What really causes boomy, slow and ill-defined bass?

Leaving aside room problems which may account for most of it does one a) just blame a badly ported speaker, b) blame a power amp which just can't control the drivers properly, c) blame it on the software: many CDs have a synthed, boomy bass in the first place; vinyl usually seems better, d) other factors or combinations of factors.
How does one produce a fast, tuneful but deep and extended bass? Are subs the answer or is it not possible? Does one have to choose between fast/tuneful but hardly there and slow/boomy but deep and extended. I've not heard Linns most expensive speakers. Do they solve the problem? What is the budget needed to achieve something acceptable?

Unfortunately you can't rule-out room problems as they have as much influence (and maybe more) than the difference between competent speakers. Perhaps some dimensions and your current kit might help.

Keep moving your speakers, try them in different positions (the relation in distance between the rear and side walls is important) try toeing them in..

What speakers and equipment are you using ?

Kabers, Klouts, Kairn, Mimik 2.. To be honest I do suspect the Kabers are to big for this room now which is 4m x 7m and quite heavily furnished and carpeted.. I listened recently to a few standmounts and wondered if these maybe combined with a sub would suit me better..

I have a heavily furnished room, 3m x 3.5m, and active Akurate 212s + sub sound wonderful in it (mind you, I'm also using an Audyssey Multi-EQ to help sort out the room modes)...

dlorde wrote:I have a heavily furnished room, 3m x 3.5m, and active Akurate 212s + sub sound wonderful in it (mind you, I'm also using an Audyssey Multi-EQ to help sort out the room modes)...

Is that between the amp and the sub and only filters the signal the sub recieves.. I would have thought that was adding something in the signal path which I thought you should avoid?

It's clearly a bad idea to have anything in the signal path that audibly degrades the signal. The Audyssey sits between the preamp and the amps and dynamically equalizes the whole range. It sits right in the signal path, and furthermore, it does A/D before processing, then D/A back again. I think the result sounds way better than the unequalized signal for 5.1 surround, and I don't hear any degradation with 2.1. The Audyssey MultiEQ is not cheap, although it's not the most expensive component in my system, but I think it justifies it's place in the signal path. YMMV.

Having said that, although my hearing measures slightly better than average for my age group, I don't hear noticeable differences between low-cost or expensive cables for power, ICs, or speakers, whichever way round they are installed - as long as they are well engineered and assembled. Nor do I hear differences between solid IKEA furniture and specialist hifi stands, racks & tables (other than the sound reflections they may make). I do hear differences in the room environment, such as doors or curtains open/shut, furniture positions, etc.

Over the years this has probably saved me a fortune on hifi woo and snake-oil ;-)