@jimbennet I read through all the posts and also all of the kind responses by members who are obviously very well informed. I certainly do not mean to come off like a know-it-all, because I can assure you I'm not. I've not taken this hobby nearly as seriously as many of our members. But over the last few decades I've hung around here for good advice and this is my impression regarding your situation.
From what you had to say about your need to adjust the sound coming out of your speakers is one I can relate to. Because I did it for a hell of a long time.
My main pair of speakers are Martin Logan, Summit, which are sexy as hell and sound wonderful when they're driven well. I understand they're not everyone's cup of tea, but I they get my motor running. : )
I'm gonna cut to the chase, and tell you the impression I've formed from listening to yo present your situation. That your speakers, which sound like some real ass kickers, are causing you to have to adjust your tone controls is an indication that what you're really in need of, here,is not tone controls at all. it's the type of room control that my Lyngdorf has. It's called RoomPerfect. When you employ a similar technology, your desire to tweak your tone controls is gonna go Poof!
I'm not gonna try to sell you on Lyngdorf because it doesn't sound like you'll see yourself as a candidate for what they're offering, according to what I heard. Instead I'm going to suggest you do a little reading about electronic room correction, and I believe you'll understand why it'll give you the actual fix you're seeking.
I am going to boldy offer a suggestion for what to do, though, should you come to the conclusion on your own that room control is what you need. I did a ton of reading before I took the leap on my Lyngdorf and if you choose this road I'm gonna predict you'll dig it totally and completely.
It's Class D, but completely digital, so you'll have to give up your craving for analog because on a Lyngdorf the signal path is completely digital from the time it goes in right up until it leaves to go to your speakesr. Hence, they call it TDAI which stands for True Digital Amplifier Integrated.
That review will tell you what you need to know about it, and more. I got one with all of the optional plug ins, which sold brand new for $5000 and I paid $2650. I believe that brings it down pretty close to your purchase point. You may have to wait around for a sweet deal, but I bet it won't take too long. I only had to wait around for about a month. And I was fortunate enough to find one that had been further modified by replacing some caps. And all of the work was performed by an esteemed Augiogon member that had done all the work.
I bet RoomPerfect would allow you to no longer feel the need to admonish your super sweet Monitor Audio speakers for not getting it right, lol. In other words, tone controls is not your problem, and I believe room control is. I realize that's a pretty bold statement but if you make it to the end of the rainbow, I bet you'll see I was right.
Oh, and by the way, another feature they mention is what's called Blackground. Talk about a bold statement, Lyngdorf says that it offers "the most silent background of any audio component, of any type, at any cost". I'm gonna add the caveat, especially when you use Nordost cables, which is very good at not coloring the sound. You know the old saying, I'm sure, about getting what you paid for. One of the big lessons I've learned around here is that, generally speaking, that's the deal.
I bet @ravimaui can attest that everything I said is true. He's got the both the big brother AND the little brother to the model I have. Mine is the first generation, which means I don't have the streaming caoability, but that's what my streamer's for, right? In my final analysis that was really the big thing I was giving up, but I did it happily because I got a hell of a lot for my money.
I've come to the conclusion that most Audiogon members don't have much actual experience with the Lyngdorf trip, which I don't understand. I keep waiting for it to be discovered but haven't seen it yet, for sure, since I've had mine.
