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.......
nocaster

Showing 3 responses by shadorne

"The search for perfect bass is futile, because if you want more you miss it and when you have it it disturbs you".

Yes - technically speaking low frequencies will mask higher frequencies. So what you gain in bass may turn out to be a loss somewhere else (usually in the midrange).

The worst form of bass is the impressive kind or "one-note-bass". This is your prototypical ported speaker with a high Q and a frequency response hump around 80 Hz. Extremely impressive (this sound sells speakers) but hardly musical.

IMHO, the only good bass is one that it is tight and dynamic with absolutely no resonance (critically damped). This will sounds like "less bass" to most people who have often been long exposed to one-note bass, however, you can actually hear more detail and articulation in the bass with this type design (instead of boom boom boom boom)
Try Nils Landgren 5000 Miles "Da Fonk" - great walk on the bass groove - a good test for your room and speakers..

Also Old School Nation series by Hibias records has some nice punchy bass - I don;t know what they do but they are awesome sounding remasters of old favorites.

Another good sound is Chic Good Times by Ben Liebrand "Grand 12 INches".

Duran Duran American Science (Chemical Reaction Mix) has some walking bass that you can used to check the bass.

And if you like it loud, (this one is for Undertow), try Duran Duran Meet El Presidente (12" Version) - great bongos and a nice walkin bass riff...

sorry if these are all dance mixes but you wanted great bass....
Oh and a couple more Zuchero "Pippo" has a great bass sound. And Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer - for a bass that really moves all around you (thank you Daniel Lanois)