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Audiophile Bass?

I was reading an article about spikes vs. rubber feet and the author mentioned what he called "audiophile bass". His assertion was that the bass that audiophiles pursue is not real life bass. One comment from the article (paraphrasing) states that when you listen to bass at a live performance it will not be the tight, clean bass that you will hear from most audiophile's systems when they are playing music. The discussion in the article was that in order to get audiophile bass you would need spikes to reduce the transfer into the floor (because of the very small contact points). The rubber feet will cause the bass to be less clean and tight. I tried this on my system and he was right, with the rubber feet the bass was definitely boomier. But I do prefer the spikes. I like to here the notes on a bass guitar, it's not enough that it is just bass. Have any of you had similar experiences?
baclagg
delkal
110 posts
 
Geoffkait.
Is the lack of bass just a CD problem or is it a digital music in general problem? I don’t notice better bass when streaming vs listening to a CD.


geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Excellent question. It all depends on how the files that are streamed are obtained. I do not know the sequence of events for how tracks or albums are streamed. What is their source? But I don’t hear people say, “Wow, the bass is much better streaming than on CD” so I suspect the same problem must extend to streaming. In fact, it appears many people prefer CD to streaming. Obviously it’s complicated because there are many ways to stream. When the CD is stiffened properly and the scattered light is eliminated it’s a whole new ballgame. And it’s not only the bass, it’s top to bottom. The signal to noise ratio goes through the roof. Which is what it should have done from the beginning. I’m not hot doggin ya. 🌭
4krowme's avatar
4krowme
542 posts
 
Come to think of it, I like WAV files better than CD, although I haven't put my finger on it. I will listen closer and try to hear if there might be a cleaner bass when compared.I know that this could go on and on, but the source is the source, and if you thunked there, it won't get better downriver.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
By the way, the bass is not only cleaner but goes much lower, has more slam and is more articulate and natural and integrated. Its like you put in a very good subwoofer without the side effects.
bubinga8888
2 posts
 

Yeah, an audiophiles idea of bass is no bass. For the rest of us, use your tone controls. If you don’t have any, buy a Loki

 

One more comment: people treat systems as this monolithic thing that "can't be touched" as it was sold. Tone controls add the choices you need. 

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