Will this amp trick work for increasing bass performance?

robert1976 OP

One of these could work wonders for you, they are very transparent and have great adjustablity of ranges. for just $149
And you can send it back after 14 days of trial.
https://www.schiit.com/products/loki

Here’s a graph on what it can do, I have one in my kit and love it when needed, for certain system setups and you just need, one good amp!!!! and a preamp or source with volume and this goes between them.
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/schiit-loki-eq-measurements.5153/

Cheers George

robert1976 OP
Using this tone controller means I have to go RCA all the way right?

Yes you will have to do that.

Would changing from XLR to RCA make any difference?

Only benefit for xlr if the interconnects are very long >10mts xlr then helps for noise if any.
And in some cases rca sounds better, as the xlr input and outputs on many bits of equipment are fake! Using balanced opamps with what is single ended circuitry throughout, so the rca input or output in these cases bypasses those balanced opamps and goes straight to the single ended circuitry input or output.

Cheers George

robert1976 OP
Which two power amps would you consider? Power amp budget is about $30K. Was told Focals like power, so >250W for bass amp seems the minimum. Pre amp will likely be Pass Labs XP-32.
Maybe Pass Labs X250.8 + X150.8 or X250.8 + XA60.8?

I take it Robert you tried kick up the bass a little with the 3 position bass link on the back and you have it on high?
If so and you still don’t have enough bass, you could try to move the speakers closer to the back wall this will augment the bass also.

The Focals have very good passive xover in them especially the Utopia’s

If that’s not enough then what you suggest with "increasing the bass amp a little" will also work and also add more warmth to the lower mids.
Of the ones you suggest I would opt for on the bass X250.8 and the XA60.8 on the mids/highs.
But that’s a bit frivolous to have the X250.8 on the bass to 200hz when a Class-D will do, at a 1/10th of the price.

I’m considering the Pass Labs XP-32 pre-amp, which has individual volume controls for each channel/amp. By slightly increasing bass amp volume over mid/high amp volume, I get to feel more punch from the 11" woofers. The crossover in the Focals cuts off at 220Hz, so only bass and sub bass are affected.

Above will work if you able to control 2x mids and highs and also 2x bass channels with the pre (4 Channels of volume? If not you need this to lower the mid tweeter amp  https://www.schiit.com/products/sys  and then have the XP32 as the master volume.

Cheers George