For almost 20 years I belonged to the same school. . . ran Maggies 3As driven for at least half that time with the very hefty Rowland 7M monos. . . no, I did not need any deeper bass. . . I was perfectly happy with the silky mids of the Maggies, even if the bass tended to be anemic. Every time I auditioned other speakers with bass that I could even remotely afford I was confronted with a flawed bottom that was occasionally deep, sometimes punchy, other times bloated, and most of the times tuneless. Then I heard Vienna Mahlers with their twin 10" side-mounted subwoofers. . . fell in love, divorced the Maggies, married the Mahlers. . . and realized that for 18 years I had been living in denial, while suffering of. . . "bass envy." G.
Bass, more or less?
Let me first say that I have a pair of Sonus Faber Guarneri that I have owned for several years now. I am driving them with a Mcintosh 2102 (100 watts per side). I recently read an interview with Sonus faber founder Franco Serblin in wich he made an interesting statement. He said "The search for perfect bass is futile, because if you want more you miss it and when you have it it disturbs you". Based on my experience I would say that statement is true, years later I have found my Guarneri still satisfy me. True when I listen to other speakers some may have more bass or more of "Something" else. But in the end it's the total sound package and signature that a speaker produces that will keep you happy. For me the closer a speaker comes to ideal midrange the less tiresome it is to listen to over time. Speakers that have a more extended bass response are somehow more frusterating to listen to. Just my thoughts.......