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Lack of bass with SP-9 MK3

I've just acquired an AR SP-9 MK3 and my short-lived excitement quickly faded. While the depth and highs are crisp and more detailed than my old GTP-500II (Adcom), the lows are uneventful to say the least.

Granted the Adcom had the Contour enabled, this preamp's lows seem non-existent. I suppose there's a chance that I've been listening to exaggerated lows, but I've tried running various genres through the unit with same results. Is the unit faulty or will new valves fix the issue?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
fourrings000bfd
fourrings000bfd OP
2 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses. Looks like there isn't much that can be done since so many people had a similar experience. My main goal was to make sure that these characteristics are inherit of this particular unit rather than the neutral, tubed design in general.

Sherod -- the SP9 should be fairly well matched with my Adcom 5802, see the specs below. My understanding is that the desired minimum ratio is 10:1.

GFA-5802: 10k/105k Ohm(balanced/unbalanced)
SP-9: 250 Ohm
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,811 posts
 
fourrings00@yahoo.com, the input sensitivity of the amp is 1.7v.
On the preamp - CD Input to Main Output gain is 9db.

Could the out gain be a bit low for the preamp to drive your amp?

You can try switching your cd player from cd input to any available high-level input and you should get 21db of output gain. See how it sounds then.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Have you talked to a representative at Audio research about this lack of bass issue? I think that also there is a modifier, Great Northern Sound( Steve Huntley) that specializes in tweaking AR gear.


http://www.greatnorthernsound.com/


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