2. amps-preamps
  3. 1062538785

Where is my weakest link?

Just moved back to my newly remodeled home, finally got to hear my system again. My system consists of:

Sony SCD-777ES
Sonic Frontiers Line 3SE (Siemen 6922)
BAT VK-150 (stock Sovtek 6SN7)
Sonus Faber Amati Homage
AQ Diamond X3
AQ Clear X3
Cardas Golden Cross power cords

My room is 14x18 with speakers on the short wall, about 5' from the back all. I have very LITTLE bass. I have moved the speakers to 4' from the back wall to experiment, but no big improvement. I lost more bass when I pulled them further out of the back wall as expected because of 1/3 node cancellation.

I know Cu interconnect will give me more bass. Short of changing all my cables, what else can I change to improve bass without losing the transparency? I know Siemen is known to be on the lean side, should I start there or the 6SN7? Thanks for the help.
semi
14 responses Add your response
viggen
838 posts
 
YOU are the weakest LINK. Good BYE!

Maybe try some new cables.
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
If those speaker are on stands you could try different ones as they will make quite a difference.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Your listening position can greatly effect the amount of bass you hear - have you optomized that yet?
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
As far as I know your pre has two sets of outs that you can use at the same time.
You can get SS BAT VK500 to drive the bottom if your speakers are bi-wireable. You will need an attenuator passive or active to tame the gain of VK500.
If you don't have a budget for BAT along with attenuator you can get McCormack DNA1.
Whichever amp has larger gain that is the one that needs extra volume controll in the path and so is extra pair of interconnects.
If you don't have a budget for McCormack either you can downgrade your cables to build the system that will for hell shure bring you the bass you desire even with RadioShack wires.
michaela
314 posts
 
How was the bass before you moved and what where the room dimensions?
bigkidz
3,381 posts
 
No dedicated AC lines? Or power AC conditioning maybe the biggest bang for the buck. What are you using to isolate vibration with the CDP, etc.?
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,370 posts
 
Your cables aren't up to par with the rest of your system in my opinion. I've owned the cables you have as well as the 150SEs and personally I would think you are missing out on quite a bit with the Audioquest cables
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Take a spl meter and test cd and get some readings before you spend a bunch of money, place the speakers for best bass responce and tweak from there. Marakanetz may have your answer if that does not work.

Dave
semi OP
649 posts
 
To answer some of your questions, the room they used to be in was slightly larger (19x14). I got more bass driving them with PS Audio HCA-2 or Pass X-350, but tube is ultimately what I wanted and settled for. Listening position was also tried, but at 3' from the wall, it had worked well for me for the past several years.

Yes, two dedicated AC lines with power filter feeding CD and pre, power amps are plugged straight to the wall. No bi-wire capability with Sonus Faber, so one pair of amp is all I can use (thank God).

Sounds like wire is what I should replace? I had very good luck with JPS Superconductor 2, but they were so stiff they broke one of my input on the SF Line 3 SE. What else is out there that won't sacrifice the air/speed/transparency of Diamond X3 and still give me more bass?

Thanks.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Semi, before you buy expensive cables I encourage you to experiment more with placement. In my experience your listening position should be further out into your room, like 4 to 4 1/2 feet (sort of matching your speakers). I would buy a Radio Shack sound level meter and a test disk (you need also to get the corrections for the bass numbers - its mostly down under 60 hz) and chart out different locations for speakers and listening position. In my 19.5 x 13.5 ft room I found mine at 25% into the room for speakers and listening position). Also, you don't mention side wall distances - you will get some reinforcement from that placement as well. You might look at Rives site and plug in your room dimensions and see what that would recommend. IMHO, while cables might make a difference, it will only be a subtle one.
tobias
1,534 posts
 
I second the thought on placement. I have been trying different ones over the past three years and have only just found what I consider the best so far. The second-last try imaged well but had a midbass hump and no low bass; a new placement took care of both. Frustratingly, the latest greatest speaker position was an accident--happened because kids overnighted in the listening room and the speakers had to be moved. Never underestimate the value of kids.

Getting the rack out of a corner node helped too.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
add sub.
dinguses
9 posts
 
I'm with Marakanetz. The Amanti's have possibly the best sound I've ever heard from about 100 Hz up, but they quite simply don't have much bass. IIRC, they only have two 8" woofers, which just doesn't get it done for me.

Other than adding a sub or changing speakers, you might consider a SS preamp first and possibly a SS amp as well.

But as good as the Amanti's sound, they just don't have enough authority for me, and it doesn't sound like they do for you either.
goone
136 posts
 
Second with the cable interconnect and especially power cord and power conditioner.
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