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Speakers for aging audiophiles - What's with today bass emphasis ?

I'd love to pick your brains on a issue and possibly a suggestion
My system has 2 sources, a Logitech transporter and Thorens 126 MKIII / SME / Supex.  Ampli recently changed to a Musical Fidelity M6si. My listening is 80% streaming and 20% vinyl. It's mostly classic and prog rock but also acoustic jazz and classic chamber music.
I have an issue with my current speakers setup: Dynaudio BM6 passive.
I have been using those for some months now and find that while they are satisfying in terms of scene, detail, resolution they are exceedingly strong in the bass (say 50 to 200 Hz) and not adequately balanced in the middle / treble, say from 1k Hz up. It seems as though the bass player stand in front with a big amplifier and everyone else is back in the stage.
I have changed the amplifier to the Musical Fidelity but while I am happy with that I did not see much change in respect to the issue I am describing.

I relate this issue to 2 causes:

1. Today's recordings emphasizes the bass unrealistically. Let me just give you an example. I recently bought Steve Wilson remix of Marillion "Misplaced Childhood". Great work. The mix is shining but compared to the old vinyl I have got you get this feeling of too much bass. Bass quality is great, well defined, solid, no complain but just too much of a good thing.

2. I am ageing, over 60 now. It is well know that as you age your sensitivity to the high frequencies falls down

Given those factors I'd like to change speakers to get something that:
- Is very open on the highs
- It's very analytical
- Does not over emphasize basses
- Bookshelf
- Ballpark cost 2 - 2.5 K

Can anyone make suggestions ? I was inclined to the Harbeths M30 but read several blogs where they say they do emphasize the bass. Maybe Dynaudio Special or Focus  ? How about Totem Sky ?

I don't mind spending a few more bucks to get what I want / need.

Thanks a lot everyone.

Mark.
marklings
jnorris2005
185 posts
 
I'm an aging audiophile too, turning 66 in August.  I bought a pair of Martin-Logan ESL from BestBuy last year for $2500 and I have been loving every minute I spend with them.  Imaging, detail, bass/treble balance, tonality, are all superb - especially for the music you like (which almost mimics mine - except for chamber music).  Try them in your home if you can; they are something special.
jnorris2005
185 posts
 
...ooops, sorry, just reread your original post and realized I missed the word "bookshelf".  Never mind about the Martin-Logan...unless you can re-arrange your room...
flashbazbo's avatar
flashbazbo
12 posts
 
Hi, noticed you said your speaker placement is 10” from the wall. That may be possibly causing the bass accentuation. Before changing out your speakers give a test by moving them out, even if you can’t do that permanently to see if that solves the problem. Bass traps in your corners could be a solution to the problem too, although appearance can be an issue.
Recent Recordings have more impact and clarity in the bass region and may go lower in frequency that older mastered material. That punch may stand out as more bass. 
biscorbit
143 posts
 
My Harbeth c7es3 have the perfect amount of bass!  
marklings OP
61 posts
 
Thanks everyone for the comments.

- MrD, Yes they are trying to be Yamaha NS10; this is really why I picked them in the first place, I wanted clarity, monitor like precision. I am not getting that. They are not in a nearfield position. They stand apart some 10 ft and I listen from 10 ft to each of them, properly placed I guess but not nearfield; I realize I might be getting room aberrations; I'll try with some frequency sample and see whether there's any bump up in the 100 Hz region.

- No, I can't really move them away from the wall

- A possible solution would be as someone suggested a closed design speaker; maybe one that does not go so low and the addition of a small subwoofer that would allow me much more control over the bass region.


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