EQ curves, that is.
I received an email from Aurorasound’s US Importer high-end electronics with some words and this image:
When are tone controls not tone controls? When they turn into EQ Curve settings for the HFSA-01’s Phono Input allowing for proper playback of pre-RIAA records. This news is for all the people out there who have already said “Cool”, either out loud or under their breath (I said it out loud when I read the email). This is a very nice surprise and an unusual feature in an integrated amp in this price range ().
Alfred Kainz of high-end electronics provides the “Old Disk Easy Compensator” front plate overlay for temporary help remembering the various EQ settings. I think I’d leave it off to the side as I love the look of the HFSA-01 as is.
Cool. [footnote 1]
But wait, that’s not all. Aurorasound have added a screw down cutout window up top to allow for easier access to the HFSA-01’s EL84s. Nice!
1. I wrote a mini summary about EQ Curves in The TM Phono Stage Survey: Rules & Regulations reproduced here for your convenience:
The other main job in the phono staging process (see what I did there?) is to reverse the RIAA equalization curve (basically a bass de-emphasis/treble emphasis filter) that’s applied to records. In brief, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) agreed on a single standard equalization curve that would be baked into every record way back in 1954 so most records since use this curve. It’s worth noting that pre-RIAA, we’re looking at a veritable Wild West of curves that mostly followed the record company that pressed the record (Decca, Columbia, Capitol, etc). Over 100 curves were in use back in the day, which is why some serious collectors of 78s and mono records opt for phono stages that include some or most of these Wild West curves. Selectable EQ curves are not available on ‘budget’ phono stages and remain the exception rather than the rule.
