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Problem with lower frequency bass. Please advise.

I am just not getting adequate bass extension. That lower floor is really missing. I have dynaudio focus mk220 II loudspeakers, my source is an oppo 95, and my int amp is a musical fidelity a308. I use synergistic research cables and power cords and one Kaplan cable power cord. My room is approx 15x18 with one side open bc I am in an apartment. When listening, my speakers completely dissappear and I get a soundstage with excellent depth and size. I'm just not getting good enough bass extension and I want to avoid using a sub. Prior to the dynaudios I was using a pair of monitor audio gr10 monitors and the bass was terrific. I didn't have to use my sub (since sold). I switched to the dynaudio bc I wanted floors standers and I really like their sound. The ma's were a little bright and after many years I was ready for a change. Before buying the dyns I auditioned them with my amp but in a different location. The bass was adequate. Any suggestions?
triumphad
tmsorosk
1,013 posts
 
Rower30 is right, most of the Dydaudio speakers I've heard have tight punchy bass but do not extend to the nether nether regions. A simple audition may not reveal this issue. Sometimes you have to live with equipment for awhile before these things become apparent.
In all honesty, I don't know if I'd worry about extension unless it's really bothering you. I went from a speaker with breathtakingly punchy bass ( Revel F50's ) to Revel Salons, and even though the Salons are far superior I still very much miss that quick punchy bass. So I guess it's a bit of a trade off, if you want speakers that extend down near 20Hz your going to lose somewhere.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,063 posts
 
Defintely do whatever you can to try different placements.
vinylmad814
62 posts
 
How new are these speakers? You also have to take into consideration that if these speakers are brand new, there will be break-in period for them and depending on how hard you drive them will also determine the length of that break-in period. You must remember that all the drivers and cones are essentially vibrating and pulsating which typically will loosen up as time goes on thus providing subtle changes especially on the bottom end. I guess you can say its like breaking in a new pair of running shoes. They never are all that comfortable at first but will loosen as you wear them over a prolonged period of time.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,063 posts
 
I would also be curious what amp you are using with the Dynaudios, what the damping factor spec is, etc.
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,350 posts
 
Rower30 is right about speaker placement. Mapman is right on target with the amplifier question. What amp did you audition the Dyns with? From a recent experience, I feel that the Dyns may not be as sensitive as the MAs. Hence you are exoeriencing loss of bass (and overall body of the music). Is it possible to audition a more powerful amp in your home?
I felt the same when I went passive in a bigger room. Found out that I did not have enough gain in my system. Once I took care of the gain, it was heavenly music!!! Hope you are able to identify the issue in your config. Since you mention that the MAs were giving you enough bass, I am pretty sure, it is not the Dyns that are a problem.....but rather the speaker placement or power. Goodluck and let us know.
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