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For someone w. spare time, might be intriguing to have an ABX box -FWIW - have matched static FR to +-0.2dB across spectrum of 3 "line stages" with cheap NAD amp and low-efficiency speakers (w. Dynaudio tweeter) from cheap CD player -
One linestage was Rockford-Fosgate preamp w. electrolytics (which featured built in xover), 2nd unit a stepped attenuator w. old Corning metal-film resistors and 3rd ALPS pots used by PS Audio in PS III.
The sound wqs diffent with op-amp/elecrolytic coupling cap linestage being "bass-slow", "grainy" and subjectively "bloated", stepped attenuator sounding "lean" and "bright" leaving the ALPS pots the winner for this scenario and my ears - test cut was from Michael Hedges "Aerial Boundaries" so wasn't exactly demanding in deep bass.
At times capcitors of different make/construction/dielectric of same value will impart different subjective sounds and are used to voice components (had cap meter for >20 yr) - power supply output Z and its interaction with an audio circuit can have strong effects upon overall percieved sound -( am speaking of tube circuits - not op-amps with 3-terminal IC regulators)Introducing a cheap 12-step in-wall autoformer as volume control between cd player's DAC and amp/preamp changes timbre - partly due to finite primrary inductance losing a dB on or so on bottom - core effects and maybe load on CD player's opamps (?)
Modulation (or IM?) distortion is one horrible effect in small speakers trying to move far
A passive crossover might have several approaches and samll changes on the pad/Eq will be perceived by many as big
An overhead ceiling fan will modulate sound (remember those B3 Leslie speakers?)
Some speaker cones just don't sound "right" even if limited to 100Hz
Audio toys and a human's perception of "sound" = interesting stuff - and this is just w. low-effiency stuff.
Follow Ups:
The ceiling fan Definitly modulates big time. I can hear the varible reflections from the blades on most if not all music....and especially annoying with test tones. I ended up removing it all together. The frequency range that is most affected on low medium and high speeds of the fan is 150hZ TO ABOUT 7k It rolls of (this effect_ from 8 to 10K and comes back audibly from 11K up to my limit of 17K. The "beats" interfere big time. Ceiling fan now in another room.As far as controls go, I have not actually tested various ones the way you have. Interesting read Fred.
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