I listen predominantly to vinyl,across many different genres and from many different eras.Lots of FM,usually as daily background,and occasionally (but rarely!) a CD.
Lots of my vinyl is phenomenally good,most of it is ''average ok'' or just so-so,but some of it is just plain horrible.Quite simply,some of my albums are in piss-poor shape,but are either very difficult to find replacements for,or the original recording was less than stellar to begin with.I love the music,but sometimes the sound quality drives me batshit!
While I have always subscribed to the ''straight wire with gain'' philosophy in principle,and in fact practiced it for many years,I just can't justify not being able to enjoy or relax to a piece of music any longer due to recording issues or wear-related factors.
On any less than pleasant recording,I have decided screw it,I'm using tone controls,hi-filters,low-filters,contour controls or even the dreaded loudness button whenever I feel the need to either just ''tweak'' something to make it nicer (in MY ears) or to totally re-write a recordings eq in order to make it bearable.I should be sonically unhappy for the sake of ''principle''? I think not!
Mind you,on the great recordings,nothing touches the signal,as nothing should need to.In my system,all options are available,but can be completely bypassed/removed from the chain.
I my mind,anyone who is of the ''no tone controls,ever!'' persuasion has never been part of the recording process