Little to no bass?

[GarrettMaster1]

Hello I am having an issue with some hardware. First off I'm using a QSC RMX850 amplifier to power a pair of Yamaha S12E speakers. When playing music through this setup via an iPod, I am hearing little/no bass response.

Through some testing with a frequency generator I discovered that the amp was in fact able to deliver the 25+Hz bass BUT I in porportion to the tweater was too soft.

I guess my overall question is if I am able to make the low/high frequency response equal porportion so I can hear the music in its original ranges. (or if this hardware is able to do such a thing)

Thank You in advance,

GarrettMaster1

 

[daddyg007]

iPod help

I too had a similar problem. I have a Pioneer Elite VSX-52TX and have an iPod hooked up. I have found that only while using the AUX or even the VIDEO2 inputs did this similar situation disappear.

 

[GarrettMaster1]

I found out this much a moment ago while running some tests-- my amp is not the issue. It's actually a very responsive amp--the issue is the loudspeakers.

My question is now this--if anyone knows the physical limits of the Yamaha s12e PA speakers in terms of delivering full ranged music let me know. I think that others out there with PA style speakers share my same sentiment and curiosity on if and how to go about fixing/modding this genre of speakers.

Best Regards,

GarrettMaster1

 

[j_garcia]

MP3 isn't exactly the best source to use. If you are using lower bitrate media, the problem is may be the media itself.

From the looks of it, this is a power amp only. You should never hook a source directly to a power amp without a preamp of some kind in between.

*edit Just looked up those speakers. Their -3dB response is 65Hz, which is not going to give you much bass. They appear to be designed to go loud, not low.

 

[GarrettMaster1]

From the looks of it, this is a power amp only. You should never hook a source directly to a power amp without a preamp of some kind in between.

*edit Just looked up those speakers. Their -3dB response is 65Hz, which is not going to give you much bass. They appear to be designed to go loud, not low.

--> By not putting a preamp in the middle of the path between the source and amp am I harming the equipment? I know it doesnt help with the actual audio quality what I am doing but just wondered if there was a physical issue as well.

Also as far as the -3dB response to 65Hz, should I look for speakers with a higher dB? What is a good level on that?

Thank you for all of your replies I really appreciate this!

-GarrettMaster1

 

[j_garcia]

What that means is they start to roll off their bass response at 65Hz, probably getting down to the mid 50s. "Full range" would be considered down to 20Hz, so if it is bass you are looking for, you'll want something that goes lower or add a sub. Typically for music, I'd say you'll want something that is at least good down into the mid 30s to 40s.

 

[GarrettMaster1]

I did some frequency tests and found I could get these speakers down to about 30Hz BUT I had to turn up the amp significantly to produce it sufficently. The situation is obviously when the mid/high ranges are with the low notes I get blasted to my bottom with the high sounds.

My assumption is what was stated earlier in this thread with the fact that these speakers may not be able to produce the full range gracefully due to the fact that they are for loud voice addresses.

--> Perhaps a mod to the crossover would help?

 

[j_garcia]

The crossover generally doesn't affect the low end extension of a given speaker. That is determined physically by the driver handling the lows and the tuning of the cabinet.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

You've got DJ/PA speakers and a PA/Pro amp. What's missing is the eq.
Those speakers, although only going down to 50ish Hz, will produce immense slam. They handle 250 watts RMS/500 peak, and if you don't eq that power, you're not sending the driver the optimum signal.

 

[GarrettMaster1]

You've got DJ/PA speakers and a PA/Pro amp. What's missing is the eq.
Those speakers, although only going down to 50ish Hz, will produce immense slam. They handle 250 watts RMS/500 peak, and if you don't eq that power, you're not sending the driver the optimum signal.

I will try an eq. but after j_garcia's input it does seem that the physical driver is not capable of such devistating bass Unless of course I turn up the volume to an optimal volume for a concert I would think.

 

[Reorx]

Don't ipods have a built in EQ?
Did you check that setting to make sure the bass is actually up, and not really low?

 

[bryantm3]

i've always noticed mp3 lacking in many areas, and low end is one of them. also, the iPod doesn't put out the best sound in the world, if you didn't notice.

 

[GarrettMaster1]

Well I tried this on several devices... iPod, Sound Card, Piano/Synth, etc. The results were the same.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Well I tried this on several devices... iPod, Sound Card, Piano/Synth, etc. The results were the same.

Have you tried Windows Media Player or Winamp eq?

 

[GarrettMaster1]

I have and the results are not as effective as I would have thought.

>>I had a chance to speak to a Yamaha tech on the issue and he repoted that the speakers were flat but with the use of an equalizer in the path of the input before the amp it would drasticaly change my results. He suggested a product like the Yamaha MG 10

http://www.geartree.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/1288146/vpcsid/0/SFV/29865


BTW: I love the responses back and the amount of feedback from this fourm. Thank You!

-GarrettMaster1