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System too bassy - Primaluna & Usher

I'm looking for advice on how to tame my bass. Since upgrading my amp to the Primaluna Dialogue One from a low end Harmon Kardon, I've noticed my fatigue level from the bass has shortened my listening times drastically. That could also be because listening levels are higher because of the increased power. Regardless, I would like to tame the bass which these Ushers are known for.

THE SETUP:

Lossless Files
Apple TV > unknown decent quality optical cable to...
Rega Dac > low end Monster RCA cable to
Primaluna Dialogue One > $3 ft speaker cable to
Usher Be-718 speakers
VTI Metal stands

The room is 12' X 13' with one side open concept into the rest of the condo. The wall that the system is against is actually a couple of feet shorter because of the HVAC system, which puts one speaker in a corner.

I just got the Primaluna amp and I love the Ushers and do really like the Rega Dac. So I'm not willing to change those.

MY THOUGHTS:

I'm thinking of interconnects, speaker cables and room acoustics. I think room acoustics is a must regardless. Perhaps I do that first, then look at the total sound.

What are your thoughts?
deetothevee
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Biwire is only possible with a bi-wire capable speaker. 2 sets of terminals are on the back of the speaker, one pair for the woofer, and one pair for the tweeter. I see your spkrs have these.

At the amp end there is one L and R connector and at the spkr end there are 2 pairs. You drive the tweeter and the woofer separately depending on the load needed for the highs and the bass. At each one of these separate pair of terminals, the LOAD seen by the amp is different; bass uses more current. In a traditional setup with only a L/R at the spkr, the internal crossover distributes the signal to both drivers. Some believe sound is better when woofer and tweet are wired separately.

I think Mattmiller is talking about a double-run from amp to spkr terminals (2 separate cables for each spkr)
deetothevee OP
44 posts
 
Mattmiller- just learned that bi-wire is an end piece to the speaker wire. Sweet. There is one listed on another listing site but it's 2.5 meters long I need less then half of that. How is the bi-wire end attached? Something a layman can do or is it best to have a pro do it? Another option is I pick up this cable and cut it down and sell the remaining. Just not sure who can do that for me.
deetothevee OP
44 posts
 
Oops posted again by accident.

Ya I'm still not clear in what mattmiller is referring to. Although the biwiring seems like something that might help my boomy bass. There is a pair of kimber 8tc biwire banana plug wires for sale. He's asking $250. Good deal?
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Biwiring does sound better in some situations, really depends on the amp and the crossovers in the spkrs, might be worth a try since the amp would be driving the bass and the high loads separately. Sorry, don't know about prices; Google some Kimber retailers?

A double-run would require 2 cables hooked up to same tap at the amp, then one cable runs to the tweeter, 2nd cable runs to the lower bass terminal. IMO, this probably would sound better than a single cable. But, you would need to buy 4 cables and be able to wire them both to the amp terminal, meaning using bare wire or spades.
I think this is what mattmiller meant.

PS...In both cases, you would be removing the stock jumpers on the speaker terminals which would be beneficial.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,478 posts
 
Biwire to resolve bass issues in this case seems like a total potshot and a bandaid at best.
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