Bass rant with no purpose :)

[LPD]

Ok so I decided to experiment with my speakers this weekend and found some interesting results.

Speakers are Castle Stirlings
Amp diy Pass Aleph 30
Preamp Music Reference RM5 Mark III
CD Crap Toshiba Transport California Audio Labs System 1 Dac

I noticed that the bass had some boom and was a little mushy so I pulled my speakers from the wall 1 inch. I noticed a severe difference. First the bass became more defined, but a little drier with less bottom boom. I noticed though that the bass image pulled to the right a little and wasn't as focused. I pulled them out another inch and the image pulled back towards the center.

Interesting as I thought bass was bass and where the speakers where didn't affect, or maybe thats below 100hz. Mid bass is really affected by where the speakers are placed.

Any thoughts?

 

[gyusher]

I noticed that the bass had some boom and was a little mushy so I pulled my speakers from the wall 1 inch. I noticed a severe difference. First the bass became more defined, but a little drier with less bottom boom. I noticed though that the bass image pulled to the right a little and wasn't as focused. I pulled them out another inch and the image pulled back towards the center.

?

Some recomend 2 feet from any wall. . .Some get them up off the floor and angle them back as well as toed towards the listener. . .Your speakers are 'coupling' with your walls adding to your mushy bottom. . . Get them out into the room for cleaner 'less bass' sound. . .It will tighten up your bass. . . Listen long enough to give it a chance. . .

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Interesting as I thought bass was bass and where the speakers were didn't affect, or maybe thats below 100hz. Mid bass is really affected by where the speakers are placed.

Any thoughts?

Yes, the above assumption is completely incorrect. Bass is omnidirectional, yes, but there are other factors. You ever notice how if you stand in a corner of a room, bass gets bloated and overbearing? Just as there are positional peaks and nulls in the bass response of a room due to interference patterns, placement of the bass drivers will have similar effect.

You can render a subwoofer mute just by placing it in a null (I think). Placement is crucial (of that I'm sure).

 

[Skinley]

Yes, the above assumption is completely incorrect. Bass is omnidirectional, yes, but there are other factors. You ever notice how if you stand in a corner of a room, bass gets bloated and overbearing? Just as there are positional peaks and nulls in the bass response of a room due to interference patterns, placement of the bass drivers will have similar effect.

You can render a subwoofer mute just by placing it in a null (I think). Placement is crucial (of that I'm sure).

I placed some 2 inch blocks of wood under my speakers earlier, (my stands are at work, awaiting paint) there was a noticeable difference in bass, I don't have the 'audiophile' vocabulary to describe it and I'm yet to decide if it sounds better or worse, but moving my speakers a mere 2 inches has definitely changed the sound.

 

[LPD]

Well after countless hours of moving speakers in/out, back/forth, side/side, I have discovered that rear ports aren't as easy to place. I have them approx. 2 feet in behind them, which gives a sense of depth and space to the sound stage, but also a deep bass. My listening position is on a wall but moving it out a foot make a huge difference as well. Bass is smoother, more detailed and deeper. I have my Castles on 24" stands, which seems a little too high so I may custom built some stands to lower them a little. But that's another experiment......