Viewing: Why so much bass?

***old-git*** · 17-12-2008, 09:45 PM

Bearing in mind that I am of the opinion that trying to get great sounds from a car system is a totally pointless and waste of hard earned cash, can someone explain why the system (that can cost thousands) is then drowned out by the bass knob being turned fully clockwise?

Surely there is more to music than bass?

I guess that I must be missing something (apart from perfroated eardrums and the fine hairs in my inner ear).

**turbonutter69** · 17-12-2008, 09:55 PM

I have big bass but if you build the system right you get crystal clear sounds as well. I've got some component speakers up front an they are real loud an really crisp. The bass just adds depth to the sounds. At the minute i'm in the middle of changing my install from 1 car to another. I'll try an take pics of it bit by bit an post them up of progress. But anyway if the system is built right you can have clear sounds and deep bass and they will work very well with each other...

**stamford** · 17-12-2008, 09:58 PM

The only bass I like is when Mark King is slapping away! Other than that I get peed off when in traffic all I hear is boom boom from cars around me.

***old-git*** · 17-12-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stamford

The only bass I like is when Mark King is slapping away! Other than that I get peed off when in traffic all I hear is boom boom from cars around me.

Hear, bloody hear (or not, in this case)

**turbonutter69** · 17-12-2008, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stamford

The only bass I like is when Mark King is slapping away! Other than that I get peed off when in traffic all I hear is boom boom from cars around me.

You wouldn't like to be near me in traffic then....

***old-git*** · 17-12-2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbonutter69

I have big bass but if you build the system right you get crystal clear sounds as well. I've got some component speakers up front an they are real loud an really crisp. The bass just adds depth to the sounds. At the minute i'm in the middle of changing my install from 1 car to another. I'll try an take pics of it bit by bit an post them up of progress. But anyway if the system is built right you can have clear sounds and deep bass and they will work very well with each other...

It appears from more than 5m to drown out everything else! If I tried playing Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin with a lot of bass the music would be ruined. Do you just play stuff specifiaclly designed to sound good with excesive bass, or will anything do?

**stamford** · 17-12-2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbonutter69

You wouldn't like to be near me in traffic then....

I would get out of my car, tap on your window, smiling

, then after you have wound your window down to say "hi" I would reach in and nick your keys and throw them across the road!

I would love to do that but probably pick on the wrong car, some 6'4" brick outhouse

***old-git*** · 17-12-2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbonutter69

You wouldn't like to be near me in traffic then....

Somewhat anti-socal, don't you think?

***HDi fun*** · 17-12-2008, 10:20 PM

Bass is an integral part of music. Yet sadly most don't understand or hear it unless it's cranked up, boomy and tuneless.

Those of us who play or have played bass instruments spend losts of years practising to refine the art just for some twit to relegate it to silly booming noise.

I look for (indeed, I listen to) tuneful and articulate bass. I want to hear the start, the end, the pitch and the purpose of each bass note.

I also like deep bass extension in audio systems. I do not like over amplification of the low-mid audio spectrum.

Bass IS NOT BOOM BOOM THUD THUD.

**turbonutter69** · 17-12-2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old-git

Somewhat anti-socal, don't you think?

I like to listen to my music loud is there anything wrong with that? I don't go around at night an blast it out. I listen to my tunes mostly in daytime...

**turbonutter69** · 17-12-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old-git

It appears from more than 5m to drown out everything else! If I tried playing Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin with a lot of bass the music would be ruined. Do you just play stuff specifiaclly designed to sound good with excesive bass, or will anything do?

No the bass doesn't ruin it cause I've got components up front which is a 6.5" midrange and a tweeter and they are more than enough to compete with the bass. Honest my sounds are clean and crisp even with the bass cranked up. My stereo lets me control the subs from it so I can tune it up or down if need be....

**pgarner** · 17-12-2008, 10:57 PM

bass is good and i admit ive normally got 2 subs in the boot BUT they arent turned all the way up. only to add a bit of depth to the rest of the range.
OG youve got to remember most cars that go BOOM BOOM BOOM have more dB than hp

**turbonutter69** · 17-12-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgarner

bass is good and i admit ive normally got 2 subs in the boot BUT they arent turned all the way up. only to add a bit of depth to the rest of the range.
OG youve got to remember most cars that go BOOM BOOM BOOM have more dB than hp

lol

Mine isn't wacked up full it's setup. An that is key. The setup is everything when it come to installs.

***old-git*** · 17-12-2008, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbonutter69

I like to listen to my music loud is there anything wrong with that? I don't go around at night an blast it out. I listen to my tunes mostly in daytime...

Well, actually, yes, when I don't want to hear it. It's called being considerate to others. But this is probably an age thing as I am constantly telling my son to turn the bloddy bass down!

***old-git*** · 17-12-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbonutter69

No the bass doesn't ruin it cause I've got components up front which is a 6.5" midrange and a tweeter and they are more than enough to compete with the bass. Honest my sounds are clean and crisp even with the bass cranked up. My stereo lets me control the subs from it so I can tune it up or down if need be....

I will take your word for it

**turbonutter69** · 17-12-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old-git

I will take your word for it

I started with 1 12inch sub. But when I put the Alpine components in they just drowned out the bass. Thats why I have 2 now and the balance is very good. But like I say it is setup for sound quality. Not just thump thump. Although it does have good tight bass.

***old-git*** · 17-12-2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbonutter69

I started with 1 12inch sub. But when I put the Alpine components in they just drowned out the bass. Thats why I have 2 now and the balance is very good. But like I say it is setup for sound quality. Not just thump thump. Although it does have good tight bass.

Wish I hadn't asked the question, now

What the hell is 'tight bass' ?

**turbonutter69** · 18-12-2008, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old-git

Wish I hadn't asked the question, now

What the hell is 'tight bass' ?

It's punchy And quick. It means the subs can drop to the really low note very well without distortion. It means the subs are clear and not muddy or clouded out.

***old-git*** · 18-12-2008, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbonutter69

It's punchy And quick. It means the subs can drop to the really low note very well without distortion. It means the subs are clear and not muddy or clouded out.

Ah, right, thanks. Learn something new every day, left it a little late today but made it.

**turbonutter69** · 18-12-2008, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old-git

Ah, right, thanks. Learn something new every day, left it a little late today but made it.

lol it's ok mate.

***Prince*** · 18-12-2008, 01:16 AM

I like bass, but I don't want a heavy sound system as it kind of defies the point of weight saving.

**pgarner** · 18-12-2008, 01:01 PM

get a lightweight 8" sub then, some small ones outdo the big heaver ones its mstly to do with how well the magnet works.
if the magnet is powerful in the 8" then t is possible that it could move more more air than a cheap 12" one

Rich · 18-12-2008, 04:32 PM

You can never have too much money, too many underpants, or too much bass.

(I'm a bassist, so I may well be just a bijou bit biased

)

***old-git*** · 18-12-2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

You can never have too much money, too many underpants, or too much bass.

(I'm a bassist, so I may well be just a bijou bit biased

)

But if ALL you can hear is the bass, why bother with other instruments? Surely there is a balance to be had.

I wonder whether it is a primal urge thing. Back in the pre-history days, people were only able to make a small range of artificial noises (excluding vocal) using percussion tools. So the drum was popular and the deeper the tone the further it travelled. Drums were often used as warnings so when heard the adrenaline would start to flow. They were also used to prepare warriors for battle, helping to wind them up into a frenzy.

When driving a car that my son had last used, I switched on the CD player only to be accosted by music that was mostly bass. Before adjusting the balance to a more melodic setting I noticed my heart beat had risen and my body was vibrating (expect witty comments)- I could imagine my internal organs were buzzing about as well. Is this normal? If so, I would suggest that playing bass in a car would not be conducive to calm and considerate driving. Discuss.

**turbonutter69** · 18-12-2008, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old-git

But if ALL you can hear is the bass, why bother with other instruments? Surely there is a balance to be had.

I wonder whether it is a primal urge thing. Back in the pre-history days, people were only able to make a small range of artificial noises (excluding vocal) using percussion tools. So the drum was popular and the deeper the tone the further it travelled. Drums were often used as warnings so when heard the adrenaline would start to flow. They were also used to prepare warriors for battle, helping to wind them up into a frenzy.

When driving a car that my son had last used, I switched on the CD player only to be accosted by music that was mostly bass. Before adjusting the balance to a more melodic setting I noticed my heart beat had risen and my body was vibrating (expect witty comments)- I could imagine my internal organs were buzzing about as well. Is this normal? If so, I would suggest that playing bass in a car would not be conducive to calm and considerate driving. Discuss.

What you kept the cd in then? I like to cruise with my tunes on. An I can assure you I can hear every little detail. Loud and bassy music doesn't make me drive any different anyway. I do like lots of bass hence the 2 12inch subs. But i've got the components to match the subs and it makes for a great listening experience.

OG you coming round to the new school music then mate.