Help wanted: Bass!


I’m in need of augmenting the bass in my system. I’m the old school type and would rather NOT go the sub route.

My system and environment:
• Pre:   Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS
• Pwr:   Conrad Johnson Premier 12 Mono Blocks
• Pwr Condtnr: Shunyata Hydra
• Speakers: Tannoy Kensingtons
• Cabeling: Stealth PGS IC’s, Vandenhull Bi-wire Speaker wiring
• Sources: Conrad Johnson DV-2B CD Player, SOTA Star w/SME arm w/Grado cart, Magnum Dynalab Tube Tun 
• Music:   Classic Rock, Easy listening, Female Jazz singers, Classical
• Room:   Big (25 X 30) w/cathedral ceiling. Harwood floors/ceiling and big glass windows. Rugs and furniture

Came across the Emerald Physics Bass Manager claims to add 1/2 octave of bass to any speaker. IYO, could that be a solution? Are there similar helpers like this out there? Not much in the budget (about $500) for a near-term purchase. Could double that for a longer-term.

Again, not wanting to go the sub route unless I have too. Can’t do room treatments or alter room configuration (it’s our living room) either.

Any thoughts/suggestions will be greatly appreciated – thank you!

rbschauman
The Tannoy Kensington’s are easy to drive,, but their lowest impedance is in the bass. Have you tried different impedance taps on your CJ 12’s? As these can make big differences in bass performance.

Stereophile test CJ12’s:

The Twelve comes with the output transformer wired for 4 ohm use, but dealer-selectable taps for 2, 8, and 16 ohm operation are also provided.
Read more at http://www.stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/653/index.html#QlUA6LomEQKYfSBa.99

Cheers George
Post removed 
Wonderful suggestions, thank you all.

Beginning with no cost suggestions, I already have the Kensington’s placed by each side of my fireplace which puts them about a foot away from the back wall and about same from the wall of the fireplace. This did help some.

George suggested trying different impedance taps on the CJ 12’s. That’s an intriguing idea which I’ll certainly be looking into…

I do appreciate how room treatment and bass traps would help. However, I should have mentioned earlier that this is our living room and the décor in place is firm. My wife would (and I’ll go along with her) not want any changes to what we have. It’s a very open concept log home and has had it’s décor tuned to a final state and it’s not to be messed with.

Solid state would boost the bottom end but I love tube electronics and will stay the course.

Makes good, no great sense that I need to analyze the room with a measuring device – thanks for recommending this and I’ll do that to “get my hands around the neck of the problem” as Erik so well put it! Need objective data to really gage the issue. I’m 55 and sometimes I wonder if it’s just my aging ears!

This all may lead to purchasing a sub, as much as I would rather not do. Dan mentioned how he’s enjoying one with his Tannoys. Dan – perhaps you remember talking with me a few years back about Tannoys (I saw yours in a pic and complimented them which got us going). Cosmetically the Kensingtons are perfect for our décor and I do love the mid-range they offer.

Thanks again everyone for such great advice, and interestingly enough is that not much talk about an EQ took place here…where I was originally “at” but have since moved on from!

Best regards,
RB

I'll vote with Eric....get some measurements so you can analyze what's really going on before playing the 'musical equipment swap' game or other high $ experiments.  Treating the room (which you'd rather not do anyway) can be avoided with active eq, but that's MHO and upsets the purists.

Personally, I ignore the room and 'run' flat response, but that's my thing and not to everyone's taste.  But, to each...
Fireplace!!!!!   That's it.  Your lows are going up your fireplace.Block your fireplace, close the flue, etc.   I had an attic fan in my house...no lows until I got a powered louver for the big hole in the ceiling.