All about the bass

Lilu:

Very good topic and one where you should get a split in opinions. This is just my view: the benefit of using a sub woofer is that you can regulate your bass extension from one CD to the next by simply adjusting the settings on the back of the unit. This gives you I believe more flexibility than if you just had a large pair of speakers and just a bass control on your amp/receiver. It's simply amazing from one CD to the next how much I end up walking over to my sub woofer and adjusting it. For example, if I'm playing a CD by Four Play or Brian Culbertson (jazz), I have to turn the sub almost off. What size is your room and does it have thick carpet and much upholstered furniture? Is it on a first floor slab or wooden floor? In the $3K area, look at Rotel, NAD, Marantz, for integrateds. Is this to be a two channel system or home theater set up?

The SP Timepiece mini
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=48306.0
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=48470.0

Athough the smaller brothers of the Timepieces they are very similar:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue30/sptech_2.htm
'These speakers are among a handful of speakers that literally define the concept of "value" in the high-end audio price/performance ratio. Today that ratio needs supercomputing assistance to unravel hyperbole from fact. When I listen to my Timepiece 2.1 speakers, I am the sound of one hand laughing because, these speakers are among the best I've ever heard at any price.'

At $2995 cheaper than your 5k limit. Put the difference into better source components - the SP's deserve it.

The amps I recommend are the D100's from channel island audio if the new digital amps take your fancy:
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=48465.0

But for untimate performance you really can't go past the Hugh Dean Soraya:
http://www.aksaonline.com/buying/buying_price.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread/t-108756.html

Not the most expensive amps about - but simply the best.

For source I recommend computer audio from a modded Squeezebox. The ultimate in convienience, and now sound quality:
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=42526.0
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=38027.0

The above is not the most expensive system on the planet, but is certain to be amongst the best.

Thanks
Bill

Because you have a small/medium sized room, I would recommend spending only $3k on speakers and budgeting $2k on room treatment (Realtraps or GIK), as bass performance is often dominated by room acoustics in a small room. Maybe not the answer you expected, but probably the best one for bass performance.

Buy the Sheffield Labs Drum Track XRCD and go out and audition. Track 1 has the tightest bass and is very dynamic. This will seriously separate the men from the boys.

If you like electronica then you may be interested to know that the audio engineer for DJ and house music Kaskade is Mike Roskelly.

This is Mike's Salt Lake City Studio

Serious stuff but you can find smaller second hand speakers close to your price range that will work in a small/medium room.

I am listening to Kascade - Track Everything (Big Room Mix) at the moment If you like electronica then look him up Kaskade

I am not into electronica particularly but I am blessed that I like every genre of music that exists...

I have a buddy that has the Focus Audio Legacy HD's...awesome bass down to the depths. Might be worth a look.

Ben