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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
mingles
799 posts
 
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.
Shadorne (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers)
Shadorne makes an excellent point. Boom always mucks up the midbass and midrange. When you get the bass right, you'll be amazed how realistic the midrange sounds. It should be balanced, natural and enjoyable. Are you doing any room treatment other than your furniture and drapes? If you aren't, I recommend searching the forums for suggestions. There's a lot of good info in there.

By the way, a great way to get a reference for how things should sound is to use headphones. Every audiophile should have a pair for this purpose. Best of luck on your quest! Mark
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
Listen to a pair of good headphone. Headphones are not perfect but compare to speaker and room interaction, they are much more accurate.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,464 posts
 
Headphones as a reference is a great idea!
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
Chesky has a sampler that includes bass tracks to hear if your getting good bass, you should clearly hear each note and pluck, if its too booming it will sound for the most part like "One note bass" a term used often in these circles.
has2be's avatar
has2be
555 posts
 
Chadnliz got this one in my opinion. I have a cd of James Cottons "Deep in the Blues" on the Gitanes jazz productions/Verve label recorded in august 1995. Track ten is a solo bass instrumental by Charlie Haden called Ozark mountain railroad. You can hear every pluck and the vibrating of the strings and the stop and start of each note and every change in tone that note actually plays as it vibrates. No one note bass when played on a system that is getting it right and deep with no boom. I also like to use this CD for auditioning gear or speakers as it also features some very good Harmonica playing that is as hard as piano is to do properly and unfatiguing. Cheers
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