Good deep bass

[cyberttc]

My sound card has an optical output. I want a digital decoder that can boost deep bass. Especially around 20Hz-35Hz. Can you suggest some decoder to me? It doesn't matter if it is just a stereo decoder. But it is better if the bass level can be adjustable. I have a Bose speaker. I really need your help! Thx.

 

[RanDum72]

What kind of sound card do you use? Sound cards based on the latest Crystal chipsets (like Hercules GXP, Fortissimo II, Turtle Beach Santa Cruz)
have graphic equalizers where you can always adjus the bass. Sound Blaster cards have bass/treble controls. Speaking of speakers and decoders,
is your Bose speaker powered or does it need an amplifier? If it needs an amp, then just buy a receiver ( depending on your budget, Dolby Digital/DTS receivers always have the option of boosting bass).
And judging on the frequencies that you want boosted (20-35hz??!!), you definitely need a subwoofer to get good bass response that low ( or a large speaker).
Just go to Costco and buy a KLH sub (10-inch woofer with 120w amp) for $99.

 

[cyberttc]

My Bose speaker doesn't have an amp in it so I need one that can boost low bass. Any suggestion?

 

[RanDum72]

What model Bose do you have? Chances are it won't reproduce anything below 50hz. Just get a stereo receiver (like the $79 Sherwoods at Circuit city with 105watts/channel) and get a subwoofer. You can boost all the bass you want but if the speaker ain't willing ( or not capable in this case, 20-35hz is only for subwoofers. Heck, even the average sub go down only to 35hz, better subs can go down to 20hz), you won't get any meaningful volume for deep bass.

 

[tweakmm]

*snicker snicker* bose..... *snicker snicker*

 

[Operandi]

No highs no lows, rhythms with blows must be Bose.....

 

[cyberttc]

<< Chances are it won't reproduce anything below 50hz. >>



My Bose speaker has a subwoofer. I know it can produce 20Hz. All I want is a digital decoder that can boost 20Hz-35Hz bass so I can enjoy it.

 

[RanDum72]

My Bose speaker has a subwoofer. I know it can produce 20Hz. All I want is a digital decoder that can boost 20Hz-35Hz bass so I can enjoy it.

can you tell us how you know it can produce 20-35hz? The frequency is mostly felt, not heard.

Even if you have an Acoustimass model ( the satellites and the bass module), it doesn't mean it can produce 20-35hz. Maybe it will but the sound level is going to be very low. You boost it with an equalizer but there are limitations on what the drivers can do. It happens to have small drivers in a bandpass enclosure and the lowest frequency you can go with adequate sound levels would probably be around 35-50hz. Like I said, even the better subs with big ass 10 to 15 inch drivers can go down to around 25-28hz with adequate volume and low distortion. You can boost it with the small drivers but either it will distort or not produce much sound at all in that frequency.

It will also help if you can tell us what Bose model you have.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

What do you mean your speaker has a subwoofer?
Surely you have satellite speakers <and> a subwoofer...

I very much doubt that the subwoofer in a sub/satellite package could get down to 40Hz let alone 25, because it has to handle some of the midrange as well.

Anyway, I'm willing to bet that any source you are listening to won't drop below 35Hz be it movies, music or PC games.

 

[cyberttc]

Yeah I have an Acoustimass® 5 Series III Speaker System, see picture here. My friend has one too. I had tried her system so I think it should be able to produce 25Hz-35Hz bass. I want a decoder that can boost up the low bass. Can you suggest some to me?

 

[Woodchuck2000]

What makes you think it'll go below 40Hz? Low bass is 40-100Hz. Anything lower is really Sub-bass...

You're not gonna find a receiver that'll boost Sub-Bass frequencies because no speakers will handle them. The only thing that'll produce that kinda rumble are serious dedicated subwoofers.

 

[cyberttc]

I have tested the subwoofer, it does. It is not that difficult to produce sub-bass frequencies.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

So when are you actually going to benefit from boosting the <40Hz frequencies?

 

[Workin']

<< I have tested the subwoofer, it does. It is not that difficult to produce sub-bass frequencies. >>

It IS difficult to produce sub-bass frequencies. Bose systems DO NOT have "subwoofers". They have "bass modules" - and there is a big difference. You have to move a LOT of air to reproduce deep bass. 6-1/2 inch "woofers" don't cut it. To reproduce true 20Hz bass you generally need at least a 15" driver's worth of radiating surface area and at least 500 watts of power for the subwoofer alone.

I guarantee you that your Bose Acoustimass system doesn't and will not produce any bass below about 40Hz. If you feed it a test signal below that all you are hearing are higher-frequency harmonics, not the fundamental tone.

That said, just buy the cheapest receiver you can find with an optical digital input and use that.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

<sigh of relief>
Thank-you workin, I thought I was going mad there for a moment.....