Equalization for vinyl nirvana

I have a question for the Audiogon and vinyl community: do you think equalization is helpful for getting good results with vinyl playback? 

Um, no it is essential. RIAA equalization is required. Anything beyond that- look let's cut to the heart of the matter, okay? 

Either you got some crap gear, or you got some crap ears and want everything to sound the way you want it to sound instead of the way it is. Or maybe you drank the Cool-Aid and think digital is the reference and are trying to make your records sound like that. Or another possibility I guess, troll. But even trolls we take seriously, at least the one time.

I am just trying to cover all the bases here because anyone like me who knows vinyl knows it is perfectly capable of bass and midrange all the other formats but open reel can only dream of. So the last thing you need is EQ. Now if you want to talk about what else might be a good way to go, we can have that discussion. But the very fact you got one of the most clueless of all saying it is "absolutely vital" and pushing you to EQ that fact alone ought to be enough to make you step back and reconsider.

If you are underwhelmed by the sound of vinyl with a good recording it is a problem somewhere in the system because the best vinyl recordings sound as good as anything out there.

Sometime I think it's Donald Trump posting on audiogon under different names since he was banned on Twitter. 

@joshindc Since we have very similar components from source to output I think I can offer some pointers. As many have mentioned the room’s architecture, furnishings and treatment are key, but that’s the unknown here. Next, the method at which you’re placing and isolating the Marantz TT is extremely important - another unknown. Next the vinyl source: Playing Originals vs. Remasters, which related to what @erik_squires commented about studio engineering vs. home audio reproduction gaps. Then, setting the right Willsenton controls to towing the precise distance of the Tektons which you hooked-up with quality AQ cables. Before you invest more money in phono preamps, cartridges, other cables, power conditioning, EQ devices, etc. try experimenting with the above placement and room treatment. After you hear improvements from tweaks then you’ll know better what to upgrade with. Overall, EQ will better-attained in totality per above. 

In my house of stereo, I have two vinyl systems. One a VPI  Classic TT with Kleos cart running through PS Audio stellar phono stage, the other a basic Pro-Ject TT with ortofon cart running through a Puffin phono stage. Both run into a Prima luna evo 100 preamp and parasound halo 23+ amp. I have a couple thousand LPs and I use the puffin system to equalize the ones that really need it. In the end, in the last year, I have put in about 35 hrs on the Puffin and over 600 hrs on the PS Audio, meaning that's how few records I feel are in need of equalization. The quality of your system and your listening room set up are the major factors in how many records may or may not sound good to you with or without equalization.