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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
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.


jetter
3,035 posts
 
The best first step advice was given by Wolf. "Another simple solution is to utilize a Schiit Loki EQ...works amazingly well."  Might be your best solution and for $149.
marklings OP
61 posts
 
I have looked at those small boxes and I do like them. Couple of issues though:
- Will it not lower dynamics ? It's one more box, one more cable
- That type of EQ is not precise enough I guess. I cannot zoom in on a specific freq or can I ?
glupson
7,842 posts
 
marklings,

Try Dynaudio Special 40. I listened to them and think they may fulfill your requirements. I, also, dread overemphasized bass and found Dynaudio Special 40 almost lacking bass at first. After a few minutes, I realized it was there but far from dominating or overpowering. I am not sure how to describe it. It was there, but not there to be noticed. Something like that, I guess. Remainder of the spectrum was very clear and obviously came from a fine speaker and not some quick company afterthought.

They may not be to your liking in the end, but are definitely worth a few minutes of introduction and consideration. They are $3000, small, and good.



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