Why analog tape recording has thick bass?

Big bass even when reproduced on a tiny speaker.


Is it the well known psychoacoustic phenomenon of the brain creating the missing fundamental?


The brain creates it if the harmonics are present.


In the past this property was used in electron tube record players, 1960's? The harmonic distortion or production was used to create the missing bass frequencies from relatively small speakers. Emerson E501 record player for example.


The E501 has the preamp electron tube cathode connected to ground. A 10 or 20? Megohm resistor in parallel with a 0.01 capacitor feeds the grid. This may be called grid leak biasing. At peaks a voltage is generated by the rectifying action of the grid. This increased negative bias reduces gain as it is really a side chain compressor voltage. Distortion artifacts must be creating useful clues for the brain to recreate a missing bass from the relatively small full range speaker. Attention when using these players. The mains voltage is used with no isolating transformer?!!! Smokey or potentially smokey resistors should be replaced and the operating unit when should not be left unattended.


Repeating:
Even when the fundamental bass is missing the brain creates from the existence of the harmonics.


Audio transformers and cassette (reel to reel players too?) gently and progressively overload at low frequencies too. This creates harmonics for every harmonic. Intermodulation is apparently less because of the rising in frequency recording characteristic?


If the fundamental and second harmonic is missing can the brain complete the picture?


Ie is it possible missing fundamentals that form a harmonic series to synthesize their missing fundamental in our brain? Ie can a missing fundamental (overtone) when created by our brain create in turn its missing fundamental?


Phycho-acoustics owes so much to S.S. Stevens!