Definitely review the manual for hook up and check with Golden, bass should not be a problem based on what I heard. Speakers, especially quality ones, do require a break in, usually lengthy. Are the bass drivers moving? When checking for movement or "air" be sure you are looking at the active drivers opposed to the passive radiator. No insult, but in case, a passive radiator is like the speaker cone with no magnet or other structure behind it, the air from the active, or powered, drivers cause the radiator to move, but they movement usually isn't nearly as much as with the active driver.

Also, be sure the music you are listening to actually has bass content, better speakers reproduce bass more accurately which will give more detail which in some cases can seem like less bass due to less distortion and smearing. In other words you should better hear the kick drum separated from the bass guitar or synth rhyths etc.

I suspect though your situation has a resolution, I've seen no one complain about shy bass on the Golden Ear, except until now . Good luck and keep us posted. I can certainly empathize when a purchase don't meet your expectations.