Tonekontroller

Tonekontroller, or tone control, is an electronic circuit or a physical control on audio equipment that allows the user to adjust the relative levels of different parts of the audible spectrum. The most common controls are bass (low frequencies) and treble (high frequencies); many units also include midrange adjustments, a loudness compensation switch, and sometimes preset equalization curves. The purpose is to tailor sound to personal preference, compensate for listening room characteristics, or counteract limitations of loudspeakers and headphones.

Tone controls can be implemented in several ways. They may be passive networks that modify signal levels without gain, or active circuits that use amplification and feedback to shape the frequency response. A widely known active design is the Baxandall tone control circuit, which provides smooth bass and treble adjustment with a relatively flat midrange response when centered. Modern devices also employ digital tone controls that simulate analog responses, or use graphic and parametric EQ for more precise shaping.

In consumer audio, tone controls appear on receivers, stereo amplifiers, car stereos, and many musical instruments and effects units. Some listeners prefer flat, unaltered sound and bypass the controls, while others use tone adjustments to compensate for room acoustics or to achieve a particular sonic coloration.

Historically, tone controls became standard features in mid-20th-century audio gear and remain common in many modern devices. The Norwegian term tonekontroller reflects this concept in local documentation and equipment. See also equalizer, loudness, and filter.