Snake oil, subs and alcohol

I've been listening for the last week to a few CDs of albeit recorded "studio" music, but fairly live sounding CDs. Actually they are Jamie Cullum "Catching Tales" and Corrine Bailey Rae - self titled as far as I can see.

At certain points, depending upon volume, the bass stands out, and I have thought - "I know the sub is turned up a little too high, but I just like it that way!"

So during some "serious" listening this evening, I thought well that's enough of this slightly bloated bass, I knock the sub down 3 knotches. So I did, and dutifully the system did sound like it had the heart ripped out of it. Not bad, just different.

So I messed with the DSP seting I have on my Meridian - they are great - and set the Direct (2 channel as opposed to trifield 5.1) and even more sucked out sounding.

So having thought, this is lovely, but I prefer it my way, I'm turning the sub back up three notches, I don't care how accurate it is, I find when I turn it back up again......................

.................

The sub wasn't switched on...........

And hasn't been on for weeks...............

Makes me question what I think I have been hearing all along......