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Sopra 2 Bass

New member, first post, and newbie in terms of diving into the world of nice things. This world is insane! I've already been spiraling for a few months researching what to buy, AB'ing countless speakers and amps. I now own a McIntosh MA9000 that's driving my new Focal Sopra N2s via Kimber 12VS. My "dilemma" is with the lack of BASS. I demoed the N2s, so I know it's possible, but absent in my home. I have to use the tone controls (this is where you tear me apart) to bump the low end. I do not know if it's my room, lack of bass traps, or equipment, but I'm failing to get down a little lower without tone adjustments. I stream Tidal Masters to my wired Bluesound NODE 2i (optical to the MA9000 dac). My room is 11'x20.5' with a low, 7.5' ceiling. I have tried as many speaker positions as possible with little change. I already know I need to eliminate room echo in the center of the room and have been researching various acoustic treatments. I feel like I'm off to a good start, but now stuck, not totally satisfied. Yes, it's the best I've ever owned and mind-blowing amazing, emotional, etc, but just short of perfect for me. In tracks where I expect a punch, I get an unmoving transition... Can I get "there" with different wire? Should I consider a sub? Why do folks on this site use two subs? Do I need to hire someone to properly sound-treat the room? Is my room a lost cause for what I own? Reaching out because I'm stuck, afraid to waste money chasing dead ends. My budget is thin after the McIntosh and Focals. Any help would be so appreciated! I hope to learn, grow and pay it forward some day. Thank you.
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mtbiker29's avatar
mtbiker29
174 posts
 
OP, Don't do anything until you get your room dialed in.  Exhibit A:  You had no carpet in front of hard surface floors?  No wonder you were underwhelmed.  I wanted to cry when I was setting up my system in my new home, until my wife accidentally bought a large pile wool rug.  It went a long way towards cleaning things up.   

I suggested loading a picture of your "virtual system" (really just a pic attached to your profile) as we would have picked up on that right away and saved you a few steps.  Go to upper right where your username is and click on it.  Click on my name and you'll see mine as an example.  

You've got great gear, don't sweat this.  
chorus
976 posts
 
All the "Room Correction" equipment sold primarily address Bass.

Read up and find one that is well reviewed and buy it with a home trial.

My guess is that will make you happy. 

Sounds like the space is a converted garage stall?

Keep us posted with your progress!
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,926 posts
 
my money is on getting a solid state amp that mates properly with the sopra low impedance, and addressing placement and less than ideal room effects

maybe break in if the speakers are brand new

then you will have a better chance at the best bass that can be gotten from the sopras

first para of what i said above is incorrect... now that i realize the op’s macintosh is a high power solid state unit... that amp shoud drive the sopra’s just fine

gotta be the room and speaker/room coupling - sopra may be somewhat bright up top, but it is not significantly lacking in bass

larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,018 posts
 
I wonder what a pair of REL S2's would do to your sound?  I added a pair of these and it really made a difference.  You have to dial them in so they don't stand out from your main speakers.  If done correctly, they will act more like additional larger size woofers.

I would be curious to know what kinds of music you enjoy listening to.  

I do like the tweeters and the mid voicing of Focal's, but I do think they could use a little more base.  That is why I mentioned the REL Subwoofers.  Their high level connection is really a clever way to integrate a subwoofer with tower speakers.
fittebd
102 posts
 
I have Sopra 2 and for the size they do indeed don’t go as low as you would think they could. I have 200hz suck as well as a dip in 80, as well as 40. Very common. I did as someone else’s suggested.  I use Roon and it’s DSP and merged in my sub. Ultra 13 from SVS with the upgraded amp. Together they mesh very well and sub disappears with the DSP. MiniDSP is another sub too but I don’t have any experience with it. Love my set up now. 
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