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Speakers for aging audiophiles - What's with today bass emphasis ?

I'd love to pick your brains on a issue and possibly a suggestion
My system has 2 sources, a Logitech transporter and Thorens 126 MKIII / SME / Supex.  Ampli recently changed to a Musical Fidelity M6si. My listening is 80% streaming and 20% vinyl. It's mostly classic and prog rock but also acoustic jazz and classic chamber music.
I have an issue with my current speakers setup: Dynaudio BM6 passive.
I have been using those for some months now and find that while they are satisfying in terms of scene, detail, resolution they are exceedingly strong in the bass (say 50 to 200 Hz) and not adequately balanced in the middle / treble, say from 1k Hz up. It seems as though the bass player stand in front with a big amplifier and everyone else is back in the stage.
I have changed the amplifier to the Musical Fidelity but while I am happy with that I did not see much change in respect to the issue I am describing.

I relate this issue to 2 causes:

1. Today's recordings emphasizes the bass unrealistically. Let me just give you an example. I recently bought Steve Wilson remix of Marillion "Misplaced Childhood". Great work. The mix is shining but compared to the old vinyl I have got you get this feeling of too much bass. Bass quality is great, well defined, solid, no complain but just too much of a good thing.

2. I am ageing, over 60 now. It is well know that as you age your sensitivity to the high frequencies falls down

Given those factors I'd like to change speakers to get something that:
- Is very open on the highs
- It's very analytical
- Does not over emphasize basses
- Bookshelf
- Ballpark cost 2 - 2.5 K

Can anyone make suggestions ? I was inclined to the Harbeths M30 but read several blogs where they say they do emphasize the bass. Maybe Dynaudio Special or Focus  ? How about Totem Sky ?

I don't mind spending a few more bucks to get what I want / need.

Thanks a lot everyone.

Mark.
marklings
vtvmtodvm
66 posts
 
jimman2—Oh boy! I don't think that I've actually heard 20kHz (10kHz? 8kHz?) in more than 50 years! And probably more!

My comment about 20kHz was not related to its significance, but rather to the technical fact that 20kHz is the frequency beyond which Philips and Sony compromised CD high frequency response against cost. It's "baked in" to the "Red Book" CD specifications. (Refer cleeds' comment about that compromise.) I consider flat response to 20kHz to be more than sufficient, but some (perhaps many) audiophiles definitely do not. They want digital files far in excess of the "Red Book" CD standard.

I agree with you concerning speakers. You can design good or bad speakers regardless of whether sealed or ported. But my sweeping generality is applicable: Sealed speakers will provide a smoother and more natural bass falloff than ported reflex speakers, but ported speakers will extend deeper (go lower in frequency) than the equivalent sealed enclosure speaker. The key here is "equivalent". This is just a basic "given" in the course of speaker design compromise.
rbstehno
1,461 posts
 
Placement is critical. Also, is your room treated? You should look at the room 1st, treat for its problem areas. Initially corner bass traps nd 1st reflection points. Speaker placement would be next. If you have rear firing ports then distance between speaker and back wall will matter more than a front firing port. Put your speakers and listening chair at the null locations in your room. Start with using the 1/3 rule/guideline, speakers 1/3 of the length of the room from back wall, and your listening chair 1/3 out from the wall behind. I fought thi for a month recently with my new usher x-towers with front firing ports. Started at 9’ from the back wall and now have them sounding fantastic around 5’ from back wall
newf27's avatar
newf27
44 posts
 
May I suggest that rather than spend $ on new speakers check out the Schiit LOKI EQ at $149.  Look at the reviews on line.  In my H opinion, it provides an unmolested SQ that enables you to tune the frequency in 4 different ranges to your ear and interests.  Some fairly old salt reviewers are finding it a valuable addition to their system.  Its passive and in my case now has a permanent home in my system.  I’m 65 and agree with your assessment on some of the source recording bass.  I happen to like deep base but not if it results in eclipsing and hijacking the rest of the soundstage image because it drowns the rest out.  Which is why I love this LOKI, can tune each cut to my tastes without messing with SQ.  
jimman2's avatar
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jimman2
55 posts
 
sfcfran - have you had the chance to listen to the KEF LS50 and if so how do they compare to the Paradigm Signature S2?  The KEFs seem to share most if not all of the characteristics you mention for the Paradigm, other than the cost.  I think both speakers would help meet the needs of the OP

vtvmtodvm - thanks for that very interesting info!  I'm sure this has been discussed but If we don't hear past a certain frequency why does it matter if those frequencies are omitted?  
jamesisdead
1 posts
 
Reading your post reminded me of this exact dilemma about 18 years ago. I had some Klipsch speakers that sounded okay, much better with a receiver than separate components. I decided that I needed to update my audio system to a much more current with lots of bells and whistles. I ended up purchasing a B&K ST-140 amp paired with a PT-3 pre-amp also from B&K. The components were so much better in providing a clear audio image but after about three days I became displeased with this as well. I returned to the audio store and spoke at length about my displeasure after spending right at $1000.00 on separate components. The rep followed me to my home to look at my set-up and check for any mistakes. The only thing that he heard was my speakers were not sufficient to provide at the level that I am wanting.
Coincidently, the rep just happened to bring a pair of 1st generation B&W 805's. We hooked these speakers up to my system and I was just dumbstruck! The level of clarity was just astounding. After listening to these speakers for 15  minutes I was hooked. I bought the pair that the sales rep had brought. He did go back to the shop and purchase the appropriate cable to bi-wire the speakers as suggested by both the sales rep but by B&W as well. 
Hope this helps.
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