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Bass rant

Does anyone else surmise that the minions weaned on exaggerated THX sound in sticky floored cineplex's, sold on window-shaking subwoofers in their motor vehicles, and subjected to hearing loss in loud stadium concerts - might have trouble understanding what constitutes an accurate bass guitar tone/timbre/volume? I read post after post on this and other forums of those decrying their systems lack of bass. While I grew up listening to a lot of live music in nightclubs and stadiums from Bobby Short at The Carlyle, to Yo Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble, to John Fogerty at The Greek Theater, I believe I can differentiate the realism of an upright bass and one unnaturally amped (acoustic or electric), and yet I cannot understand all the bleeding over of the home theater systems exaggerated bass sound into many dedicated audiophile sound systems. Please educate me.
byegolly
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
I haven't heard a good car system either, although I'm sure there most be some?

I think "Audyssey" has a car acoustic correction unit on the market?....I know I like what mine does for my bass in my home system.

Dave
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,973 posts
 
Liz, I have done somework in theaters. Some older ones replaced nice altec or jbl systems for modern. The bass horns where removed now you have standard sytle pro subwoofers in most. These are run so hard most are in a constant state of damage. So your mostly listening to 1/2 blown woofers in many theaters. A few I know of have time frames for bass driver replacement in the 2 month range. Look for a THX or other claiming higher quality you will find better loudspeaker systems in these. Funny the old bass horns I pulled from theaters have drivers near 20-30-40 years old work fine the new stuff well...you find cooked voice coils or cones shreaded. After months.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
I pulled from theaters have drivers near 20-30-40 years old work fine the new stuff well...you find cooked voice coils or cones shreaded

I am not surprised - woofer construction quality is appalling today.
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,973 posts
 
I would have to disagree about woofer quality. Just for prosound most cheap out. Using the cheap drivers cost less when replaced, the standard bass cubes are cheaper than horns. Back in the day theaters used some of the better transducers available, today they mostly buy cheap. Still my favorite woofers are all new or modern designs. But not cheap for such. You need to use more power in non horns drivers can take a beating since so pushed and of cheap build. Thus the dammage.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
Back in the day theaters used some of the better transducers available, today they mostly buy cheap

That was my point - $50 Made in China low quality wins everytime versus $1000 hand made and high quality from a boutique manufacturer for pro soudn applications...
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