Looking for Bass....


Ok i live my maggies to death.... but the bass just well isnt there like it should. So im going to try and find a sub that suits them well, anyone out there have or had a pair of maggies and had great results with a sub? if so id love to hear what, and really anyone who could recommend a good sub id be happy to listen. thanks for your time
Thomas
hitchhike79
You need proper power delivery/noise control if you're going to get good bass out of a system.
Before going to a subwoofer, make sure you have tried the Maggies with a powerful amp (at least 350 watts into 4 ohms). It really does make a difference. (My amps are 600 wpc). You didn't mention which Maggies you have. My MG1.6 are really good to 40 Hz or so, and there is not a lot of music that needs lower.

That said, I do have an elaborate subwoofer system, but depending on your musical tastes it might be overkill for you. Try the big amp first.
The others are right. You can get lots of satisfying bass out of maggies, even the 1.6. I have to make sure the rest of the system is up to the task first. amp (most important with maggies), preamp, source, power, resonance control, and acoustics. You might need more neutral equipment (ie, firmer grip on the bass). That's going to sound more neutral than adding a sub. That's one of the reasons I plan to change my preamp soon. I won't need the sub after that point, really. I know, I've heard my system with a more neutral preamp, and I am loosing loads of bass with my current pre. It's just so darn lush.

For you, sadly, it might be the Marantz SACD. Sometime Marantz gear has a softer house sound. It's likely not known for it's prodigous bass output. I'd either consider mods for the marantz or go in a different direction if I were you. I know we hate to receive recommendations to replace equipment when we post like this. Especially if it was so lovingly selected by ourselves. That's why I hesitantly make this suggestion. but I feel it's the right one.

Also, we need to ask if you're "trying to cave in your chest with bass?" If you are, you aren't going to get it with maggies. Not unless you run a real moster sub (or lots of monster subs). But if you're looking for just tad more, I think the maggies are capable of that on their own. Try a bigger amp first.

Aaron