Slam vs punch vs extension

[admin_exported]

Whats the difference between slam and punch? Extension seems fairly obvious to me but I can't put my finger on what the difference is between the other two.

Also why is is hard to get all three (saw this noted on a topic a while back about £800 amps)?

Thanks for any responses xx

 

[Anonymous]

I reckon these words probably mean different things to different people. One probably means powerful sub-bass (30-60 Hz) and the other upper bass to lower mids, but I'm not sure which. I'd sooner look at tech specs than read opinions about 'slam' and 'punch' any day.

 

[the record spot]

Yep, agreed, the words don't mean a whole lot. One of the terms that annoyed me in the late 90s when the magazine started talking about things like "bass slam" and "software"...drove me up the wall!

 

[plastic penguin]

Like RS, some of the jargon is rubbish and can confuse. For example, my take on 'SLAM' is how attacking the amp is...

 

[chebby]

It all sounds rather unpleasant. Do you want a system that assaults you or entertains you?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Like RS, some of the jargon is rubbish and can confuse.

I don't think the record spot is either rubbish or confusing, but perhaps this may help a shade

Punch: Gene Krupa – The Drum Battle

Slam: Count Basie and His Orches... – April in Paris

Bass extension: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones – Improv/Amazing Grace - Live Version (also punch!)

 

[DIB]

Bass extension: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones – Improv/Amazing Grace - Live Version (also punch!)

That is amazing. Cheers.

.

 

[CnoEvil]

These terms are usually (but not always) used to describe subwoofers and are inter-related

Here is my take on it:

Slam.......Force with which you hear a sound (visceral effect)

Punch......How "tight" and punchy the slam is.

Extension..How low it goes.

Cno

 

[plastic penguin]

Like RS, some of the jargon is rubbish and can confuse.

I don't think the record spot is either rubbish or confusing, but perhaps this may help a shade

Punch: Gene Krupa – The Drum Battle

Slam: Count Basie and His Orches... – April in Paris

Bass extension: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones – Improv/Amazing Grace - Live Version (also punch!)

Should of read "like RS" [Colon] However, some of the jargon....

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

Bass extension: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones – Improv/Amazing Grace - Live Version (also punch!)

That is amazing. Cheers.

.

Cheer for that Andrew - cracking stuff.

 

[Andrew Everard]

More where that came from: Victor Wooten – Classical Thump

 

[DIB]

Bass extension: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones – Improv/Amazing Grace - Live Version (also punch!)

That is amazing. Cheers.

.

Cheer for that Andrew - cracking stuff.

In fact I carried on listening to Disc 2 all the way through. What fantastic musicians they all are. I've never heard of him / them before. I love well recorded live recordings and this is very well recorded. I'm going to order it!

.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not an English native speaker, however based on magazines reviews I concluded the following:

- Extension is related to low end bass extension, ie, the lowest bass response which equipment can achieve.

- Punch refers to weight of the bass lines

- Slam is regarded to timing and macro dynamics. However, I saw articles where punch and slam are used to mean the same.