Are there any amps with the bass of the Sony STR-DE545

[bakerb95619]

I'm a new subscriber to this forum. I don't consider myself an audiophile, however I've been trying different A/V Receivers and can't find any that have the full bass of the Sony STR-DE545 in the surround and DTS settings.

Obviosly this is an old amplifier. I've bought 3 of them from eBay sellers in the past few years (and re-soldered the relays on two of them) in order to keep them going. I've had other Sony units and a Yamaha, and the bass is just too weak. Are there any A/V Receivers out there that have equal or better bass than this unit? I'm ready to spend more money for a unit that sounds as good or better (and preferrably lasts longer without issues).

 

[3db]

I'm a new subscriber to this forum. I don't consider myself an audiophile, however I've been trying different A/V Receivers and can't find any that have the full bass of the Sony STR-DE545 in the surround and DTS settings.

Obviosly this is an old amplifier. I've bought 3 of them from eBay sellers in the past few years (and re-soldered the relays on two of them) in order to keep them going. I've had other Sony units and a Yamaha, and the bass is just too weak. Are there any A/V Receivers out there that have equal or better bass than this unit? I'm ready to spend more money for a unit that sounds as good or better (and preferrably lasts longer without issues).

That's your biased perception. In a DBT test, you would not be able to tell the differeces. Considering the amplifiers are essentially flat across the audio spectrum, there is no difference between Yamaha, Sony or any other AVR in bass response.

 

[Adam]

To the OP - welcome to the forum! What speakers are you using?

That's your biased perception. In a DBT test, you would not be able to tell the differeces. Considering the amplifiers are essentially flat across the audio spectrum, there is no difference between Yamaha, Sony or any other AVR in bass response.

Is it possible that the speakers being used have a low enough impedance in the lower frequencies that less capable receivers aren't driving them sufficiently, but that particular Sony is?

 

[bakerb95619]

3db: Sorry if my terminology is incorrect. What I'm referring to is, if I turn the bass up to MAX on any other amplifier I've owned/tried, it still comes nowhere close to the power I feel when the bass on the STR-DE545 is set to, say, the 50% setting.

Bass notes that I can feel (like at a concert) don't happen at all on other amps set at MAX bass. With the STR-DE545, I feel those notes at the 50% setting.

Sorry again if my terminology isn't correct, but hopefully this explains it better.

Adam: Thanks! I'm using a Sony 5.1 micro stellite speaker system with a SA-WMS325 powered subwoofer. This is an older speaker system, so it's certainly possible that the subwoofer is the problem. However does the fact that it's a powered subwoofer mean that whatever the input, the power should be the same?

 

[Adam]

I was wondering if this was related to a bass control.

For your Sony, it has both a "bass boost" that adds +6 dB at 70 Hz, as well as the bass control on the tone setting that can adjust +/-6 dB at 100 Hz. It's entirely possible that the other receivers that you've tried aren't adjusting in those frequencies or are adjusting them less, and that's why it sounds weaker to you.

So, it's likely IMO that it's not the amp sections at all, but rather the equalizer settings on the receivers - and definitely is if this difference that you're hearing is below the subwoofer cut off frequency setting you're using on the Sony. The Sony receiver is still adjusting the audio signal going to the powered sub when you add in the bass boost or adjust the bass setting (if your cut off is above 70 and 100 Hz, respectively).

 

[3db]

To the OP - welcome to the forum! What speakers are you using?



Is it possible that the speakers being used have a low enough impedance in the lower frequencies that less capable receivers aren't driving them sufficiently, but that particular Sony is?

It could be..... spoke too soo I guess