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Weak Bass from my SP 1/2s

I've lived with Spendor 1/2Es (circa 12/97) for about a year now and love them. However, I have noticed that they just have very low bass output under anything below about 70 Hz (to my ears) though they are rated for +/- 3db at 45Hz. Interestingly enough, my old SP 2/3s, which were smaller and rated down to 60Hz, clearly had significantly more extension connected to the same front end. I have moved them around to no avail and am scratching my head, as I KNOW they are capable of more. Additionally, the woofers move surprisingly little when reproducing low bass at higher dBs levels (less than my 2/3s). Are there any SP1/2 owners out there that have experienced the same thing, and if so is the key a beefy amp? (I am driving them with a 25W SS NAD).
bojack
mechans
3,048 posts
 
You need more power as already suggested. I might try something with much much more juice like a Wyed4Sound amp, as big as you can afford, It is class D o it won't be as rich as some other amps (class A or A/B) but the price per watt ratio goes up dramatically.
And before someone gets on their high horse and tells me that it's the quality of the power not the amount I am well aware of that. In this case I am not suggesting junk and would say get a Pass XA150 but I don't think the OP can afford it. Maybe I am wrong and yes if the first watt sucks what goo is 300 more of them.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
I also use RELs but the Spendors can have good bass. Back in the early 80s I use to use SP 2s to demo Krell amps when I was a Krell dealer. But I had a live end/ dead end listening room with a concrete floor.
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,305 posts
 
I like the bass from my NAD 326BEE with Sound Dynamic speakers it is full and controlled and seems to go quite low

fwiw...
bojack OP
631 posts
 
Wow, thanks for all the responses. I think I might demo an amp with significantly more current and power than my NAD and see what happens. Something tells me though, that there is a disconnect between the size of the 1/2s and what they are capable of. And as funds allow, I might look at an REL B3 as well.
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
Take it from me, sometimes speaker-amp matching can be mystifying. The load the amp detects from the speakers does not logically work as expected; does not always translate to the sound (bass or otherwise) that the specifications would indicate should occur. It can be hit and miss.
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