I know this is a broad question, and the settings can vary according to listening levels, speakers, room acoustics, source, etc., but I'm looking for "average" settings, based one one or several Yamaha amps which you use.
The reason I ask is because I read an article recently (don't recall if it was on AK or not) about some Yamaha users who set their bass and treble controls flat, and about that being the sound of the music when it was recorded. I was a little surprised.
I don't see that scenario working for me. Since the late 1970s, I've exclusively used small to mid sized Yamaha receivers, and recently some larger ones . mostly with fairly efficient 2 way acoustic suspension speakers, at lower to mid SPL levels. as well as with my vintage Polk monitor 12's. I will say that I don't crank it as loud as I used to.
On AVERAGE, I would say I run my treble at 1 o'clock, and bass at 4 o'clock, at fairly "middle of the road" listening levels, usually without any of the loudness control - unless late night and very low volume. That bass number goes a notch or so lower with larger amps & my 12" Polk monitors, but you get the idea. I only have a mid control on one newer Yamaha, and it is set flat.
Personally for me, I can't see total flat working unless maybe at very loud levels and big speakers / wattage, if at all. Totally flat seems to take some life out of the music, particularly the bass. I've been a musician for 35 yrs., and am fairly dialed in to what I want to hear, and how to go about getting it, be it live music, or home stereo, and flat is not where it's at on my Yammies, for me. I do know that the sound the individual musicians use to get their instrument on tape in the studio may not be the same settings they would use in various performance venues, and I suspect that is where I desire some color for home stereo componet applications.
I'm still fairly new here, and apologize if this is a dead horse topic, but I'd be very interested to hear some opinions on this, as I have not seen any discussions on it yet.
I hate to spoil your party but all four run flat. I will admit that it took a while to dial in the NS-670s with the CR-1000 and the NS-690s with the CR-2040. The CR-2020 with the Polk 7Bs and the CR-800 with the Polk 10Bs both are set flat. If the Polks seem to be reversed it is simply the location - the 7Bs are atop two six foot wall units and there is no way that I am about to lift the 10Bs up there.
On my CR 1020 and Polk SDA 2A's I some times run them flat, but often have the treble at 11 o'clock and the bass at 1 o'clock. I hate brightness, some people may say I am over sensitive to high frequencies but that's the way I am.
On my Yamaha C4 preamp / Luxman L-430 with my Polk SDA 1C's I run them tone direct or tone controls bypassed as I find that they are just right to my ears.
People say that tone controls ruin the sound but some rooms, setups, recording need a bit of adjustment IMO YMMV.
No tone controls (flat) on the main system. Volume? Most of the time, not all that loud. I'd call it "moderate" volume, compared to what I hear many audio-heads enjoying. That said, I'll occasionally be in the mood to "crank it" a bit. I try to turn it up just enough to "wake up" the speakers, but not enough to affect my hearing unpleasantly. Most of the time, there is a volume range that accomplishes those goals. When in doubt, I err on the side of protecting my ears, and keep it wall below the "threshold of discomfort", which for me starts reasonably low. But even when "cranking it up", or perhaps I should say especially when cranking it up, I use a very careful touch on the volume control. With massive dual power supplies weighing more than 50 pounds apiece, just for the preamp(!), feeding a conservatively-rated 500 WPC Yamaha 101M power amp, insufficient volume or amps struggling to sound good at any remotely-reasonable volume is the least of my worries. Causing a pair of much-loved speakers to self-destruct in a fiery flash if I accidentally bump the volume knob all the way over, is a more realistic concern! LOL
I have played with using the tone controls on my Soundcraftsmen preamp, and found it fun and educational to do so. but it isn't really necessary in my listening space, with good gear properly positioned. I like "the sound of the room", because it doesn't color the sound much (just adds a wee bit of "life" to the music).
EDIT: :scratch2. I just realized, only my POWER amp is a Yamaha, not my PREamp. and re-reading the OP, you were asking about control setting on Yamaha PREamps, right? Perhaps I shouldn't have answered, at all?! Sorry. it's after 1 a.m. here, and I'm tired. Oh, well.
I know this is a broad question, and the settings can vary according to listening levels, speakers, room acoustics, source, etc., but I'm looking for "average" settings, based one one or several Yamaha amps which you use.
The reason I ask is because I read an article recently (don't recall if it was on AK or not) about some Yamaha users who set their bass and treble controls flat, and about that being the sound of the music when it was recorded. I was a little surprised.
I don't see that scenario working for me. Since the late 1970s, I've exclusively used small to mid sized Yamaha receivers, and recently some larger ones . mostly with fairly efficient 2 way acoustic suspension speakers, at lower to mid SPL levels. as well as with my vintage Polk monitor 12's. I will say that I don't crank it as loud as I used to.
On AVERAGE, I would say I run my treble at 1 o'clock, and bass at 4 o'clock, at fairly "middle of the road" listening levels, usually without any of the loudness control - unless late night and very low volume. That bass number goes a notch or so lower with larger amps & my 12" Polk monitors, but you get the idea. I only have a mid control on one newer Yamaha, and it is set flat.
Personally for me, I can't see total flat working unless maybe at very loud levels and big speakers / wattage, if at all. Totally flat seems to take some life out of the music, particularly the bass. I've been a musician for 35 yrs., and am fairly dialed in to what I want to hear, and how to go about getting it, be it live music, or home stereo, and flat is not where it's at on my Yammies, for me. I do know that the sound the individual musicians use to get their instrument on tape in the studio may not be the same settings they would use in various performance venues, and I suspect that is where I desire some color for home stereo componet applications.
I'm still fairly new here, and apologize if this is a dead horse topic, but I'd be very interested to hear some opinions on this, as I have not seen any discussions on it yet.
On some Yamaha receivers, there is a very handy variable loudness control feature.
If it is setup properly, it may help in the situations you had described.
It would boost the various tones at low volume settings.
Does the unit in question have this feature?:scratch2: