My system suggestions on improving bass - Totem

Matt:

I have a similar main system set-up with the MF CD PRE 24 (preamp & cd player) and A300 CR power amplifier. My speakers are Acoustic Research 302 which easily go down to 35 hz ... so the bass is on par with some of the best that I have heard (in my case, the mid-range and overall imaging need help).

Don't change your electronics ... they are fine. I would suggest first moving your Totems closer to the wall and if that still isn't to your liking, try a sub woofer (Totem makes one, but I do not know the price). Lastly, you can wait until you are over 45 and suddenly, the real low end doesn't matter as much anymore. My buddy and I were at the HiFi Show yesterday (Friday) ... he's 27 and I am 48. It was pretty funny after awhile who thought which speaker got it right. The only ones that we could agree on were Focus Audio's SE 10 year anniversay models. And this is where the age difference comes in big time ... I can afford the $3400 scratch ... his wife gives birth in about a month and he received her blessing to buy a pair of the EPOS ESL3 and matching center (about $600).

It's all in the timing ....

Regards, Rich

Ben & Valinar:

Just a little levity about hearing loss gentlemen. The "over 45" remark was to set-up the anecedote about my buddy's and my experiences at the show.

My conversation with my buddy was getting to ... I no longer listen for the same things in sound reproduction that I did 25 or 30 years ago. And that is not to say that I no longer listen for accurate sound reproduction. But, the same things that I listened for 25 years ago are not necesarily the things that I listen for today. My musical tastes are certainly not the same and overpowering bass is not that important to me any more. I also happen to live in a 2 bedroom apartment with neighbors to the right, left, up, and down ... so, sub-woofers or extra deep bass that would lead to walls and floors vibrating is out of the question.

So, there were no disses intended.

Regards, Rich