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Can a subwoofer help a bad recording?

Currently, I am running a little push/pull tube amp through a pair of fairly, high efficiency Silverline Panatella floorstanding speakers. When I play a CD by Sade or Neko Case, the bass is excellent. The bass drum thumps and bass instruments are not boomy. However, on some CD, the bass just isn't there. I can hear it, but it has no authority. Is this the recording or can a subwoofer help out in some cases. I am think that a subwoofer won't help because it can't reproduce information that it isn't given.
matchstikman
cfjohn
15 posts
 
It's possible the Sade and Neko Case recordings have overly accented bass. Probably a better test than listing to thumping would be to play a good recording of a full classical symphony orchestra like Beethoven's Symphony #3 to see if the bass is full bodied or is thin. If thin, it's probably one or more elements in your system. The next step is to try replacing items one by one to see what makes the biggest difference. Try to borrow from friends or a good hi fi store. Chuck
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Cfjohn makes some good points and suggestions.

If your Silverlines are pretty much full-range, then, assuming all other components are somewhat equal, I'll venture a guess that more than likely it's your amplifier.

-IMO
matchstikman OP
205 posts
 
Cfjohn, I have played lots of classical and it is a very rich sound. I don't have that big of a collection, but I do have about 30 or so classical CDs to choose from. Are you saying that all(every) CD that I place on my system should have a bass with authority or else it is something on my system? As I write this I am listening to Paul McCartney's Wingspan and it sounds great; rich and full. By the way, I don't play my system very loud. It is a few notches higher that normal conversation.

By the way, I have no friends that share in my insanity.
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