XLR question for bass

If you listen mostly at your desk I strongly encourage you to switch to desktop speakers on tilted IsoAcoustics stands.  Look at Fritz for excellent high value speakers that would fit.

@wtb 

Is the front of your working desk a solid flat surface?  Obviously the chair to the left of your desk has a solid back.  It seems to me that you're sitting behind a wall, OK a half wall.  I'm thinking that the bass is bouncing off those flat surfaces as well as being absorbed.  And to add to the perceived lack of bass the highs are bouncing off the top of your desk right into your ears.

Although I can see where this would be a PITA I would move the desk and the chair out of the room as an experiment to see how much they are affecting your system.

I had a coffee table in front of my listening position and I was quite surprised that removing it mellowed out the highs considerably.  It never made it back into the listening room.

Regards,
barts

A listening space should be treated like a recording studio.  Microphones are nothing more than a set of good ears.  They require the same acoustic conditions to process a pleasing sound.   While there are admittedly some studios and mixing rooms that are over the top in their treatment (Blackbird Studio C - look it up - it has the famous George Massenberg treatment.  Awesome.).  There are many other world class studios that are nothing more than a set of heavy drapes on the wall and a few area rugs.  

Room treatment is really not that complicated.   It does take a little experimentation but that’s part of the fun.    All you’re trying to do is knock down or diffuse a sound wave on every hard, reflective surface.  The diffusion device doesn’t need to cover every inch of hard surface, not even close.   But every reflective surface should have something that absorbs and forces sound waves to either change their direction or their speed.  Different frequencies travel at different rates. When you knock down a certain band, they no longer travel as a standing wave and, in most cases, will cancel each other out. In layman’s terms, knocking down just one frequency band usually tames the rest.  Don’t try to over analyze it. 
 

When I treat a room, I spend a lot of time clapping my hands together or yelling a single sound and listening.   If you hear the sound reverberate, your room needs more.  

For the OP’s room, I’d start with an area rug - as big and as thick as the space can handle.   I’d also replace all the framed wall hangings with 2” thick decorative acoustic art prints.  The alcove in the background is problematic.  That’s an echo chamber.   Some acoustic treatments on those walls will go a long way in producing a focused bass.   If you want to display a diploma or certificate, you can send a high rez photo to Acoustimac and they’ll make your certificate in to an art print. https://www.acoustimac.com/acousticart

The corner shelving unit is also an issue.   Try to find some of those small decorative pillows with cute phrases and place them on a few of the shelves.  If you want to get serious, line the back of the shelves with Guilford of Maine Sona fabric.  The stuff works miracles and it looks pretty good too!  It’s not very expensive. 

The large blank wall above the computer monitor is definitely screaming to be treated..  A hanging tapestry, Navajo rug, another acoustic art print, etc., will work wonders.    If you hang a tapestry or rug, don’t mount it flush to the wall   Hang it from a curtain rod or similar.   

Scatter a few large pillows around on the furniture.  

Finally, I’d call a window treatment company and inquire about some nice fabric curtains or, at least, some heavy fabric blinds for that window.

After that, there are corner bass traps, ceiling treatments, etc., but I think you’ll already be enjoying a night and day difference and won’t care about doing more.  

I would bet it's room/speaker positioning. I once moved a tall record rack to the other side of the room...right next to the left speaker at what would be the 1st reflection point. I thought bass was fine before, but it was like all frequencies came into focus...tighter, including bass. I had good bass before this change but now it seemed as if the bass frequencies were punching at exactly the same time...so impact and clarity was improved.

Wasn't even my idea either...wife needed space on the right side of the room. It is not hyperbole to say it was a night and day difference. 

You need to deal with the room 1st.  Bad room acoustics, nothing is going to fix that except room treatments, especially not cables. As for experts, contact GIK or ASC or others online to get an idea what could be going on in your room