Would like to get more bass out of my B&W 801 series 2 speakers

On a side note, the HT is 5.1.4 with speakers in the ceiling for the atmos. I replaced a smaller sub with the JBL because it wasn’t getting enough energy into the room.

I haven't tried using the JBL with the 2 channel system because I think the C658 has issues driving a subwoofer?

Best I can do right now is provide this link to a picture:

https://imgur.com/a/MNjPTb6

I would say it is definitely a reflective environment.     I'd post a picture but not sure where to put it on the internet...    don't seem to be able to upload it from my computer.

The speakers are centered along the 32 foot wall, about 8 or 9 feet apart.   pretty close to the wall.

I've seen and heard about the sound anchors,  but haven't ever seen them used and delivered they are pushing $1500.   Would want to be very confident of the result before spending that kind of coin.

Would the Adcom GFA555 fall into this category?   They seem to have a decent reputation in the power department.    

Well, I have received lots of good ideas, thanks and keep the advice coming.

Acoustically this room is a mess, will be trying to figure out how I can improve it.

I am intrigued by the DBA method, wonder if four subs would be enough for my space.   

A friend is going to loan me a Crown XLS 1502 to see what 300wpc will do for me.

I plan to get the 801s up off the floor, get them some space from the wall, and close the curtains.

cheers!

The bass and overall clarity improved significantly with the modification in my opinion.     I did them one at a time and did A-B after the first was completed.

The big speaker in the right hand corner is a jbl 4648 that I introduced for the home theater.   It adds a lot of "mid bass" frequencies.   Right now I have the two systems completely seperate (2 channel vs HT).    I think the 801s have the potential to make good bass, and would rather not keep adding more big speakers :)

I am intrigued by the room treatment ideas, not sure how I would give a treatment to the vaulted ceiling?    I can certainly move them away from the wall some, and I have heard getting them up off the ground (with some stands) helps too.

I really don't sit in the chairs to listen, this is our "community room" and lots of time spent there working around the kitchen/island.

I will try moving them away from the wall, closing the drapes, and maybe nocking together some short stands out of 4x4s.   I have read that they like to come up around 3-4 inches.

thanks for the input!

I should clarify this, I listen to low to moderate levels because I am caregiver for my folks and they live with us. Mom is mostly deaf and if played at higher levels she picks up *some parts* of it and it drives her to distraction. She claims it can’t be music, and it isn’t clear what part she picks up. If I keep things down it doesn’t bother her.

I know that is a monkey wrench into the equation, but the problem remains the same and I am working on it for the long game.   

I made sturdy pedestal bases filled with sand that must weigh about 35 lbs

@ritter06 can you elaborate on your stands on how they are constructed?   Did it effect the bass?

I’ve been thinking I could run my amp in bridged mode to test the affect of more power. Is there a good album or other recording that I could get a good signal on one channel only?

It puts out 620W @8ohm in bridged mode.

@ditusa wrote:
Why not connect your JBL subwoofer up?

The preamp I am using has issues with the sub out, so I would have to apply a filter to speaker output in order to drive a sub.   

Regarding finding a mono signal to test my existing amp in bridged mode, it looks like this is easily accomplished with the minidsp 2x4hd.   I have been thinking about getting one of these as it appears to also be a solution to my preamp/subout problem.    I can use it as a digital filter to convert a regular speaker out to sub out.

@robert53 - Yes, the stock power cord on the amp.   

@porchlight1 - I have heard about this filter, seems the reviews are mixed... most say it improves bass but muds higher frequencies.   Don't want to do anything to foul the existing clarity...    plus the "bass alignment filters" are getting hard to come by.

The JBL added significant midbass to the home theater, it was a dramatic improvement.   Probably what drove my latest "push" to improve music.

Intrigued by this idea of a distributed bass array for music.   

I am going to see what adding power does to the existing setup, but it may be that this space simply demands moving more air.

@mswale  -   thanks for your post.    I think the room is driving the issues, but the room is also what I want.    I rarely sit down to listen to music, as much as I would like to.    I spend my days working in and around this space.    My quality of life will improve with what I can do to help the response of the room...    whether it through treatment or the burning of more electrons. 

The main room is 28x32, with the speakers on the 32' wall.    However, there is another 14x28 (open) space/room at the rear of this room, so it is a lazy "L" with one wall being 56'.    There is no other wall where the speakers could be located.    

The floor is vinyl that looks like wood on a concrete slab.

I found a set of speaker stands, they weigh 40# each and are designed in two pieces to fill bottom with sand.    Does anyone know anything about these?    They were commercially made as I have seen several of them over the years.   Good construction.

https://imgur.com/a/S8WsCjD

https://imgur.com/a/er6Zmaj

I think the stands are made by Arcici.    

Just and update, I founds some Arcici stands and am ordering some herbie’s dots and gliders before installing. The stands are about 45# (shipping was more than the stands) and I think the speakers are over 100#, so I am waiting on the dots to assemble/raise/move. I don’t know if I am going to put any weights in the stands, they are designed to hold a good amount of sand. Hopefully with the gliders I will be able to move them around without too much trouble. I am going to reposition the speakers away from the wall, with wider spacing.

These aren’t mine, but the stands look like these:

@amtprod wrote:

I see 555’s in perfect order for $400. For another $400 you have a nearly totally new amp that sounds incredible and reliable for another 2 decades. https://hoppesbrain.com/product/adcom-gfa-555-mk2-input-board/

I decided to go this route and try out the 555’s with new boards installed. There is a person out west who was highly recommended, and he has been a pleasure to work with. He seems to work with Adcom exclusively. I am waiting for their return, they should be here this week.

I don’t plan to bridge, but rather bi-amp with one 2 channel amp per speaker (vertical).

For the time being, I am hoping that the NAD streaming DAC will be pleasing. I realize that since moving the system to this big room I have not implemented the Dirac room correction, so I will also try that.

If the sound is pleasing, my next step may well be to get a turntable.

Thanks for all the feedback, good listening to all.

Regarding the Adcom GFA-555 amps:

@amtprod wrote:

Is Jon Morris doing the refurbishment?!

Yes, that is who I sent them to. He ordered boards and built them while I was getting ready to ship them. Between the weather hurdles and everything Jon has been a treat to deal with.

Jon Morris said:

After refurb, they are like brand new. Everything is to spec, and even better with the new driver boards in them. They now will give you a min. of 25 years service without component degradation and even then it would be negligible.

 

They are identical between the two. Same drive, same 200 W/8 There is no difference between them.