2. analog
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Turntable, where is my bass???

Hi, I've noticed a clearly diminished low frequency output with my analog gear lately but cannot put it in precise timely relation with a particular event since I have mainly been playing newly acquired records during the last few weeks or very old ones that I hadn't heard for years. But now, the familiar records surprised me with a lack of "something" (there was actually one recent change of IC)

The chain of the signal is Transfiguration Spirit III cart -> Well Tempered Reference arm with original wiring sitting on Well Tempered Reference table -> Synergistic Research Tricon analog IC -> Tidal Preos pre-amp.

Possible culprits I can think of:
1 (the one I hope it to be) The SR Tricon is only a few weeks old; before that the dealer had lent me a broken-in demo cable that I was allowed to keep several weeks until my newly ordered one arrived. So could this be a questin of break-in?
2 Could the arm somehow have "deregulated" itself, e.g. in respect of VTA?
3 Resistive load is fixed at 120 Ohm; could I just be growing aware that is the wrong value? Does anyone know the preferred value for the Spirit III ? (I can't experiment changing it myself, but the Tidal guys could fix another value if can tell them which one)

Does someone know of other possible causes that are perhaps subtle first and then just "snap"? It can't be my hearing since I don't notice any change in the digital department.

Thanks for your insight.
Karel
karelfd
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
So, are you saying, other than the IC change, nothing's changed recently? Can we assume that the bass is fine with SACD, DVD-A and CD? Has any furniture or the speakers been moved within the room recently? When you listen on your headphones is the bass still lacking?

Dave
karelfd OP
476 posts
 
No change with CD or DVD noticeable. Very minor furniture moves in the past weeks (no change in listening position or overall geometry), but if that were the cause, I would have expected a change with the other sources as well. I never had headphones in this system, so I can't be completely sure about what is "normal" bass there but thanks for mentioning it, I'll try to test that as well.

I'll throw in another unlikely suggestion (one never knows ...) Could my Well Tempered be telling me I need to check/change bearing fluid or arm damping fluid or something of that kind?
qdrone
1,039 posts
 
Do you have the old IC? if so hook it back up and see if the bass comes back. I had the same experience once but it had to do with the overall sound when I changed IC. I put it back and moved on after returning the IC's. If you bought the IC from a dealer and he tells you to wait until they are broken in tell him no problem but if after break in it still is bass shy tell them you want a refund. Tell them NOW not later when it is too late.
karelfd OP
476 posts
 
Valuable suggestion, thanks. I haven't got the previous Tricon anymore, I gave that back when the new IC arrived; I have no other dedicated phono IC anymore, but I will experiment a bit with one or the other IC
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