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
>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".

I disagree since building my Linkwitz Orions where the bass sounds natural and covers the whole musical spectrum. Yo Dipole bass is directional (theoretically no output 90 degrees off-aixs, -6dB @ 60 degrees, -3dB @ 45 degrees) and in-room measurements confirmed that they weren't stimulating my height mode. Power response is also more in line with the rest of the spectrum because they retain a directivity index of 4.8dB instead of dropping to unity with equal output in all directions.

Parametric equalization with conventional speakers helps a lot too albeit over a smaller listening area.

I'd expect the Earl Geddess multiple woofer strategy (deployed in the Audio Kinesis Swarm) and throw-catch double bass array (An array of woofers on the front wall spaced to create an essentially planar wave which is caught by a matching array setup on the back wall operating 180 degrees out of phase plus a time delay to accomodate transit time across the room).

The key here is "woofer" not "sub woofer" because you're trying to cover most of the modal region not just the last octave.
>I'd expect the Earl Geddess multiple woofer strategy (deployed in the Audio Kinesis Swarm) and throw-catch double bass array (An array of woofers on the front wall spaced to create an essentially planar wave which is caught by a matching array setup on the back wall operating 180 degrees out of phase plus a time delay to accomodate transit time across the room)

to meet or exceed what I get.

I need to edit more carefully.
Boomy inacurate base is tiresome; clean, tight, acurate base is not. In fact, it can be just as ingaging as midrange. You just the right speakers and poweer to drive them.
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)