We need DAC's with tone controls and EQ

+1 Steve

Also the latest Weiss DAC has what you are looking for.

There you go.... RME ADI-2 PRO... parametric equalizer, tone controls, a loudness function that dynamically changes with volume....

https://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/adi_2-pro.php

And it's getting some pretty fine reviews too....

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/rme-adi-2-pro
https://headfonics.com/2016/12/the-adi-2-pro-by-rme/
https://sonarworks.com/blog/rme-adi-2-pro-review/
http://www.audioxpress.com/article/...l-converter-with-dual-headphone-amp-in-review

Roon has an excellent EQ and DSP offerings now. 

And then there is DEQX which adds in an active crossover and more. 

This is said by a few on Agone to work very well as an eq'er

http://www.schiit.com/products/loki

Cheers George

DEQX

That's interesting, Granny! I hate the subscription model though. 

Thanks for the Loki link, George! 

Erik 

Digital EQ / Tone controls are much more cost effective than cables or swapping speakers and amps. I don't always want them, but I wish they were part of our normal toolkit.

I even find it difficult to find gear with a balance knob for Peete's sake. 

An AV receiver :)

@imhififan

I utterly reject the snobbery that high end systems can't use tone controls or EQ.

Decades ago, EQ was crappy, noisy, and horribly overused. We are light years (yeah, mixed metaphor) away from those days, especially with the ability to do EQ in the purely digital domain.

I don't think it is anti-Hi Fi to think of new features. I don't think you have to seek some holy grail of technical perfection to be an audiophile. I want digital EQ in my high-end system.

That does not mean I like all the cheap electronics gear out there, or that it all sounds the same. I have spent a lot of time building my system, in the case of the speakers, quite literally. I don't want to have to compromise to get basic, basic, features.

For instance, what about some vintage jazz recordings that honestly were recorded horribly, or Stop Making Sense. Yes, it's cool to listen to it unaltered, but how much more enjoyable could it be for instance with a little bass tuning, and maybe even expansion?

The idea that you are allowed to swap amps, speakers, and cables ad infinitum to get the sound you want, but you can't add a little mid-range is superbly wasteful, and has no basis in musical reproduction, but if that feeds your ego, well, go ahead. I think there is room for those of us who look for cost effective solutions as well.

Best,


E