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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

Showing 5 responses by georgehifi

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
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
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
rbschauman

Do get the knowledge to try to change the speaker output impedance taps yourself first, before spending any money.
You have 4 different ones to try and you maybe surprised as the ported 10" Kensingtons have usable output down to 20hz (-10db). See frequency response, 1st graph near the bottom, the red trace is the port bass output, the green trace is the drivers output, if you visualize the two added together, you see you do have quite good LF bass.  

http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/index.php/loudspeakers/65-reviews/745-tannoy-kensington-gr.html?showall=1

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
I just read that the ports also on the Kensingtons are side firing,, make sure they have room to do their thing, and again try the different output taps on the CJ 12's this is where the bass drive, control and bloom will be affected the most. 

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
rbschauman
Here are the instructions on how to change the output transformers output taps, if your up to doing it yourself.

http://s89.photobucket.com/user/jeffreybehr/media/C-j%20equipment/PremierElevenoutputwiring1150_cmprsd.jpg.html

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
rbschauman

Did you see this link I gave you before to try, you should.
http://s89.photobucket.com/user/jeffreybehr/media/C-j%20equipment/PremierElevenoutputwiring1150_cmprsd.jpg.html

Cheers George
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