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A question of bass... Several actually.

I recently auditioned Dynaudio 72's and Rega R3's.
I enjoyed them, the Regas mostly. I found the Dynaudios didn't live up to their hype.
When I asked about bass (speakers having full bass response) the salesman (who owns the shop) said "If you want bass you have to shell out the big bucks."
Is that it?
Is it necessary to spend $1000 per speaker or over to have audible, palpable, appropriate bass reproduction?
To be clear I am not talking about disco dancing bass, but bass frequencies are a necessary part of the audio spectrum.
The salesman also mentioned that for high end audio a separate subwoofer is not appropriate as it "doesn't track."
To cover this fully, doesn't putting the amp output into a sub's crossover to be split to satellites compromise imaging etc?
rhanechak
rhanechak OP
48 posts
 
I was using a Prima Luna Prologue 1, the amp I was thinking of buying. Why not audition all the components I wanted to put together?
After having read the reviews of the Dynaudio 72's (many many many positive), and the Rega R3's (very few, although positive), I was really unimpressed by the Dynaudios.
Their presentation was flat and unimpressive.
The Regas presented a great image, and seemed more 'live.'
The bass in both speakers seemed adequate.
Post removed 
rhanechak OP
48 posts
 
Would 100 wpc solid state do the trick for the Dynaudios?
Post removed 
knownothing
1,655 posts
 
Absolutely agree with Tvad. The ProLogue one is a great little amp, but much better suited to the Rega's

In a recent thread I suggested the following amps to power a Totem speaker the poster was having a difficult time driving with a 100 watt SS integrated.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1237006681&openflup&12&4#12

I would add to this list the new NAD separates: the C 165BEE Stereo Preamplifier and the C 275BEE Stereo Power Amplifier. The integrated C375BEE will be just a tick less sophisticated than this pair.

These are very powerful, musical, relatively cheap and would mate quite well with the Dynaudios. I have heard the 72's with the precursor C 162/C 272 NAD separates to these new models, and it was the first time I decided I liked Dynas. And I liked them a lot. The NAD C 162 and C 272 separates or c372 integrated are still available a few places new at a steep discount, and occasionally used, and while slightly less powerful and resolving compared to the latest versions, would drive the 72's quite well.

The Rega/ProLogue one combination will sound really nice, but will never be a bass monster. The 72's are much more capable of life-like bass sonics if driven properly. But that would mean a different amp - and not necessarily a super expensive one. If you want both your highly nuanced mid range and treble with your a$$ kicking bass too, check out the list in the thread above.

Good luck.
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