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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
deetothevee OP
44 posts
 
Almarg-- thank you. I've read your post 3 times. It got a bit clearer but I'm still confused. I'm not clear enough to try it yet. Each speaker cable has a - & + wire. When you say to connect one of the pair of wires, do you mean both - & + ends of the same "speaker wire" into said terminal? (Or even both ends (2of4) of a biwire)
deetothevee OP
44 posts
 
Ok I think I got it. So the only terminal that will have more then one wire would be the 0 terminal at back of amp. Correct?
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Ok I think I got it. So the only terminal that will have more then one wire would be the 0 terminal at back of amp. Correct?
Yes!

To be sure it's clear, let's just consider the situation where you are NOT using cables that are specifically intended for biwiring. You would have four ordinary speaker cables, two for each channel.

On each channel, one wire of one of those two cables would connect the - (0 ohm) amp terminal to the speaker's - low frequency terminal. The other wire of that same cable would connect the 4 ohm amp terminal to the speaker's + low frequency terminal.

One wire of the other of those two cables would connect the same - amp terminal to the speaker's - high frequency terminal. The other wire of that cable would connect the 8 ohm amp terminal to the speaker's + high frequency terminal.

Alternatively, the same thing could be accomplished with biwire cables, which would provide 4 wires in the cable for each channel, but ONLY if it were the kind of biwire cable that provides 4 independent connections at both ends (rather than just providing 2 connections at the amp end, as many of them do).

BE SURE to remove the jumpers on the back of the speaker that connect the low and high frequency terminals to each other, when and if you try this. I don't think any damage would occur if you failed to do this, but the sonic results would not be as intended.

Regards,
-- Al
deetothevee OP
44 posts
 
Al - thanks again. So my issue is that my amp terminals are banana so how can I put 2wires into the 0ohm terminal?
deetothevee OP
44 posts
 
AL - I was looking at some speaker cables that were " bi-wired". They were one set of cable with one end having the normal - & + ends and the other being bi-wired, having the 4 ends. This would not be utilizing the advantages of what you're suggesting (as far as I'm understanding). Please let me know how I can put two wires in the 0 ohm terminal. Only thing I can think of is if I take out the banana plug and twist the other wire into it and then put back the banana plug. IS this what I'm supposed to do?

Sorry for the ignorance, this is all new to me. I don't want to ruin any of this equipment.
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