Jay, being able to adjust a systems frequency response is a wonderful capability but tone controls and analog equalizers are like model T's to digital room control (acts like an equalizer). First of all it helps if you know what your system is doing. Impulse testing with a calibrated microphone does this. Then being able to make specific changes like adding a notch filter and hearing the result are extremely informative. I find that once a system has been corrected the only changes that require adjustment are for specific albums that have problems like sibilance. A 3 db notch filter at 3000 - 4000 Hz usually solves that. So, before this the older audiophiles were right. It was better to correct overall deficiencies is a system as best you could as analog tone controls were more detrimental than helpful given their limited flexibility. This attitude pervades when it comes to digital equalization which is a shame as now the benefits far out weight the detriments.
Check out Anthem and Trinnov units.
Check out Anthem and Trinnov units.