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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.
128x128izjjzi
izjjzi's avatar
izjjzi OP
103 posts
 
@audiorusty Definitely no distortion. The "pop" almost seemed like part of the track as the music was almost behind it and uninterrupted, if that makes sense? The sound is still pristine. No damage as far as I can tell. Next time, if there's a next time, I push past 60% I will have the tone control disabled and will be watching the power guard lights with my finger on the mute or volume control. 

Sorry, I should have elaborated. The MA12000 is more attractive, not just in looks, but having the newer DAC and tube pre-amp... I bet it just sounds better for the few extra $k. 

Regarding DACs, that's what I'm afraid of... the tech race. Been there done that with camera gear. I now have a dusty Canon 1Ds Mark III and tons of glass that I probably can no longer sell because I missed the value window. I blink and there are now several versions of the same glass and my cell phone takes nearly identical raw images... I would laugh if not for the tears.

This hifi chase is already one filled with second guesses, returns, and the feeling I may never "get there". I not only need a seat belt, but a four point harness! (A sick bag would be nice too) Happy you're all on the same ride and helping me in so many ways. :)
wbhendrix's avatar
wbhendrix
2 posts
 
I also have the same speakers as you, and the lack of bass really bothered me as well. But then I added four Rel subs and that made all the difference. Now they sound absolutely stunning. 
Check out my setup here
https://www.instagram.com/vinylxlifex
izjjzi's avatar
izjjzi OP
103 posts
 
@wbhendrix - Sweet setup. I raised an eyebrow during this post when I learned that most go with two subs instead of one as I thought one was enough. I went from budget 2.1 music / home theater into the deep end of true hifi in one giant leap. My second eyebrow has now joined my first, far north of my eyeballs hearing you have four subs. How did you know you needed more than two? How were you able to dial-in all four? 

@wbhendrix -  Also noticed in many hifi room pics and videos there are corner treatments (bass traps?). Is this something you always had? Something identified as a need and solution? I am wondering if they are a "must" regardless of room and something I should buy?

Update for everyone: After chewing on upgrading my MA-9000's DAC to the newer one vs. stepping-up to the new MA-12000, I am stepping-up. Deal is done. It's now a waiting game as McIntosh is backed-up. The good news is it was ordered the day I purchased the 9000, so I have a few week lead-time. I am not expecting a massive difference, but have read some consistent things about better lows, a bit warmer sound, etc. I like everything I'm reading and know I will not be disappointed. I love the tube pre, and the look. As I've noted before, I'm in deep!

In the meantime, the dealer asked that I continue to use the MA-9000 to break it in for them. They do not want it back until the 12000 arrives. I'm slowly converting the room to a listening room. My wife is calling it a lounge, but is the term "lounge" fair if it can only sit four?


jrbirdman333
105 posts
 
I really enjoyed this string. I too am a newbie and love this hi-fi journey.iizjjzi, I hope you are having fun. I'm considering the focal Sopra N2 as well, but after this string I think I'll hang on to my Dyn 60i contours. They aren't quite your N2s but they produce prodigious, room-rattling, neighbor infuriating bass. And that has value.
audiorusty
279 posts
 
My second eyebrow has now joined my first, far north of my eyeballs hearing you have four subs. How did you know you needed more than two?
A lot of guys are going the four sub route including myself. I started with one, then two and now four. Not to get more bass, but to get better bass. Multiple subs are more of an electronic version of low frequency room treatment. They greatly help in smoothing out the low end frequency response of a room. There are a great many threads on audiogon that discuss the merits of multiple subs, aka DBA, distributed bass array. Also see AudioKinesis "Swarm"
How were you able to dial-in all four?
Personally, I found it much easier to dial in four than one, because four reduced or eliminated many of the problems usually associated with subs, but I did recently fine tune my set-up with the help of REW.
Next time, if there's a next time, I push past 60% I will have the tone control disabled and will be watching the power guard lights with my finger on the mute or volume control.
Not knowing what track you were playing when the incident happened I strongly suspect it was the 25 Hz control that caused the problem. You might try setting the 25 control at neutral or lower, increasing the 50 to 3/4 and reducing the 100 to 1/4 and see if that sounds OK to you, though you still might not get much more volume. In my opinion a 7" driver is just too small to reproduce loud bass much below 60 Hz.

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