Sopra 2 Bass


New member, first post, and newbie in terms of diving into the world of nice things. This world is insane! I've already been spiraling for a few months researching what to buy, AB'ing countless speakers and amps. I now own a McIntosh MA9000 that's driving my new Focal Sopra N2s via Kimber 12VS. My "dilemma" is with the lack of BASS. I demoed the N2s, so I know it's possible, but absent in my home. I have to use the tone controls (this is where you tear me apart) to bump the low end. I do not know if it's my room, lack of bass traps, or equipment, but I'm failing to get down a little lower without tone adjustments. I stream Tidal Masters to my wired Bluesound NODE 2i (optical to the MA9000 dac). My room is 11'x20.5' with a low, 7.5' ceiling. I have tried as many speaker positions as possible with little change. I already know I need to eliminate room echo in the center of the room and have been researching various acoustic treatments. I feel like I'm off to a good start, but now stuck, not totally satisfied. Yes, it's the best I've ever owned and mind-blowing amazing, emotional, etc, but just short of perfect for me. In tracks where I expect a punch, I get an unmoving transition... Can I get "there" with different wire? Should I consider a sub? Why do folks on this site use two subs? Do I need to hire someone to properly sound-treat the room? Is my room a lost cause for what I own? Reaching out because I'm stuck, afraid to waste money chasing dead ends. My budget is thin after the McIntosh and Focals. Any help would be so appreciated! I hope to learn, grow and pay it forward some day. Thank you.
izjjzi

Showing 2 responses by ozzy62

Welcome to the forum. You have gotten some good ( and some not so good) advice so far. I won't reiterate what's been said but I would recommend dumping the VTI rack. I had one briefly and I couldn't believe how much it negatively affected the sound of my system. It rings like a bell and added an unpleasant "sheen" to the music. I got rid of it pretty quick and went with a Rigid Rack from Butcher Block Acoustics.

At your level, everything makes a difference. And as others have commented, if something tips up the treble response, the result is a sense of diminished bass response. Don't rule out the solution to your problem being something simple that doesn't immediately seem plausible.

Oz


If you can walk around your room and hear the bass you are looking for, then you have room/placement issues. Better equipment, racks and cables aren't going to solve your issue. It sounds like you are sitting in a null in your room that has a bass suckout. Try moving the listening position and/or the speakers until you remove the cancellation.

It can be done. The biggest question is are you able or willing to try alternate positions for you and the speakers.

Oz