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“Real” bass vs. “Boom” — how do you know which?

Hi,

I'm working on positioning a new pair of Ohm Walsh 100's in my listening room. I think I'm getting close to an optimal positioning with regard to soundstaging and imaging, but I'm less sure when it comes to tonal balance.

How can you tell if the bass you're hearing is “real bass” vs. ”boom“ from room interactions?

Oddly shaped room, around 12' x 15', wood floors, speakers placed asymmetrically (out of necessity) along long wall: both speakers are 20 inches from rear wall. Right speaker is 16 inches from right wall, left speaker is around 5 feet from left wall. Two pieces of soft furniture: day bed (listening position) opposite speakers, and lounge chair to left of left speaker. Windows on three of four walls, with soft blinds on them, although I've generally been more pleased with the sound with the shades up.

Thanks in advance!!
rebbi
tobias
1,534 posts
 
How to tell boom from bass: have a reference. You need to use the same disc each time and listen twice, once on a system whose bass is "known to be right" and again on your setup.

One thing you _can_ do without leaving the house, though, is play in mono and compare bass in left and right channels. With an asymmetrical setup like yours, you are bound to notice differences. Adjust speaker placement to minimize these.

When you compare by ear, make sure you do it from the final listening position.

A very good reference on speaker placement and some other things is Jim Smith's "Get Better Sound".

http://www.getbettersound.com/
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,478 posts
 
Reb,

Wood floors can be tricky with the ports on the 100s located on the bottom. I've had Walsh 2s (older driver, same size) in rooms very similar in size and layout to yours in prior residences.

Try loosely plugging the ports on the bottom by rolling up a thin sheet of foam if you have it or even a pair of old socks (no-body will see them down there). This can help lighten things up a bit with the room acoustics if needed. You might try it with only the right speaker that is closer to the wall as well in that proximity to the wall could cause a relative boost on that side.

Also play with toe-out to point the tweet more towards your listening position perhaps to tilt up the timbre overall if needed. Try a little more toeout on the right speak that is close to the wall as well (similar to the big f-5 Ohms in the pic in my system).
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Unless you are trained you probably need a Ratshack meter with some test tones and/or a program like EQ Room Wizard and a microphone + PC. The temptation is always to go for more bass than you should. However, you will hear more of the music if you get the bass right (even if it is not as impressive) because too much bass will mask higher frequencies such as the lower midrange and prevent you from maximizing the musical enjoyment.
samhar
1,048 posts
 
SPL meter from R/S and Stereophile test disc with test tones will at least let you "see" what's happening with the bass, and give you an idea how "close" you are to ideal.
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Consider purchasing "The Sheffield Drum and Track Disc," available from Acoustic Sounds and others. It is a reissue on cd of two noted direct-to-disk recordings from the early 1980's, containing extremely powerful, yet taut and accurate, drum set and electric bass passages. I have the original Track Record on vinyl (I haven't heard the Drum Record, which is also included on the cd), and I would say it is the best music-based bass evaluation and demo tool I have ever encountered.

The notes on my 1982 Track Record album feature a quote from Harry Pearson of "The Absolute Sound": "Absolutely the best sounding rock record ever made."

Regards,
-- Al
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