To much Bass - where is the problem?

[Dan Turner]

From experience having the speakers too close to side walls can be as much of a problem as rear walls, not sure if that's an issue here. Someone else mentioned that having the listening position right up against a wall can also boost bass.

What are your stands filled with? I've got the Super Dreadnoughts and I found that filling them with atabites had a very beneficial effect in tightening up the bass; the more inert the better, particularly if you have a suspended wooden floor that will be only too happy to vibrate if given half a chance.

The poor room acoustics issue is a real bummer. I've been there.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the replies!! Took me a while to read through all of those, to answer a few questions that have been asked:

- Stands are not filled (Partington's say they don't need to be, asked a question about this on the forums and there were mixed ideas about this).

- My floor is wooden - I know this doesn't help you have bass issues.

- The room is fairly narrow, it is probably more like 3M wide after revisiting my measurements - but I have listed to my 685's in a demo room at superfi in manchester and their room is much narrower than mine. My listening position is sat with my back against the wall like someone suggested.

I experimented with the bungs last night and they definately do reduce the bass, however I can still hear flabby bass a lot of the time - just slightly reduced in volume. The other issue I have is that I am constantly having to pull my speakers away from the wall because as you all know the 685's do not like being close to the back wall, this is annoying as I could do with a speaker that doesn't have a problem with being close to a wall.

Looking at the strengths of the individual components I have:

AMP: Strong Bass (WHF review)
CDP: Majors on Bass (Hi-Fi Choice)
IC: Muscular Bass (WHF review)

It seems my system focuses on bass a bit much .

I'll take a look into trying different IC's but I really can't see it calming things down dramatically! Could it?

Do I replace my speakers or CD player, recommendations for both would be appreciate. I'll take a look into ATC speakers as suggested in a previous post.

Cheers.

 

[Big Chris]

JoelSim:SteveR750:
matthewpiano:Imagine going to look round houses and taking your hi-fi kit with you. 'I just need to check the sound quality available in this house before proceeding further!! What? Its suffering from subsidence? Oh well, my B&Ws sound good in that lounge so I'll live with the other issues.'

You mean you don't.....

I have always looked at new houses with where will the hi fi go uppermost in my mind. I have foten asked about the floor and how it is constructed ad wouldnt even consider one with a suspended/wooden floor!

I certainly will be bearing the hifi in mind when I move. Needless to say, the topic will never come up in conversation with the missus, but it will be a serious consideration.

ÿ

Haha! It was a consideration, a primary consideration, when we were looking a couple of years back.

Every house we viewed, I was all "So. Where's the TV/stereo gonna go?", no beating around the bush. It may seem shallow, but what do you spend most of your time doing when you're in your living room? Exactly, watching TV or listening to music.

A personal peeve of mine, but I do wish they'd stop just putting "25 ft Lounge" or "30 ft Lounge" on their listings. It means nothing if the room is 7 ft wide!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

place the speaker far from the walls...

 

[Craig M.]

spooks1982:
Hi all,

Thanks for all the replies!! Took me a while to read through all of those, to answer a few questions that have been asked:

- Stands are not filled (Partington's say they don't need to be, asked a question about this on the forums and there were mixed ideas about this).

- My floor is wooden - I know this doesn't help you have bass issues.

- The room is fairly narrow, it is probably more like 3M wide after revisiting my measurements - but I have listed to my 685's in a demo room at superfi in manchester and their room is much narrower than mine. My listening position is sat with my back against the wall like someone suggested.

I experimented with the bungs last night and they definately do reduce the bass, however I can still hear flabby bass a lot of the time - just slightly reduced in volume. The other issue I have is that I am constantly having to pull my speakers away from the wall because as you all know the 685's do not like being close to the back wall, this is annoying as I could do with a speaker that doesn't have a problem with being close to a wall.

Looking at the strengths of the individual components I have:

AMP: Strong Bass (WHF review)
CDP: Majors on Bass (Hi-Fi Choice)
IC: Muscular Bass (WHF review)

It seems my system focuses on bass a bit much .

I'll take a look into trying different IC's but I really can't see it calming things down dramatically! Could it?

Do I replace my speakers or CD player, recommendations for both would be appreciate. I'll take a look into ATC speakers as suggested in a previous post.

Cheers.

if atc speakers don't solve the problem, then your room is beyond help! my room is about 3.5 metre wide at my listening position, and my atc's are happy anywhere from right up against the wall to right out in the room. if you regularly listen at very low volume though, then you may find them a touch too lean.

 

[aliEnRIK]

I once went to audition some cd players with my dad and we found the bass was major light. They had it wired with SOLAR WIND speaker cable. Im not suggesting buy it as its mega expensive but until you change components to something with a tad more 'synergy' it might be advisable to use some really cheap speaker cable with similar 'bass killing' properties

 

[6th.replicant]

12th:'Ah, the Tesco granite chopping boards - splendid items!

Can't find 'granite chopping boards' at Tesco, will these do the job?
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.901-1777.aspx

 

[manicm]

I have the 685s. I think side walls are more of a problem than rear ones. I'll experiment more and give you my results.

 

[Anonymous]

Having spent time playing with interconnects, try a Nordost Blue Heaven. It will maintain good depth and openness but will reduce the overall bass quantity. Might work very well for you.

We've just put in an offer on a house and I'll get my own huge hifi lounge

Every house we looked at we both analysed for hifi placement! It's my only requirement! I even had the carpet up in one place to check the floor construction. I found a three-way BT mains conditioner in the cupboard as it used to be offices. Needless to say we've offered...I think I'm obsessed...

 

[Anonymous]

ESP2009:
SteveR750: I reckon that moving house is the ultimate and most effective upgrade you can make...!!!

So, we can expect WHF to begin house reviews in future issues then? Perhaps there's room for a specialist edition of that 'Relocation, Relocation' show: move over Phil and Kirsty, here's introducing the WHF Team...

I did, and it was.

 

[Anonymous]

igglebert:Having spent time playing with interconnects, try a Nordost Blue Heaven. It will maintain good depth and openness but will reduce the overall bass quantity. Might work very well for you.

We've just put in an offer on a house and I'll get my own huge hifi lounge

Every house we looked at we both analysed for hifi placement! It's my only requirement! I even had the carpet up in one place to check the floor construction. I found a three-way BT mains conditioner in the cupboard as it used to be offices. Needless to say we've offered...I think I'm obsessed...

Thats great Iggle. Will keep my fingers crossed for you!

p.s. that was my main requirement too.

 

[SteveR750]

fast eddie:ESP2009:
SteveR750: I reckon that moving house is the ultimate and most effective upgrade you can make...!!!

So, we can expect WHF to begin house reviews in future issues then? Perhaps there's room for a specialist edition of that 'Relocation, Relocation' show: move over Phil and Kirsty, here's introducing the WHF Team...

I did, and it was.

Did you audition it first? The hosue that is...size and construction are one thing, but look the type of concrete has a massive effect of sound quality...

 

[Anonymous]

of course!

we made them move all their rubbish out and put in a sofa and the hifi then had a listen.

 

[Anonymous]

manicm:I have the 685s. I think side walls are more of a problem than rear ones. I'll experiment more and give you my results. Sounds good - look forward to hearing your findings!

 

[ESP2009]

6th.replicant:12th:'Ah, the Tesco granite chopping boards - splendid items! Can't find 'granite chopping boards' at Tesco, will these do the job? http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.901-1777.aspx

That's strange - I certainly purchased some a couple of weeks ago. The link provided has no detail, so I am unsure as to the suitability of these place settings. The chopping boards are probably more sturdy than these and better suited. Keep an eye open elsewhere; other stores will sell similar, I'm sure. The Tesco versions are 400mm x 200mm x 15mm - almost perfect. There are 200mm x 200mm versions - fine for smaller speakers.

 

[ESP2009]

6th.replicant:12th:'Ah, the Tesco granite chopping boards - splendid items! Can't find 'granite chopping boards' at Tesco, will these do the job? http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.901-1777.aspx

Just a quick update: I dropped into Sainsbury's on the way home and just happened by their kitchenware shelves - they have pretty much the exact same 400x200x15mm item (with less packaging) for £9.99 if you're interested.