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Bass Question - should LP range be so different?

I listen to both LP's and CD's. I've noticed, as this is a fairly new setup for me, that the bass is fuller and more balanced with the mids and highs when using my Sony SCD777ES with both redbook an SACD then when I use my Linn Sondek LP12 with Ittok LVII tonearm and Arkiv cartridge feeding into a Verion MKI Phono preamp. The bass through the Linn side seems to lack a rich sonic texture.

The setup beyond these components are a Space-Tech QA-115 full balanced tube per-amp, and a VP-105 50Wrms push-pull tube power amplifier. The speakers are Totem Winds.

I would appreciate any suggestions as to how to boost the bass on the LP side. I also wonder if it is the recordings themselves?

Thank you!
128x128jcbach
lugnut
1,190 posts
 
Audio Asylum has the best discussions I've ever read on turntable setup in the FAQ section. My LP12 has bass that is more defined than my CDP has. Here's the link. Pay particular attention to Jon Risch's post regarding SRA. It's just another, and better way of looking at VTA. The thread title is "VTA once and for all!".
jcbach's avatar
jcbach OP
46 posts
 
Rwwear & Lugnut thank you for the suggestions and the link!
reb1208
518 posts
 
The amount of information that can be cut into a LP record is fixed. Often the low frequecies are rolled off and many records will sound thin. Also common to have a "dark" analog type sound as the engineer decided to lop off the highs. There simply is not enough room on a LP side for the grooves required. This is not the case with 12" singles as they can reproduce the full spectrum of sound as the song takes up the entire side. The "best" LP's have a compromised balanced sound. A little roll on the top/bottom and some slight compression to fit as much info as possible.
rwwear
2,848 posts
 
LPs have the bass rolled off and the highs extended so all the musical content can be placed on a 33.3RPM record. The RIAA EQ curve that is built in to a phono preamp restores the bass and reduces the treble to normal. LPs can and often do sound better than their CD counterpoints even with mediocure components.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
LF is DRASTICLY attenuated when the record is cut (for reasons mentioned above)and DRASTICLY boosted on playback. Just a little error in this process can significantly affect LF playback response. Also, extreme LF is usually "blended" to mono, because stereo would involve vertical modulation of the groove, and would make the phono stylus tend to hop out of the groove (perhaps not a problem with high end pickups, but most records are bought by sane people). You can boost the LF some more with your tone controls or equalizer, so that extension is similar to digital sources, but if you do the rumble will be very bad.
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