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Which component to upgrade to improve bass control?

Adding Symposium shelves and rollerblocks to my monitor (Silverline SR17.5) equipped system definitely helped but bass is still not nearly as controlled as I'd like.

Until we move into a different house where I can have a dedicated room for audio, I cannot use subs or add panels, traps, etc. to the room.  

So, I'm left with the possibility of upgrading a component but I have no idea whether my integrated (Wells Majestic), transport (Sim Moon 260) or DAC (Aqua La Voce S2) might be the best candidate for upgrading.

DAC UPGRADE ?
Are R2R ladder DACs simply weak in this area?  Searching the threads, I found a reference to DAC power supplies having a strong influence re: bass control but I lack the technical expertise to utilize this fact. Please keep in mind that I do not enjoy DACs that prioritize resolution above all.  

TRANSPORT UPGRADE ?
Would replacing the Moon transport with say, the new Pro-ject CD Box RS2 T be a better choice? 

INTEGRATED UIPGRADE ?
Would an amp with more grunt be the best choice?

I can only upgrade one of these at this point.
Budget:
Integrated: 5K
Transport: 3.5K
DAC: 5K
stuartk

Showing 1 response by gormdane

gormdane
35 posts
 
Your options are limited by the intrinsic acoustics of your room.  Regardless of the kind of room you have (dedicated or not) there will be peaks and valleys in the bass response.  Before making any purchases you might want to try a free/easy setup tweak before evaluating the more expensive option that may/may not work in your situation.  Using an RTA or SPL (can purchase apps for iPhone as well) you want to focus on the region 25-250Hz to find a position(s) where you get the most even bass response. That is where you want your listening position to be.  It is NOT about where you get the most bass.  Check out the link below:

https://www.psaudio.com/copper/article/location-location-location/

Good luck!
Gorm
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