Have better bass response when I'm off axis

[sax6]

Just acquired a pair of used Rega Camber 2.5.

Listening to them is Verrrry nice, very detailed, never harsh.

While setting amp volume tonight, I noticed that, when I'm off axis with them that is, not in between and in front, I notice deeper bass.

Could be that they are misplaced ?

They are mirrored image, so, where do the tweeters go.

Outward or inward ?

I tried switching phase ( + on + thing ) no change.

I do like the way they sound but could use some deeper, blasting bass.

Thoughts ... ?

 

[JoeESP9]

It may be that when you are off axis you are right where a room resonance point is. That could explain the increased bass. Mirror imaged? The pictures I checked on the web show a 6" woofer with a tweeter mounted directly above and a front port below.

You can only expect so much bass from a 6" woofer. The Rega spec says -2dB at 60Hz. It probably rolls off fairly rapidly below that point. Maybe you should consider a subwoofer.

The tweeters go where ever the placement puts them at ear level when listening. The official Rega ad shows them on stands.

 

[fred soop]

Has nothing to do with on or off axis. That is reserved for high frequencies. What you are experiencing is peaks and nodes of standing waves at frequencies where the wavelength is equal to or a multiple of one of the wall to wall dimensions of the room.

Roy Allison had a method that was easier than moving woofers all over the place. Since the room acoustics are passive, that means that the response is the same in both directions. You can place the woofer(s) at your listening position, then crawl around the room and listen for the most desirable bass response. That will be the location where you want the speakers.

 

[JoeESP9]

Has nothing to do with on or off axis. That is reserved for high frequencies. What you are experiencing is peaks and nodes of standing waves at frequencies where the wavelength is equal to or a multiple of one of the wall to wall dimensions of the room.

Roy Allison had a method that was easier than moving woofers all over the place. Since the room acoustics are passive, that means that the response is the same in both directions. You can place the woofer(s) at your listening position, then crawl around the room and listen for the most desirable bass response. That will be the location where you want the speakers.

I use the Allison method for placing subwoofers.

 

[bare]

I don't use subwoofers
Given that Human (A healthy very young Human at that) Hearing acuity is 65db Down at 100 hz and 100db down at 32 hz.
As in Good luck Mate.
If an adult with NO environmental hearing damage (rare) that is Wayy beyond reality.

 

[tomlinmgt]

^^^



Again, bare????? :headscrat

 

[faber12]

Never heard of the Allison method, but that makes sense. I will have to do that sometime soon.

 

[pete_mac]

I don't use subwoofers
Given that Human (A healthy very young Human at that) Hearing acuity is 65db Down at 100 hz and 100db down at 32 hz.
As in Good luck Mate.
If an adult with NO environmental hearing damage (rare) that is Wayy beyond reality.

Bass is felt as much as it is heard. I really don't understand where you're coming from at all. The tangible difference in bass response between true 'full range' speakers (or smaller speakers with subwoofers) versus speakers which roll off well above 100hz cannot be refuted.

 

[murphythecat]

that can be caused by only one reason:
room acoustic
read about room modes and the dips and peaks it creates in every room.
when you move on the side, you most likely get out of a dip, enter a peak in the bass which gives the impression there's more bass, ect
good luck!

Has nothing to do with on or off axis. That is reserved for high frequencies. What you are experiencing is peaks and nodes of standing waves at frequencies where the wavelength is equal to or a multiple of one of the wall to wall dimensions of the room.

Roy Allison had a method that was easier than moving woofers all over the place. Since the room acoustics are passive, that means that the response is the same in both directions. You can place the woofer(s) at your listening position, then crawl around the room and listen for the most desirable bass response. That will be the location where you want the speakers.

I agree

op, room acoustic is the problem there. nothing else. move your speakers around, understand where NOT to place your speakers and your listening position.

 

[Tom Brennan]

It could be that decreased treble off axis is giving a different tonal balance and an impression of deeper bass.

 

[mikeybc]

To answer the OP's tweeter orientation question, with most mirror imaged speakers tweeters usually go to the inside. My Energy's are marked left and right...tweeters inside.

 

[60 Cycle Hum]

I tried switching phase ( + on + thing ) no change.

Did you check to be sure they are both in phase? Maybe just change the + - on one speaker. The out of phase bass cancellation would be greatest on center.

Wasn't sure from your post. Could be one is wired incorrectly internally?

 

[ev13wt]

Move you seatimg position back or forward. Or the speakers. Listen to music with bass (be it electronic or hip hop) and move around the room, listening closely only to the bass. It will teach you about your room.

Adjust to your liking. Keep in mind, more bass isn't always better, but to make sure you are getting "flat", you will need ti measure. Once you know what flat is, adjust to your liking from that baseline.

I also recommend a good subwoofer tied in correctly. i would gues at 50 with a 12 dB slope? Here to, you really could invest in a measuring mic. They aren't expensive for "more than good enough" models. Around 80 bucks. They come in USB versions too.

 

[JoeESP9]

Dayton EMM-6: It needs a microphone preamp with phantom power. $42.80 + ~$25 for a mic preamp. Same as Behringer ECM8000 but cheaper. Behringer is $60.

Dayton UMM-6 USB plugs directly into a USB port comes with cable. $88.26

If you just want to get in the game: Dayton iMM-6. It plugs into the microphone jack on phones and tablets. $16.25

 

[Eywadude]

The room acoustics do play a factor here, but unless the OP is going to sound treat his room, it is somewhat of a moot point. The real variable here was the actual difference in bass dispersion between the OP's other speakers and the Rega Camber 2.5's - the room acoustics haven't changed, the speakers did. They are essentially dispersing those frequencies differently. However, not knowing what his old speakers were, what his room dimensions are, and how he has his speakers placed, I would suggest different placement within his room. As mentioned before, the Allison method of room placement not only works for subwoofers, but it can work for speakers too. Also, while mirrored speakers generally have their tweeters set up on the inside, you could also play them on the outside as well to see what that does to their overall sound. But I am getting off topic. lol.....

In addition to where your speakers are physically placed within a room, there are other things to consider like tilting your speakers, and even playing around with their height, which can do wonders in some rooms. I recently wrote in another thread about this, and if you are so inclined, you can read about it here:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=8754454#post8754454

Cheers.

 

[sax6]

Wow, Thanks everyone..

I will post a snapshot of the room in question.. you'll be surprised and call shame on me.

To follow.

 

[matteos]

I don't use subwoofers
Given that Human (A healthy very young Human at that) Hearing acuity is 65db Down at 100 hz and 100db down at 32 hz.
As in Good luck Mate.
If an adult with NO environmental hearing damage (rare) that is Wayy beyond reality.

Surely all of this is dealt with at the recording and mastering stage? The frequencies that are harder to hear are pumped up beyond the ones that aren't... By the musicians themselves in the first place.. i.e playing bass loud enough to hear in the first place.

I can hear all these frequencies in the music perfectly fine.