Can anyone help re lack of bass

[admin_exported]

My system consists of NAD 370 / 270 amplification, Mission M35 loudspeakers, Sony XDP300 cd player (I know a bit dated, but still very servicable). The system is used in bi - amp / bi - wire configuration. The 370 is wired to the HF terminals of the speakers,and the 270 is wired to the LF terminals. The speaker cable is QED Mk 2 high performance bi - wire cable. All connections are of the correct polarity. The speakers have been positioned at various distances from the wall, and various "toe in" angles have been tried. (The room is approx. 5m x 5m).

The problem with this system is lack of bass, unless the system is played at high volume, which of course it will play very loud with clean undistorted playback. I am wondering if the amplifiers are capable of delivering bass at lower, comfortable listening levels, or should I consider adding a sub - woofer, if this is to be the case, is there any advice on how this might be connected.

Geoff Turner, Chichester, West Sussex.

 

[Anonymous]

Im afraid I cant help with your question but I have one for you. if you dont mind. I have just bought a 370 and Im hunting high and low for a c270 to add to it. Did you add yours later and if so what sort of difference did you get?

 

[Anonymous]

just a gut feel, but perhaps the speakers need replacing?

 

[matthewpiano]

A strange one. Neither NAD amps or Mission speakers are particularly known for their lack of bass. Could the CD player be at fault?

 

[Anonymous]

Ive had a look at your kit. Would of thought the bass would be quite good being bi-amped from both your nad amps. As both amps kick out 120w im not sure.

Its your speaker thats going to give you the problem here i think, it just may not be bass heavy enougth for you!

I wouldnt look at your combo of amps, dont think theres any problem there. On your lower freq from your nad amp, i would wire from speaker to amp in a large, multistranded copper cable, if your cable is not copper now that is.

Er duno how long you had the speakers?

dave..( who likes reggae )

 

[the record spot]

The amp set-up deserves better source and speakers IMO. I'd investigate the Q Acoustics (surprise!) 1050i floorstanders as a minimum - superb boxes, huge big sound, an apparently awesome bass and Product of the Year in a rival mag. Fabulous at full price, but you can now get them for a shade of £200 from the likes of Superfi in the UK.

Source, take your pick from Rega, NAD themselves, Cambridge - which will probably add a little brightness but this'll be offset by the more rounded presentation of the speakers and amplification - or Marantz and if you can land my CDP below (the SA7001KI) you'll have a superb source.

This means you can look to upgrade for around £600 as a minimum. For other options, see also the Exposure 2010 CD player, which is another rocker.

If you push me for a preferred order, I'd look at the speakers first - I'm a fan of Mission (see below) - but the Q's are a fine buy, both for the money and to meet your preferred requirements.

 

[Anonymous]

Dont know if there would be a big difference between your mission speakers and a pair of 1050is tho.

But its an idea, i almost went for a pair, you can pick them up for 150 if your lucky, or 199 otherwise.

 

[Anonymous]

What about positioning? Where are the speakers relative to side walls, rear walls, you etc. distance wise presently?

Are they toed in or straight firing?

Welcome Geoff btw.

 

[jaxwired]

I would expect the amp setup to provide excellent bass. I'm not familiar with the missions, but I'd bet some dynaudio's would solve your problem. Try and get a home demo of some dyns.

Also the new Monitor Audio RX6 has fabulous bass and is very reasonably priced. RX8 is even better for bass. Either of these would definately solve your problem.

 

[idc]

geoffo:

.......The problem with this system is lack of bass, unless the system is played at high volume, which of course it will play very loud with clean undistorted playback......

Hi geoffo. That comment suggests to me that you like your bass to be pretty big and be a large part of the overall sound. Again, form your description I think that what you have is a system that does a more hifi bass. By that I mean it acts as the backing rythum to the rest of the music and the midrange from upper bass to lower treble is the dominant part of the music. But, you would prefer the bass to become more forward, which you can get by turning the volume up.

Assuming that the above is correct, can you go back to your system and listen again to the bass at moderate volume. Is the tone of the notes clear? Can you ever hear the bass guitar or whatever actually being played? Can you here the kick drum being kicked? Can you tell if the different kicks are with a different level of force. If it is orchestral music you listen to can you hear difference bass instruments easily in the mix? If the answer to the above is primarily yes, you do have bass and tones of it, but it as the original recording and you are getting a neutral non cloured sound sound.

So, before you do anything, have another listen to the bass and really decide, is it a hifi bass acurately being reproduced that you are listening to, or do you really want a bass boost system?

 

[aliEnRIK]

You might want to consider putting them on plinths? My monitor audios REALLY came alive once theyd 'bedded in' to my home made plinths

All I did was blutack some old 2p coins to a slab of concrete (To level it up on the carpet), then blutack some plywood to the top and spiked the speakers into them. The difference to the sound was staggering (After some running in, in the new position)

Ive never been a fan of QED cable either personally

 

[Anonymous]

You might expect to much bass. Lots of people seems to like far more bass that's what's actually present in most recordings.

If your expectations are realistic, chances are that this is a question of speaker positioning and/or room acoustics.

I don't know your speakers. If they're especially picky about positioning, it might help to get a different type. But not until you've moved the ones you've got around a bit. You might even need to put them on another side of the room, and/or move some furniture.

 

[Anonymous]

I purchased the C370 first, and added the 270 about a year later. To be perfectly honest, I was a little disapointed with the result. Both the 370 and 270 were bought new, but within a couple of months the 270 kept shutting down. The result of course mean't only the treble / mid range was operational, as described in my forum the 270 is the bi - wirable part of the bass installation. However, the main power supply capacitors were replaced by NAD under warranty, and the amp has worked perfectly ever since. In a nut shell, I can't say there was any real benefit from adding the the 270 other than the obvious increase in power, but the 370 in its standard form is probably more than enough power for most situations.

If you do manage to track down a 270, I would, if possible try before you buy. I hope this post has answered your question, please repost a question to me if I can be of any help.......

 

[jaxwired]

Geoffo, I'd try and switch the 370 and 270. Use the 370 for the bass, just to see how it sounds. Then I'd try using just the 370 and take the 270 out of the picture. Again, just to see if the bass character changes for the better... Free to try...