Too much bass?

[Joe Schmoe]

As much as I love my Alesis Monitors, I decided to try a pair of JBL Stadiums when I found them at a deep discount. It was the dual 8" woofers that seduced me, but now I am starting to think it is too much bass! With certain material, the bass just seems to overwhelm everything else (especially techno.) When I turn the volume down enough to keep my neighbors from lynching me, the highs seem quiet. Should I give up on the speakers? (They are within the 30-day return period.)

Note: tone controls seem to only effect the deep bass, and most of the issue is with the midbass.

 

[markw]

Try moving them away from the walls but, I gotta tell ya, an exaggerated upper/mid bass does sell a lot of speakers to Joe6pack and his buddies. They don't know extended, just loud.

 

[annunaki]

That sounds like it could very well be a resonance issue causing some "blooming" in the upper bass regions.

 

[fmw]

+1. If you've been using recording monitors then you have gotten used to music with most of the low frequencies attentuated. I think it is a matter of getting adjusted to the new sound.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

+1. If you've been using recording monitors then you have gotten used to music with most of the low frequencies attentuated. I think it is a matter of getting adjusted to the new sound.

I don't have to decide immediately, since there are a couple of weeks left on the return period (I bought them locally.) Part of me does lean towards going back to the monitors, though. I am not hearing a lot of difference in mids and highs (I do think the monitors throw a bigger soundstage, ironically.) The bass may be deeper/more powerful, but it is also not as tight or detailed.

 

[boboi]

As much as I love my Alesis Monitors, I decided to try a pair of JBL Stadiums when I found them at a deep discount. It was the dual 8" woofers that seduced me, but now I am starting to think it is too much bass! With certain material, the bass just seems to overwhelm everything else (especially techno.) When I turn the volume down enough to keep my neighbors from lynching me, the highs seem quiet. Should I give up on the speakers? (They are within the 30-day return period.)

Note: tone controls seem to only effect the deep bass, and most of the issue is with the midbass.

What source are you using to playback material through the speakers? Also listening distance plays a significant role in how one's ears perceives sound. Maybe adjusting the distance delay would help. I have not heard the JBL's, but I'm surprised the Stadiums do not effectively differentiate the mids from the highs-it has a dedicated 4" midrange transducer. In my humble opinion, if the sound isn't what you want/expected, you're better off returning them. I highly doubt the sound will change into something you want it to be.

I actually had my eyes on the JBL's a while back but never had the chance to hear them, so thanks for the feedback!

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I have not heard the JBL's, but I'm surprised the Stadiums do not effectively differentiate the mids from the highs-it has a dedicated 4" midrange transducer.

I did not say this! I said that the mids and highs from the JBLs sound very similar to the mids and highs from my Alesis monitors, with the only substantial differences being in the bass.

While I am still within the return period, I will try the monitors again to see if I still like them as much as I did previously, now that I have gotten used to the big JBLs.

 

[cornelius]

I listen on studio monitors everyday at work, so it took me a while to get accustomed to floorstanders too... Now I'm at the point where I don't think I'd ever want monitors at home again...

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I listen on studio monitors everyday at work, so it took me a while to get accustomed to floorstanders too... Now I'm at the point where I don't think I'd ever want monitors at home again...

I suppose that could end up happening in my case. I just hope I can reach a final decision before my 30 days are up. (The last thing I need is another set of paid-for speakers sitting in storage!)

I may even break out my tiny Cambridge S30s again, to see how much I miss bass below 55Hz. (I haven't listened to them since buying the Alesis'.)

 

[Brett A]

Full-range should not mean bloat. It sounds from what you are describing, that they are not presenting a balanced sound across the frequency spectrum.

This could be the sound of the speakers themselves, or it could be an issue with placement/room acoustics (or both). My full range speakers have a pretty even distribution, and no bloat---so it is possible.

As was stated already, move them as far as you can away from any walls or corners-- at least 3 feet in every direction. It this doesn't remedy the situation, then the steps you'd have to take to tame these bloated frequencies might be more trouble than its worth and you should consider a pair of speakers with better manners.

Getting 'used to' speakers should happen in the subtler realms, not on a gross scale. Like shoes, you should buy ones that fit and feel good the day they are new.

---just my $0.02

 

[Joe Schmoe]

As was stated already, move them as far as you can away from any walls or corners-- at least 3 feet in every direction.

My room is only 12' wide. 3' from each sidewall would place them only 6' apart (minus the width of the speakers themselves.) This is less separation than the manufacturer recommends, less than the distance from each speaker to the listening position, and would place them very much in the way to boot.

It is starting to look like returning them is the best option (after I make sure I still enjoy my smaller speakers, of course.)

 

[chadnliz]

It looks like those speaker port in rear and as such are much harder to place in room with distance to walls more critical behind speaker, you may not want to do this but you could stuff some foam or something in the ports and see how it changes sound. If you havent yet, listen to accoustic Classical or something along those lines and see how the bass sounds on that material.

 

[Sheep]

You should buy some definitive technology speakers. Zero Resonance, best speakers ever made, better then B&W 800 series.

SheepStar

 

[Joe Schmoe]

You should buy some definitive technology speakers. Zero Resonance, best speakers ever made, better then B&W 800 series.

SheepStar

I have two pairs in my HT. They sound awesome for that, but not so great in my separate stereo system.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I hooked up my Cambridge Audio S30s again last night. I was immediately reminded of why I loved them the first time around. I stopped noticing the "missing" bass after a few minutes, and they are just simply better speakers than the JBLs in all other respects (especially imaging.)

At this point, I think I will return the JBLs, use the S30s most of the time, and hang on to my Alesis monitors for times when I want a bit more bass than the S30s can provide. (Later, I may add a small, musical sub such as the "X-Sub".)

 

[dem beats]

You should buy some definitive technology speakers. Zero Resonance, best speakers ever made, better then B&W 800 series.

SheepStar

I would completely disagree.
lol

 

[dem beats]

Joe, I haven't listened to those speakers before, but when I was auditioning mine, I noticed that it's all about how close to walls and corners they are.

The more room you give them the better.

i.e. I really would love a pair of maggies, but with my previous listening area, they just didn't get the room they needed to breathe.

 

[chadnliz]

I would agree to return them, its far better to have a sin of ommision and very easy to forgive lean bass over a bloated sound.

 

[fredk]

If you like the S30s that much, returning the jls and picking up a good sub sounds like a lot more bang for the buck.

With the sub, you can tune the bass to exactly your liking.

 

[newaudiofile]

I don't have to decide immediately, since there are a couple of weeks left on the return period (I bought them locally.) Part of me does lean towards going back to the monitors, though. I am not hearing a lot of difference in mids and highs (I do think the monitors throw a bigger soundstage, ironically.) The bass may be deeper/more powerful, but it is also not as tight or detailed.

I know exactly what you mean. i had a JBL sub with 8" driver and just like you, it was loud and could shake the room but somehow I felt something was missing. Just like you I was looking for the tightness. I even started a tread here asking for some advice. In the end i returned it and got myself a Wharfedale PowerCube 10+. I havent really done so much calibrations but it does sound better.

So you can keep the JBL and keep tweaking but it will be good to send it than back than get stuck with something you are not completely satisfied with.