Basslink II Review

[Aimster]

I have a DSP system.

Settings:
Gain 3/4
Cross-Over - 1/2
Bass - 1/2
Bass Remote Switch - I have Bass turned up all the way

To sum it up: Treble > Bass. Meaning my speakers are louder than the Bass.

This thing is 'ok', but it is definitely not for shaking your car or vibrating your car seat.

Basically I am pretty disappointed. I was expecting there to be a lot of bass. It does add a needed improvement to the overall system.

I listen to trance music and I hear sounds that I didn't hear with the DSP system. That's the only plus.

If you are looking for loud bass then this is not for you.

However, I guess for $250 I shouldn't have expected too much.

[x5GuyInLA]

does the basslink work fine now that you've changed the wires?

[x5GuyInLA]

as far as your settings.......see how raising your bass boost up to max will sound, which according to the manual is +3dB. Looking at the manual, if max is +3dB and min is -6dB, then halfway is -1.5dB, so the bass is about 3/4 of what it's supposed to be at 0dB. make sure either your gain or your bass knob is turned down before you do that just to be sure that you don't damage the basslink, then adjust them accordingly once you have the bass boost up. let me know if that helps the sound. also, where do you have the basslink placed? that can make a difference in how the bass sounds.

[Ken@BSW]

Originally Posted by x5GuyInLA

as far as your settings.......see how raising your bass boost up to max will sound, which according to the manual is +3dB. Looking at the manual, if max is +3dB and min is -6dB, then halfway is -1.5dB, so the bass is about 3/4 of what it's supposed to be at 0dB. make sure either your gain or your bass knob is turned down before you do that just to be sure that you don't damage the basslink, then adjust them accordingly once you have the bass boost up. let me know if that helps the sound. also, where do you have the basslink placed? that can make a difference in how the bass sounds.

If he cranks the bass boost to max, he will get plenty of distortion, it won't matter where the gain is set. In ideal circumstances, you want to use the bass boost as little as possible.

[x5GuyInLA]

Originally Posted by Ken@BSW

If he cranks the bass boost to max, he will get plenty of distortion, it won't matter where the gain is set. In ideal circumstances, you want to use the bass boost as little as possible.

that's what the bass knob is for; so he can adjust the basslink so it doesn't distort. he's not happy with how the basslink is sounding, so maybe changing his setting will make it sound better. his max boost is only +3dB at 40hz, which is only double of what it would sound like if the boost was flat. my suggestion is based on what i've found to sound good. in my previous systems, i've usually had the gain at 1/2 or less with the bass boost up usually up between +3dB to +6dB. with my plv-7, i have the bass boost (centered at 45hz) set at +6dB with the gain at about 20% up and i don't have distortion unless i have the bass knob all the way up at full volume. but i'll try what you suggest with keeping the bass boost low and see how it sounds.

[Ken@BSW]

Originally Posted by x5GuyInLA

that's what the bass knob is for; so he can adjust the basslink so it doesn't distort. he's not happy with how the basslink is sounding, so maybe changing his setting will make it sound better. his max boost is only +3dB at 40hz, which is only double of what it would sound like if the boost was flat. my suggestion is based on what i've found to sound good. in my previous systems, i've usually had the gain at 1/2 or less with the bass boost up usually up between +3dB to +6dB. with my plv-7, i have the bass boost (centered at 45hz) set at +6dB with the gain at about 20% up and i don't have distortion unless i have the bass knob all the way up at full volume. but i'll try what you suggest with keeping the bass boost low and see how it sounds.

The issue with turning up the bass boost is not that it in and of itself creates distortion. Turning up the bass boost does just that - boosts the output at whatever frequency it is designed for, we'll say 40 Hz for example. You turn up the bass boost, you now have an artificial peak at 40 Hz, and trailing off in both directions until the level reaches 0 db boost again. Now, this is also entirely dependant on how the gains are set. In theory, gains should be set to maximum un-clipped level, but when you add bass boost into the mix, the amplifier now has a peak that it has to artificially reproduce, therefore sometimes forcing the amplifier to clip, or distort. Bass boost doesn't normally cause the speaker itself to distort the sound waves, unless it is already being overpowered. Bass boost normally distorts the signal comming out of the amplifier. My theory - keep the bast boost at the minimum setting, set your gains appropriately, which it sounds like Aimster has done, and roll with it. Best way to achieve, clean, distortion-free music. If it's not enough - time to re-evaluate your equipment and/or install.

[x5GuyInLA]

Originally Posted by Ken@BSW

The issue with turning up the bass boost is not that it in and of itself creates distortion. Turning up the bass boost does just that - boosts the output at whatever frequency it is designed for, we'll say 40 Hz for example. You turn up the bass boost, you now have an artificial peak at 40 Hz, and trailing off in both directions until the level reaches 0 db boost again. Now, this is also entirely dependant on how the gains are set. In theory, gains should be set to maximum un-clipped level, but when you add bass boost into the mix, the amplifier now has a peak that it has to artificially reproduce, therefore sometimes forcing the amplifier to clip, or distort. Bass boost doesn't normally cause the speaker itself to distort the sound waves, unless it is already being overpowered. Bass boost normally distorts the signal comming out of the amplifier. My theory - keep the bast boost at the minimum setting, set your gains appropriately, which it sounds like Aimster has done, and roll with it. Best way to achieve, clean, distortion-free music. If it's not enough - time to re-evaluate your equipment and/or install.

i understand that.......the bass boost is essentially an EQ setting. right now Aimster has the setting at 1/2 between -6dB and +3dB, which is at -1.5dB. so all the frequencies around 40hz are going to be below flat, which is probably one of the reasons why he's not getting the bass response he wants. by turning up the bass boost (maybe not up to maximum, although i don't think +3dB is that high), he might get a better bass response. i think it's a matter of opinion as to what sounds best. i like to listen to house/trance as well, and it sounds pretty good at the settings i have.

as for the crossover setting, i think he has it set at 85hz because the setting is between 50hz and 120hz.

[Ken@BSW]

Originally Posted by Aimster

I have a DSP system.

Settings:
Gain 3/4
Cross-Over - 1/2
Bass - 1/2
Bass Remote Switch - I have Bass turned up all the way

Aimster, by 1/2 on your crossover, what frequency is that, d you know? I'm not too familiar with the basslink, so please forgive me. Are there numbers anywhere on the dial? Depending on what frequency your crossover is set at, re-adjustment of the crossover might yield you a db or 2.

[Aimster]

Is a lower crossover better or a higher crossover?
It goes from 50hz to 120hz. I have it set on the middle. I read somewhere that lower is better for better SQ (below 80?)


If you have a basslink what settings do you use?

The bass boost I turned it up a little more than 1/2 and it did improve the bass response, but it sounded kind of muddy, but I also turned up the crossover a little too.

Just making sure, is the basslink supposed to be louder than my speakers? Maybe it is just the type of music I listen to. I listen to 99.9% vocal trance (future trance albums, dream dance albums, etc). The .1% of the time I listen to hip-hop/rap some of the songs really kick and I like that feeling. That's sort of what I'm expecting all the time I guess. Possibly even more.

-Yes, the problem with my Basslink was the wiring. I had the original 8gauge wire, but it wasn't cut. I cut a good 15 feet off of it. It improved 80% but it was still cutting out at very high volumes so the only thing I could think of was to solder the wires tapping into the factory system. That solved the problem. The basslink is in the trunk next to the factory amp standing up. I have to unscrew the basslink now to reach the factory amp area.



I was thinking of upgrading to this:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-vnysvEy...1000&I=500PLV7



maybe that's more what I'm looking for?

[Dblock2151]

Heard some good things about that Alpine set-up. If you're interested in buying my stealthbox, please let me know.