Luke, You seen to have fallen victim to one of the oldest pitfalls in buying home audio - you need to listen to the equipment before you buy it. Especially speakers. Let reviews inform which speakers you seek out to audition, but you’re really asking for it to buy speakers without listening to them.
Now, to the instant case. You need to listen at lower volumes (congrats Dad!), and the speakers do not ’open up’ at these volumes. It is not your imagination that different speakers seem to ’start sounding good’ after they reach a certain volume level. Think of equal loudness contours. Depending on the low end frequency response of the speakers, they will sound ’thin’ when played at soft levels, will ’open up’ when played such that their volume level and bass response give a satisfactory amount of perceived bass (reference equal loudness contours), and systems so often sound bass heavy when played very loudly.
You bought speakers that don’t open up until they are played inconveniently loud. Do you love the way the Heresies sound when played at louder levels? Your offspring won’t be in the house always or young always. You can add a sub to get by, recognizing that it won’t be a perfect solution. Matching a sub to the Heresies (use 80 Hz) will be a bit of an effort, and you can expect a bit of mid-to-upper bass dip. Assuming you are still in NYC, you live in the audio Mecca of the US, and you can probably work out some kind of sale, deal, or trade to a more appropriate speakers if you need to.
Caution on changing electronic components. A new amp or preamp will not bring the large shift you need to enjoy your system in the manner you describe. A tube amp for headphones? Some people go that way. Best of luck. And no matter what you do, try your best to listen to something as close to the equipment as possible before you buy!
Now, to the instant case. You need to listen at lower volumes (congrats Dad!), and the speakers do not ’open up’ at these volumes. It is not your imagination that different speakers seem to ’start sounding good’ after they reach a certain volume level. Think of equal loudness contours. Depending on the low end frequency response of the speakers, they will sound ’thin’ when played at soft levels, will ’open up’ when played such that their volume level and bass response give a satisfactory amount of perceived bass (reference equal loudness contours), and systems so often sound bass heavy when played very loudly.
You bought speakers that don’t open up until they are played inconveniently loud. Do you love the way the Heresies sound when played at louder levels? Your offspring won’t be in the house always or young always. You can add a sub to get by, recognizing that it won’t be a perfect solution. Matching a sub to the Heresies (use 80 Hz) will be a bit of an effort, and you can expect a bit of mid-to-upper bass dip. Assuming you are still in NYC, you live in the audio Mecca of the US, and you can probably work out some kind of sale, deal, or trade to a more appropriate speakers if you need to.
Caution on changing electronic components. A new amp or preamp will not bring the large shift you need to enjoy your system in the manner you describe. A tube amp for headphones? Some people go that way. Best of luck. And no matter what you do, try your best to listen to something as close to the equipment as possible before you buy!