I came across a new product from CS Port. It is a two-way electronic crossover with a shelving equalizer to extend the LF response. This gave me an idea. My speakers start to roll off at around 40Hz in my room, according to the measurements with REW. I am using an Accuphase F25 three way electronic crossover. The tweeters are Acapella plasma drivers from 7kHz, the mids are 4" beryllium field coil compression drivers from Classic Audio, and the bass are 15" field coil units from Supravox in ported cabs from 500Hz downwards. I did some research and found an equalizer made by Heritage Audio, designed for mastering. It has what they call an asymptotic Eq function, basically a shelving EQ that can boost or cut at certain frequencies. It also has 2nd order high pass and low pass filters, and a mid/side function to mono the bass when cutting LPs.
It is quite reasonably priced (when compared to Hi Fi stuff) and I can use it for my own recordings too. But most of the time, it will serve to extend the bass response of my speakers.
I inserted it in front of my bass amplifier and started conservatively, setting the shelf at 20Hz, raising it by 6dB. The results were a bit unexpected and quite positive. I have only listened for about two hours so far. I first played the last movement of the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony, on the AP Ultratape. The lower notes from the organ reached deeper and I could feel more of the vibration, which was to be expected. What was unexpected was that there was more clarity, with the instruments of the orchestra sounding better defined. There is a bypass function and so I can do A/B comparison quite easily. I am not sure whether this is a placebo effect, but I suspect the better LF extension changed the balance of the ambiance information, giving a better presentation of the recorded space. I then listened to a tape of the DGG stereo Mravinsky Tchaikovsky 6th (copied from the Melodiya archives) and had a similar impression, even though there was no very low frequencies from the organ. This is very interesting and I will be exploring with different types of music.
It is quite reasonably priced (when compared to Hi Fi stuff) and I can use it for my own recordings too. But most of the time, it will serve to extend the bass response of my speakers.
I inserted it in front of my bass amplifier and started conservatively, setting the shelf at 20Hz, raising it by 6dB. The results were a bit unexpected and quite positive. I have only listened for about two hours so far. I first played the last movement of the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony, on the AP Ultratape. The lower notes from the organ reached deeper and I could feel more of the vibration, which was to be expected. What was unexpected was that there was more clarity, with the instruments of the orchestra sounding better defined. There is a bypass function and so I can do A/B comparison quite easily. I am not sure whether this is a placebo effect, but I suspect the better LF extension changed the balance of the ambiance information, giving a better presentation of the recorded space. I then listened to a tape of the DGG stereo Mravinsky Tchaikovsky 6th (copied from the Melodiya archives) and had a similar impression, even though there was no very low frequencies from the organ. This is very interesting and I will be exploring with different types of music.
