2. amps-preamps
  3. 1043339600

HELP Why no bass? Why bright?

I recently purchased a new Arcam FMJ A22 integrated and the matching power amp (P25) and am struck by the lack of bass. By comparison, my Arcam DIVA A65 integrated was very warm sounding. Is it the amps, interconnects (Transparent Music Wave) speaker cables (DH Labs silversonic Q14 bi-wire) or the B&W CM2 and B&W CDM7 NT speakers? Do the amps need to break in? Could it be that the bass not lacking, but much more controlled?

HELP!!!
sydneysophia
subaruguru
1,376 posts
 
Gotta blame the B&W tweeters. Balanced quite hot.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
...or face the other possible that can happen: you can simply adopt to that brightness or tightness and say OK you were guys right, after 600 hours the system had opened and is no more bright!
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Regardless of the tweeters, etc, I assume there would still be no bass.

Why are you running another integrated with a power amp?
Have you considered getting a real preamp (preferrably, but not necessarily one with tubes)? A good preamp would probably solve most of your issues.

Are you bi-amping? Many times this is why companies like Arcam have a matching amp for an integrated. Running a new integrated with a power amp (and also not bi-amping) is not really that much of an upgrade, mainly from the use of the integrated as your preamp, matching power amp or not.
Bi-amping with an integrated usually assumes the matching power amp is the same watt output as the integrated's amp.

I also agree with the break-in period, not only for the amplifier, but the speakers as well. Those kevlar drivers have a long break in period that your old amp may have been masking.
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
B&W speakers are not known for deep bass(as are most Brit speakers)...they are designed for classical in mind afterall...and the same could be said for Brit amps...they can be a bit lean for some applications...most Brit equipment is "all about the midrange"...still...there should be some semblance of bass present...even within their limitations...B&Ws dont strike me as overly "thin" sounding...they are considerably brighter sounding than Spendors,Proacs,Castles,etc...but these are "rolled off" in the highs...so the comparison is somewhat exaggerated....
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
ALso...if your B&Ws are on loan...and you detest brightness as you stated...going with a soft dome tweeter ala Spendors,Castles,Proacs,etc might be the ticket...although this will not solve your bass issue...if you really crave more bass...you will have to add a sub to just about any monitors to achieve it...or go with a floorstander...which is another set of trade offs all together....
More to discover