What Defines Good Bass In Sound Reinforcement?

Life has few absolutes. Still, it is widely accepted that one never have too much money or too much bass. People cave bass.
Bass causes an immediate sense of community.

Wherever there is organized bass, the surrounding area becomes a social scene.
LF is the core of global dance culture, the hype in hip-hop and the bedrock of rock and roll.

Historically the evolution of the big bass is associated with cinema systems. Remember the overwhelming LF during the movie Earthquake?
Back then, many movie houses installed specially designed oversized Cervin Vega subwoofers.
Suddenly, everything was rumble.... bass was chick and the race for bass was on!

In my opinion here’s what good bass sounds like:

• Bass impulses do not mask the rest of the music.

• You have a sense that the bass is part of the music, not just some rhythmic sound effect.

• The bass has color and texture that vary from moment to moment—it isn’t all just the same monotonous drone all the time. Unless, of course, that’s the way the music is intended to sound.

• You can hear the pitches of notes, not just vague roars, rumbles, bonks, and thuds.

• Percussive sounds are realistic, and do not sound like giants coughing or rugs being beaten or huge pillows being whacked with sticks.

• Transients are strong and hard, but when a sustained note is called for, it is clearly and musically produced.

• There are no spurious harsh or honky noises added.

• When a really loud, really low note is played, it hits you in the stomach and lower body, not just in the upper chest and head.

In your opinion what really defines good bass in sound reinforcement?

Cracker = Jim?

For me, Bass has to be in balance, and I don't mean flat response. We all know that for dance music, if your system is eq'd flat from HF to Subs there probably won't be enough bass. First of all it has to be in time and accurate. The problem is that a lot of people aren't aware of what bass is supposed to sound like. I've heard many small DJ systems where the bass is bad, usually due to balance and restrictions with the cab, and they seem quite happy to carry on. For some people, it's almost used as an effect. Car systems, although impressive, are really bad with bass, because the music is never how it was mastered in the studio.

+1.

Edited by jbl_man - 07 October 2010 at 8:56am

+1
Clear, articulate Hf is the 1st thing I aim for, and I like to get punchy bass that allows for separation between instruments.
I'm bored of the muddy, wooly bottom end that seems to be favoured by many large system manufacturers; all too 'subby' for my liking....

If you want to hear the potential of good bass, then listen to very good hi fi speakers. It may not be loud but it will sound very real. (to me it does anyway).