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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
 
Day 3 with the REL Carbon Special and I am finally smiling! It started with some frustration because I couldn't quickly make it disappear. I was up from my seat nearly every track to adjust the crossover and/or gain. I am still confounded by the phase toggle as it does not seem to make an appreciable difference. Anyway, I took a step back, left the settings a few clicks less than the recommended starting settings in the video guide and let it break-in for 48 straight hours. This included an initial positioning in the rear corner with a slight pivot from 45 to about 60 degrees toward the listening position. Then I watched this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtT_6_KaSDQ

...and the sound engineer I'm working with at GIK (John) also said to get the REL out of the corner. Now I wonder why REL suggests corner placement... because moving it to the rear (near centerline) with the driver facing forward, everything clicked. The sub is gone, the music is full and emotional. I cannot believe the difference this made. The tone controls are now off on the McIntosh. I just finished a four hour listening session, which was unplanned. I went down to turn off the system and was drawn into the music. On deck is the Merging+NADAC, arriving on Sunday. I'm expecting big things. The only thing I'm left wondering is what a second sub could possibly give me when things sound this good with one?

I suppose this ends what was my first post in the hifi realm. Thanks again to everyone for their encouragement and support.
izjjzi's avatar
izjjzi OP
103 posts
 
Update (not that anyone still reads this old thread) but I stepped-up to the REL 212/SX. What a different animal in contrast to the Carbon Special. The CS filled a hole I needed filled and I've been thrilled with it since dial-in, but one thing became clear - I needed a second. I feel badly that my room remains untreated but even so, a single sub was difficult to tune and even when I reached that point, certain tracks would force me out of my seat or I would simply lower system volume. It did everything as advertised. My solution was not another CS, but to try to the 212/SX. Jaw, meet floor. A sub was a night and day improvement, but the 212 is an entirely other level in my room. It disappeared instantly and I can aggressively play with the gain / crossover without overly drastic change. It is simply amazing. The term "musical" resonates as I listen and write this. It is tight, fast, and any doubts I've had with my speaker selection are gone. Just keeps getting better and better. 
mikepaul's avatar
mikepaul
223 posts
 

Glad things are turning out well. I am considering a Rel 212sx or maybe (2) S812's. So, are you using both subs now? the Carbon and the 212sx? Have you tried the 212sx by itself ?  I was hoping a singular 212sx would do the trick?

thanks

 

mike

izjjzi's avatar
izjjzi OP
103 posts
 

@mikepaul I returned the Carbon Special. I found that I could not "set it and forget it". I was constantly up to adjust it for certain tracks. It would draw attention to itself.  I'm sure it's my room and the need for more than one sub. For this reason I tried the 212, because it is claimed to provide 80%(?) of what an array can provide. I was able to set and forget the 212 within five minutes after connection and I haven't touched it since. The difference is night and day. I tell everyone that this was my best purchase to date. My other observation is that the Carbon Special was working really hard, even at low volumes. I had to be really careful with it. The 212 in contrast hasn't broken a sweat. It is effortless, musical and so darn fast. Again, my best purchase to date. What do I mean by this? I've learned what most here have learned, which is we may like or love our amps, speakers, etc, but 95%(?) of the time we know in the back of our head that we are not completely happy a given piece. We buy, we sell. The wheel turns. There is a zero percent chance I'm ever parting with the 212. 

mikepaul's avatar
mikepaul
223 posts
 

izjjzi     Love the look of your setup and system components. I think you solidified my reasoning to get the Rel 212sx. I think it would do well in my room.

Best of luck in your journey!

 

mike

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