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Sopra 2 Bass

New member, first post, and newbie in terms of diving into the world of nice things. This world is insane! I've already been spiraling for a few months researching what to buy, AB'ing countless speakers and amps. I now own a McIntosh MA9000 that's driving my new Focal Sopra N2s via Kimber 12VS. My "dilemma" is with the lack of BASS. I demoed the N2s, so I know it's possible, but absent in my home. I have to use the tone controls (this is where you tear me apart) to bump the low end. I do not know if it's my room, lack of bass traps, or equipment, but I'm failing to get down a little lower without tone adjustments. I stream Tidal Masters to my wired Bluesound NODE 2i (optical to the MA9000 dac). My room is 11'x20.5' with a low, 7.5' ceiling. I have tried as many speaker positions as possible with little change. I already know I need to eliminate room echo in the center of the room and have been researching various acoustic treatments. I feel like I'm off to a good start, but now stuck, not totally satisfied. Yes, it's the best I've ever owned and mind-blowing amazing, emotional, etc, but just short of perfect for me. In tracks where I expect a punch, I get an unmoving transition... Can I get "there" with different wire? Should I consider a sub? Why do folks on this site use two subs? Do I need to hire someone to properly sound-treat the room? Is my room a lost cause for what I own? Reaching out because I'm stuck, afraid to waste money chasing dead ends. My budget is thin after the McIntosh and Focals. Any help would be so appreciated! I hope to learn, grow and pay it forward some day. Thank you.
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james633
1,026 posts
 
Really the Mac is fine, more than fine. The output transformers don’t work like a tube amp (opposite actually) In tube amps the transformers are used to couple the low impedance of the speaker to high impedance tubes.  
In Mac solid state amps the transformers are use to reduce the load and let the amp put out the same wattage regardless of load.

if you end up with subs it sounds like your Mac has a built in highpass which will open up your sub options. 
There might be amps that give you more bass impact (pass labs probably) but bass smoothness and depth is a function of the room and speaker interaction. Focal’s can get a little edgy in the upper mids and highs and Macs get a little smooth in the upper mids and highs. They are a near perfect match imo. 
audiorusty
270 posts
 

This world is insane!
You have no idea
Great advice from Eric and James633.

Are you achieving satisfactory results when you use your tone controls? If you are I would stop and enjoy your system. You should not care what others think, it is your system for your enjoyment, not anyone else.

In tracks where I expect a punch.

Low end impact is a tall order for a couple of 7” woofers.

Should I consider a sub?

Maybe. What kind of music do you listen to. If you like rock or electronic and maybe even modern day country, a sub can be of substantial benefit. If you listen to other genres than maybe not so much.

Beware; while properly integrating subs into a system can bring great joy and satisfaction, improperly integrating a sub can bring great headaches and frustration.

Keep in mind that if you are pressurizing your room to 80 db SPL at 1K Hz you will need to pressurize the room to approximately 115 db SPL at 40 Hz in order to have 40 Hz sound equally as loud as 1K Hz (per ISO standard 226:2003, equal loudness curve)  Also keep in mind that with most rock music it is desired to have 40 and 50 Hz sound louder than 1K Hz.

Lastly, it is not always a lack of bass that is the problem but an overabundance of mid range. You probably are getting some room gain in your mid range frequency band. On your MA9000 you might try and bump up the 50 Hz, dial the 100 Hz back a tad and the 1K and 2.5K Hz controls back a bit more, or a lot if need be, and see how that sounds to you. 


mtbiker29's avatar
mtbiker29
170 posts
 
OP, Don't do anything until you get your room dialed in.  Exhibit A:  You had no carpet in front of hard surface floors?  No wonder you were underwhelmed.  I wanted to cry when I was setting up my system in my new home, until my wife accidentally bought a large pile wool rug.  It went a long way towards cleaning things up.   

I suggested loading a picture of your "virtual system" (really just a pic attached to your profile) as we would have picked up on that right away and saved you a few steps.  Go to upper right where your username is and click on it.  Click on my name and you'll see mine as an example.  

You've got great gear, don't sweat this.  
chorus
976 posts
 
All the "Room Correction" equipment sold primarily address Bass.

Read up and find one that is well reviewed and buy it with a home trial.

My guess is that will make you happy. 

Sounds like the space is a converted garage stall?

Keep us posted with your progress!
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
my money is on getting a solid state amp that mates properly with the sopra low impedance, and addressing placement and less than ideal room effects

maybe break in if the speakers are brand new

then you will have a better chance at the best bass that can be gotten from the sopras

first para of what i said above is incorrect... now that i realize the op’s macintosh is a high power solid state unit... that amp shoud drive the sopra’s just fine

gotta be the room and speaker/room coupling - sopra may be somewhat bright up top, but it is not significantly lacking in bass

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