Tapestry by Carole King. Although the "album" was recorded in 1971, it did not trasfer well to compact disc. it's no ones fault.. a recording of that era is going to sound iffy at best.. think about the Beatles recording on 8 or even 4 tracks of tape? amazing they were able to do what they did with the help of George Martin.

Tour2ma · February 2004

Originally posted by ATCVenom
There is plenty of equipment that adds its own "color".

An even bigger factor is the acoustics of the listening space...

have you weened yourself off the treble control?

Comments