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More Power or use subwoofer to boost bass for music

Hi,   just want to know if anyone can offer their opinions on how to boost the bass when listening to 2 channel music.

I just got a pair of B&W 804 D3 and would like to get more bass out of the speakers.   I remember the bass was pretty punchy when I heard it in the dealer showroom, but I don't seem to get that in my setup.   I currently have Parasound A31 power amp with 250 watts per channel.

So the question is whether I should get a more power amp, or add subwoofer to my 2 channel music.  I'm a little bit of a purist and would prefer not to use a subwoofer for music, but I'm open to this option.

I would definitely appreciate if anyone can share their experience/opinion.   Thanks very much.
128x128xcool
cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 
Sub woofer gives you more flexibility and maybe cheaper.  It would be cheaper because you need to increase your amp power by a factor of 2 to 3 to really make a difference in the bass for those B&Ws..  This will almost always cost more.

Furthermore, a sub is specifically designed to have special speakers/motor which can handle more power.
cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 
Check out HSU & Martin Logan subs.  At less than $1000, you will get a remarkable sub.
audiorusty
287 posts
 
 
The information I found on their website is that the low pass filter doesn't apply to LFE.
I could be mistaken here, but I believe that REL is using the low pass filter in LFE mode, it's just not adjustable. It is permanently set at 120hz.
noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 
     For HT and LFE, it may be possible to adjust the crossover frequency through your surround processor, DVD or Blu-ray player.  I know both my Oppo 105 and 205 Blu-ray players have this capacity, yours may too.

Tim
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,809 posts
 
My thoughts: 1. The speakers can sound "punchier" at the dealer because they usually crank-them-up. Since a typical Magnolia room is larger than a normal home room, they can play a lot louder without overloading the room. Being placed close to the wall enhances the bass. 2. Are the foam plugs in the ports? This reduces bass quantity. 3. I'm a proud 804D3 owner and, yes, these speakers need reinforcement.
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