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Which component to upgrade to improve bass control?

Adding Symposium shelves and rollerblocks to my monitor (Silverline SR17.5) equipped system definitely helped but bass is still not nearly as controlled as I'd like.

Until we move into a different house where I can have a dedicated room for audio, I cannot use subs or add panels, traps, etc. to the room.  

So, I'm left with the possibility of upgrading a component but I have no idea whether my integrated (Wells Majestic), transport (Sim Moon 260) or DAC (Aqua La Voce S2) might be the best candidate for upgrading.

DAC UPGRADE ?
Are R2R ladder DACs simply weak in this area?  Searching the threads, I found a reference to DAC power supplies having a strong influence re: bass control but I lack the technical expertise to utilize this fact. Please keep in mind that I do not enjoy DACs that prioritize resolution above all.  

TRANSPORT UPGRADE ?
Would replacing the Moon transport with say, the new Pro-ject CD Box RS2 T be a better choice? 

INTEGRATED UIPGRADE ?
Would an amp with more grunt be the best choice?

I can only upgrade one of these at this point.
Budget:
Integrated: 5K
Transport: 3.5K
DAC: 5K
stuartk
stuartk OP
2,401 posts
 
@millercarbon:

Thanks for weighing in, MC. 

I don't have any fundamental objection to subs. As mentioned, a friend who's a dealer is coming over next week to help me locate bass nodes. Perhaps he can also point out possible locations for subs. I've looked at diagrams for sub placement in the past and none of them resemble my room. They all seem to assume a largely empty room with nothing occupying the corners. I don't know about you but I haven't come across too many living rooms with that sort of arrangement.

As for springs, I can see how that works fine for floorstanders but my monitors sit atop target stands that are fitted with Herbie's Gliders which in turn perch on thick cement pavers. How/where would springs fit into this scenario, pray tell? ? ? 


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erik_squires
15,824 posts
 
Some miniDSP units are pure digital.  No analog.  Another alternative is to use something like Roon, which has DSP built in.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
One of the beautiful things about multiple subs, the more subs the less the room matters, and the less it matters where in the room the subs go. It really is a rather pointless time waster to measure room modes. Basically, every time you move the sub it also moves the modes. Some of them however almost always wind up being in the same places. Like, almost regardless of the room the bass will be stronger hear a wall, even stronger in a corner, and strongest where walls meet floor or ceiling.   

Basically, placement with one sub is a nightmare until you finally give up and pick your compromise. With two it gets a little easier but still a major compromise. With three, not so bad. By the time you get to four it hardly matters where you put them the bass will be so good you won't believe it. 

Springs go under the speaker. What the speaker is on hardly matters. Everyone worries about stability. Springs wobble but they really do nothing to change stability, the balance point of the speaker is the same with or without springs. 
cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 
Invest in a good sub, like Rel or one notch lower but excellent value for money: HSU research. 
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