Vinyl playback - lack of bass?


Alright, hopefully this isn't a dumb question.

I split my audio listening between analog and digital. Both setups use the same preamp/amp/speakers etc. I noticed that when listening to records, there isn't as much pronounced bass vs lets say when listening to tidal/qobuz. I'm wondering if its my phono that might have a lack of bass? or is it because my cartridge hasn't fully broken in yet? For fun , I connected my sub when I switched to side 2 yesterday, it helped pronounce the bass a bit more as I elevated the volume on the sub. But nothing crazy. but was decent enough. 

Besides that, everything sounds fantastic and great on LP vs digital. Also, to mention, lately have been playing some older original rock records. I should try popping in a newer record for fun to see if it makes a difference (most likely not analog sourced of course). or I can try the new Black Sabbath Rhino release.

Setup - analog - rega p6 w/ ania cartridge (only 30 hours on the cartridge so far). Phono - Moon 310lp. 

Digital - moon 280d mind2 w/ dac

Rest - Preamp Moon 740p, amp pass labs x250.8 , speakers Sonus Faber Olympica III 

 

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Showing 1 response by jimmyblues1959

Would you consider adding a quality graphic equalizer to boost the bass on your turntable?  

This reminds me of my earlier days in this hobby where I would drive myself to distraction listening for the most subtle aspects of my audio system. In those days my hearing  was certainly better than it is now.  I remember that I could hear a noticeable difference when I replaced my Naim Audio NAP 110 with an NAP 160, and a much more noticeable difference when I replaced the NAP 160 with a pair of NAIM NAP 135 monoblocks.  Then there was the dramatic difference when I went from my Rotel RCD855 CD player $400 to my Naim CDi CD player $4000. 

As for the differences between analogue and digital, IME analogue barely inches out digital in regard to which sounds more like live music. Neither, completely accurately reproduces the experience of listening to a live performance, but in some instances they can come amazingly close to doing so. 

Interestingly  enough,  one of the best audio experiences I've ever had was listening to a live studio performance of Mary Chapin Carpenter at the local public radio station back in the early 1990's, on my analogue Naim Audio NAT 01 FM tuner.  To this day it remains one of the best musical performances I have ever heard. 

Of course, digital is so convenient to use with all of the available streaming  platforms in the modern day,  and sonically it's light years better sounding than it was when it first became mainstream back in the 1980's. 

However, I still keep my old SYSTEMDEK IIX around because I guess I'll always love record albums, hearkening back to my first audio system in the 1970's, when I was  still a teenager.  Regardless of the medium, or the audio system that its played backed on, I listen less critically now, yet, find myself enjoying music more than ever. 😊