Tracy Chapman bass & low frequency response/sound

[Matt Werking]

This is sort of a tricky question and without being in same place might be difficult to answer, hoping someone who knows this song well or has this song/cd and properly set system that can correctly reproduce bass.

My friend brought over the Tracy Chapman CD with Fast Car on it, and said on his system the bass (which i belive is a standing bass) has powerful very pronounced bass response, however on my new high end system which is really nice and on almost every cd or lp i've heard so far is amazing, the bass was mixed almost evenly with music and i didnt really hear much in the low frequency range, let alone enough to be bold or powerful. So i guess my question is has someone heard this cd on a high end setup and if so, how much od little does the low end mix with the rest of music and is the bass level powerful or just present? Very curious to see how it is supposed to sound.

 

[2channel lover]

This is sort of a tricky question and without being in same place might be difficult to answer, hoping someone who knows this song well or has this song/cd and properly set system that can correctly reproduce bass.

My friend brought over the Tracy Chapman CD with Fast Car on it, and said on his system the bass (which i belive is a standing bass) has powerful very pronounced bass response, however on my new high end system which is really nice and on almost every cd or lp i've heard so far is amazing, the bass was mixed almost evenly with music and i didnt really hear much in the low frequency range, let alone enough to be bold or powerful. So i guess my question is has someone heard this cd on a high end setup and if so, how much od little does the low end mix with the rest of music and is the bass level powerful or just present? Very curious to see how it is supposed to sound.

This is difficult to answer...I've heard the song and may even have this CD, but it's been a while since I played it. It's acoustic guitar based music...yes there is some bass, but not something I would consider to be powerful.

He could have settings ramping up the bass on his system particularly if he's running subs.

Without knowing either setup, the expectation I would have with a high end system is to reproduce the signal with the least amount of colorization. It doesn't always happen that way, but that should be the objective.

I would be curious to know what speakers you have.

 

[Matt Werking]

Thanks for writing back. I am currently using Sonus Faber Amati Futura but will soon be switching to the il cremonese as soon as they arrive (on order). They are both being run by 2 pass labs amps. My friend has a bookshelf system with separate subwoofer. I think his speakers are Paradigm.

 

[sterling shoote]

I'm listening to the song right now. The bass, whatever it's coming from, does seem somewhat exaggerated, perhaps it was mixed that way. I never was conscious of it until you brought it to my attention. The bass does not reside in the range of my subwoofer however, as attempting to attenuate it had no effect through my system. Interestingly enough, I purchased this song on CD, thinking there might be some non-depressing folk songs on the album as well. This was not the case, and since I have a problem with depression, I have not listened to this CD, until now, since purchasing it years ago. I much prefer Joan Armatrading songs in this genre of music. Perhaps why Joan Armatrading is still popular today and Tracy Chapman has not been heard from. People, it appears, don't seek out to be bummed out. Radio stations also avoid playing the piece too. They want to keep their audience tuned in. At any rate, if you want to see how low you can get, I'm talking about bass not depression, listen to Kayne West's Love Lockdown. This will truly reveal your system's bass reproduction capabilities or shortcomings. I can list some dance music for you to listen to if you're interested.

 

[Matt Werking]

Thanks for reply, i'll check out the song. Im not a bass head or anything though, im looking for correct bass. I want it to be the same levels as if we were there when she recorded it live. However its so hard to tell the original sound without being there.

 

[sterling shoote]

Thanks for reply, i'll check out the song. Im not a bass head or anything though, im looking for correct bass. I want it to be the same levels as if we were there when she recorded it live. However its so hard to tell the original sound without being there.

This is a very general statement, but, for the most part, you want the bass to sound natural; and, that may be something you can adjust from tone controls or from an equalizer. Thing is, you could spend more time tweaking than time enjoying the music. That's why I just leave my tone controls at the flat setting. Now, since I can control my subwoofer separately, I have adjusted it to give, what seems to me, bass which is not exaggerated on music which seems to highlight bass. Now, if you do not want to pay for a download of Love Lockdown, just watch it on YouTube and listen through your system. Adjust your sub to your liking on this tune and you may be happy with bass on everything else you listen to without fretting over the bass.

 

[rojo]

@Matt Werking: Here's a visual representation of the most bass heavy content in that track:

Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

Contrast this to other tracks which have more substantial bass, and you'll notice a conspicuous lack of yellow in the graphing of "Fast Car".

I believe your friend has employed the 'Murica method of bass tuning in his system.

 

[2channel lover]

Thanks for writing back. I am currently using Sonus Faber Amati Futura but will soon be switching to the il cremonese as soon as they arrive (on order). They are both being run by 2 pass labs amps. My friend has a bookshelf system with separate subwoofer. I think his speakers are Paradigm.

There's a small chance that your system may be a wee bit more accurate.

 

[highfigh]

Thanks for writing back. I am currently using Sonus Faber Amati Futura but will soon be switching to the il cremonese as soon as they arrive (on order). They are both being run by 2 pass labs amps. My friend has a bookshelf system with separate subwoofer. I think his speakers are Paradigm.

That's not upright bass- sounds like the strings are being plucked near the neck, rather than near the bridge. That also results in less overtones. If it was extremely strong bass, I would check the level and crossover settings for his system.

 

[highfigh]

I much prefer Joan Armatrading songs in this genre of music. Perhaps why Joan Armatrading is still popular today and Tracy Chapman has not been heard from. People, it appears, don't seek out to be bummed out. Radio stations also avoid playing the piece too. They want to keep their audience tuned in.

We had a local singer/songwriter who was described as "sounds like Tracy Chapman on a death watch".

 

[Pogre]

Sounds to me like your buddy likes bass. I'd guess your system might be more balanced and your buddy has his subs/bass boosted a lot more.

 

[highfigh]

Sounds to me like your buddy likes bass. I'd guess your system might be more balanced and your buddy has his subs/bass boosted a lot more.

I played Taxi and Can I Hold You before posting the first time and I used REW to fix the low end problems I had- it's not strong bass, by any stretch. My speakers do well down to 38Hz before they start to lose steam (I don't want to disturb anyone) but they definitely have authority above and it's easy to feel the low notes. I always thought this was a well-recorded disc and I have heard it through many systems.

 

[Pogre]

I played Taxi and Can I Hold You before posting the first time and I used REW to fix the low end problems I had- it's not strong bass, by any stretch. My speakers do well down to 38Hz before they start to lose steam (I don't want to disturb anyone) but they definitely have authority above and it's easy to feel the low notes. I always thought this was a well-recorded disc and I have heard it through many systems.

Hmm... Listening to Fast Car right now and im getting some nice bass. Not powerful, but pretty nice. I do have two 15" subs and I like a boost myself.

Okay, I turned my subs down to a "normal" (+3db over Audyssey) level and it's pretty mellow. Took me a while to admit it, but I'm a bassaholic. I like +6db bump over what Audyssey applies.

 

[Irvrobinson]

There is some mildly interesting synth bass on the Mountains O' Things track that is relatively low level and I've noticed seems sensitive to room mode effects.

 

[highfigh]

Hmm... Listening to Fast Car right now and im getting some nice bass. Not powerful, but pretty nice. I do have two 15" subs and I like a boost myself.

Okay, I turned my subs down to a "normal" (+3db over Audyssey) level and it's pretty mellow. Took me a while to admit it, but I'm a bassaholic. I like +6db bump over what Audyssey applies.

I did car audio for over 20 years- I don't like the low end to be too strong, just smooth and deep- punchy when it's supposed to be. Did a lot of Rap systems and got a lot of strange looks when the car owners would come in- it was like they were thinking "What's this old White dude gonna do with this?" and when they picked the cars up, the first thing they did after turning it on was smile and laugh because it exceeded their expectations. I may not listen to Rap & Hip Hop, but I know how to make a system perform- even though my speakers only have a pair of 6.5" Peerless woofers, they do great on rap, which has its peak well above the F3 of my speakers.

 

[Pogre]

I did car audio for over 20 years- I don't like the low end to be too strong, just smooth and deep- punchy when it's supposed to be. Did a lot of Rap systems and got a lot of strange looks when the car owners would come in- it was like they were thinking "What's this old White dude gonna do with this?" and when they picked the cars up, the first thing they did after turning it on was smile and laugh because it exceeded their expectations. I may not listen to Rap & Hip Hop, but I know how to make a system perform- even though my speakers only have a pair of 6.5" Peerless woofers, they do great on rap, which has its peak well above the F3 of my speakers.

I was into car audio for a while too. I put together a pretty nice system, but got tired of tearing everything out and reinstalling it every time I got a new car.

I'm not questioning your system's capabilities at all. I was just pointing out that with a 6db bump it sounds pretty nice.

 

[rojo]

I was into car audio for a while too. I put together a pretty nice system, but got tired of tearing everything out and reinstalling it every time I got a new car.

I'm not questioning your system's capabilities at all. I was just pointing out that with a 6db bump it sounds pretty nice.

There's no shame in a bit of a house curve, boosting bass to get closer to the Fletcher-Munson curve for your preferred listening volume. (Edit: spurious idea) I generally turn my subs up ~6dB from Audyssey's auto level set as well, IIRC. (I've slept since the last time I ran the sweeps, so I don't recall exactly how much I increased my subs. But 6dB sounds about right.)

 

[shadyJ]

There's no shame in a bit of a house curve, boosting bass to get closer to the Fletcher-Munson curve for your preferred listening volume. I generally turn my subs up ~6dB from Audyssey's auto level set as well, IIRC. (I've slept since the last time I ran the sweeps, so I don't recall exactly how much I increased my subs. But 6dB sounds about right.)

No one should ever try to compensate for an equal loudness curve. Just because we hear in a non-uniform manner does not somehow mean that we hear inaccurately.

 

[Irvrobinson]

No one should ever try to compensate for an equal loudness curve. Just because we hear in a non-uniform manner does not somehow mean that we hear inaccurately.

But there are many people who just prefer fat bass.

 

[Pogre]

No one should ever try to compensate for an equal loudness curve. Just because we hear in a non-uniform manner does not somehow mean that we hear inaccurately.

Shady, I don't understand this reply when you say "No one should ever try to compensate for an equal loudness curve.". Sorry, I haven't had lunch yet...