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Where's the bass?

Need help.Had JBL L7'S for many years now.Looks like I have to update.Have listened to Focal Electras 1037,Usher dancers,Totems,Kef and others.All used and around 4-5 grand.What have they done to the bottom end in the last 10 years?None compares with the Jbl's?Have a Sunfire 300-TAD Pre and Cyrus CD.The ones I tested were all more musical and soundstages were better than I'm used to,but are basically bottomless.What am I missing.Has everyone turned into an "audiofile"?
rlspence
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
To pass bean counters small cab, easy to build and ship,small drivers again saves cost, for WAF small and a nice finish. So many audiophiles buy the costly wee loudspeakers hoping to get performance but also tying to get loudspeaker past she or he who must be obeyed.

Ain't that the truth!! Frankly, I figure WAF is not just for Wives - lets be honest, for the majority of audiophiles, it is as much an aesthetic contest as it is about the sound. $300 dollar worth of drivers in $5000 of beautifully veneered coffins is where it is at. (Who cares if a single high quality woofer costs close to a $1000 when one can get magnolia veneer instead)
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
And try a single Duelund VSF Copper Foil capacitor for $900?
You could easily spend $10,000-$15,000 on quality drivers and crossovers sitting on your kitchen benchtop......but even Magico don't go that far....except perhaps with the M5?
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johnk
1,975 posts
 
Sure many vintage are not so hi performing but some are like Altec JBL. I still use old altec drivers they test and sound better than most modern woofers till you get into the $1000 range. Im working on our new bass system with fostexs new 31.5in woofer. It will be very pretty but 5ft wide;) If you want bass thats not forced and can still plump the depths size matters.
jrb25
44 posts
 
I understand. It took me about 5 years with audiophile speakers to realize that I needed bassier sound to really enjoy listening to most of my music collection. I owned JBL 4311 control monitors in the 80s, and what I liked most about those fantastic speakers was the bass that could be felt and heard from the 12-inch woofers. Check out Vandersteens for full range speakers with good bass and refined high end.
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