Sean, you're quite right about the rotel 985, it is rather lean at lower gain, but fills in quite nicely as it increases.
i'm thinking a sub is the right thing, either a DD-10 (although i hear there are some reliability concerns) or SPL 1000 (800?).
btw - i tried what you suggested quite some time ago, and found that since the rsx-1055 merely has 'bass' and 'treble' that when i turn down treble and uped the gain a touch, or turned up 'bass' that the results were horrible. it tended to loose too much upper mid-range detail if i adjusted treble or it would make the bass boomier and the speakers 'honky' in the midrange if i increased the 'bass' setting. my CDM1's have often been called 'bright' (as many B&Ws are accused of being) but w/ the proper cabling (2 runs of CV-6, bi-amped) and enough power, i've managed to make the tweeter sound a bit more laid back and not as agressive/forward.
i haven't purchased a rug yet, i can't afford a nice wool / natural fiber one (in the 12x12 / 12x15 size i need, it would be well over $2000 and there's a lot of gear i'd rather have at that point even IF i could afford that much) so my next question is, if i get cheaper rug, similar to what you'd find on the floor of an office building (short pile / knotty / knobby stuff) should i put felt pad under it? also, should i put the speakers and rack on top of the carpet (spiked thru back to the concrete), or should i cut it shorter and have it start right in front of the speakers and extend to the listening area / under it?
i'm thinking a sub is the right thing, either a DD-10 (although i hear there are some reliability concerns) or SPL 1000 (800?).
btw - i tried what you suggested quite some time ago, and found that since the rsx-1055 merely has 'bass' and 'treble' that when i turn down treble and uped the gain a touch, or turned up 'bass' that the results were horrible. it tended to loose too much upper mid-range detail if i adjusted treble or it would make the bass boomier and the speakers 'honky' in the midrange if i increased the 'bass' setting. my CDM1's have often been called 'bright' (as many B&Ws are accused of being) but w/ the proper cabling (2 runs of CV-6, bi-amped) and enough power, i've managed to make the tweeter sound a bit more laid back and not as agressive/forward.
i haven't purchased a rug yet, i can't afford a nice wool / natural fiber one (in the 12x12 / 12x15 size i need, it would be well over $2000 and there's a lot of gear i'd rather have at that point even IF i could afford that much) so my next question is, if i get cheaper rug, similar to what you'd find on the floor of an office building (short pile / knotty / knobby stuff) should i put felt pad under it? also, should i put the speakers and rack on top of the carpet (spiked thru back to the concrete), or should i cut it shorter and have it start right in front of the speakers and extend to the listening area / under it?