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Speakers for aging audiophiles - What's with today bass emphasis ?

I'd love to pick your brains on a issue and possibly a suggestion
My system has 2 sources, a Logitech transporter and Thorens 126 MKIII / SME / Supex.  Ampli recently changed to a Musical Fidelity M6si. My listening is 80% streaming and 20% vinyl. It's mostly classic and prog rock but also acoustic jazz and classic chamber music.
I have an issue with my current speakers setup: Dynaudio BM6 passive.
I have been using those for some months now and find that while they are satisfying in terms of scene, detail, resolution they are exceedingly strong in the bass (say 50 to 200 Hz) and not adequately balanced in the middle / treble, say from 1k Hz up. It seems as though the bass player stand in front with a big amplifier and everyone else is back in the stage.
I have changed the amplifier to the Musical Fidelity but while I am happy with that I did not see much change in respect to the issue I am describing.

I relate this issue to 2 causes:

1. Today's recordings emphasizes the bass unrealistically. Let me just give you an example. I recently bought Steve Wilson remix of Marillion "Misplaced Childhood". Great work. The mix is shining but compared to the old vinyl I have got you get this feeling of too much bass. Bass quality is great, well defined, solid, no complain but just too much of a good thing.

2. I am ageing, over 60 now. It is well know that as you age your sensitivity to the high frequencies falls down

Given those factors I'd like to change speakers to get something that:
- Is very open on the highs
- It's very analytical
- Does not over emphasize basses
- Bookshelf
- Ballpark cost 2 - 2.5 K

Can anyone make suggestions ? I was inclined to the Harbeths M30 but read several blogs where they say they do emphasize the bass. Maybe Dynaudio Special or Focus  ? How about Totem Sky ?

I don't mind spending a few more bucks to get what I want / need.

Thanks a lot everyone.

Mark.
marklings
vtvmtodvm
49 posts
 
cleeds—Hey, let's be fair, as well as merely accurate…

The cited CD hi-frequency "trade-off" actually involves frequencies > 20kHz.

Those "CD counterparts" that you reference are all pop market CDs that have been intentionally “hyper-comped”—meaning they’re mastered with gross dynamic range compression—to assure that they’ll peak the level meters (sound loud) when given airplay. This odious digital distortion will cause this freak CD to sound inferior when compared to its vinyl equivalent. Analog discs can’t be artificially despoiled to this same extent, so it's the CD that gets intentionally compromised.

And I didn't say that "…sealed speakers don't reproduce LF as well as ported." I said that "sealed speakers provide a smoother and more natural bass falloff."

jimman2's avatar
jimman2
32 posts
 
yo +1 - KEF LS50 without a subwoofer - at normal 60yo I am wondering if natural hearing loss at higher frequencies would thereby accentuate sensitivity to lower/bass frequencies (seems that would be the case).  The KEF LS50 to me is the little speaker that could.  I wanted to eliminate the need to use a sub woofer with them (LS50) and purchased Tekton CI.  Fit the bill for me. Not sure why at least one reply here indicated Stereophile didn't like the bass on the Tektons - without re-reading I thought he simply said that sealing the rear port was preferably on a certain amount type and also low percentage of the music he reviewed.  The Tektons certainly are not weak on bass response and are far superior to the KEFs in that regard.  Midrange frequencies on both is exceptional.

And vtmtodvin - at 60 yo we no longer hear >20kHz - lol. And your remark about sealed vs.ported speakers is entirely too simplistic - there are many great designed/sounding speakers with ported enclosures.  Your  comment might be construed that sealed would always be superior
sfcfran
66 posts
 
OP:
- Bookshelf 
- Analytical
- Detailed, natural, extended highs
- Balanced and Controlled Bass that is still solid 
- Neutral, but forward with VG 3d staging
- Outstanding lifelike vocals
- Good Air
- Very Fast and revealing Speaker will show you the magnificence of recordings and your equipment, but also let you know how bad a recording is, or system weeknesses.
- 2-2.5k pair
- 5 yr transferable warranty, built 2010 thru 2015, so can be purchased used with warranty in effect.
* Paradigm Signature S2 V.3, Berrylium tweeters

vtvmtodvm
49 posts
 
jimman2—Oh boy! I don't think that I've actually heard 20kHz (10kHz? 8kHz?) in more than 50 years! And probably more!

My comment about 20kHz was not related to its significance, but rather to the technical fact that 20kHz is the frequency beyond which Philips and Sony compromised CD high frequency response against cost. It's "baked in" to the "Red Book" CD specifications. (Refer cleeds' comment about that compromise.) I consider flat response to 20kHz to be more than sufficient, but some (perhaps many) audiophiles definitely do not. They want digital files far in excess of the "Red Book" CD standard.

I agree with you concerning speakers. You can design good or bad speakers regardless of whether sealed or ported. But my sweeping generality is applicable: Sealed speakers will provide a smoother and more natural bass falloff than ported reflex speakers, but ported speakers will extend deeper (go lower in frequency) than the equivalent sealed enclosure speaker. The key here is "equivalent". This is just a basic "given" in the course of speaker design compromise.
rbstehno
916 posts
 
Placement is critical. Also, is your room treated? You should look at the room 1st, treat for its problem areas. Initially corner bass traps nd 1st reflection points. Speaker placement would be next. If you have rear firing ports then distance between speaker and back wall will matter more than a front firing port. Put your speakers and listening chair at the null locations in your room. Start with using the 1/3 rule/guideline, speakers 1/3 of the length of the room from back wall, and your listening chair 1/3 out from the wall behind. I fought thi for a month recently with my new usher x-towers with front firing ports. Started at 9’ from the back wall and now have them sounding fantastic around 5’ from back wall
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