Home Cinema - sub positioning
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Home Cinema - sub positioning
Before anybody sends me off to the avforums, I have registered there, I'm just waiting for the confirmation e-mail (still). So being the impatient sort of bod that I am and knowing we have quite a collection of audio nutters on here I thought I'd post here in the meantime.
I am looking at where to place a sub woofer for a surround sound set up. It isn't high end, £200 DVD player, £250 amp and looking at about £400 for the speaker set up (2 free standers, 2 rears, a front and a sub).
I understand you can put the sub anywhere, but I may be stretching that a bit far with my plan. We have suspended floors downstairs with about a 4 foot gap. Would I be able to mount the sub under the floor facing up or would that really knacker the sound up?
I am looking at where to place a sub woofer for a surround sound set up. It isn't high end, £200 DVD player, £250 amp and looking at about £400 for the speaker set up (2 free standers, 2 rears, a front and a sub).
I understand you can put the sub anywhere, but I may be stretching that a bit far with my plan. We have suspended floors downstairs with about a 4 foot gap. Would I be able to mount the sub under the floor facing up or would that really knacker the sound up?
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How big is the room mate? you can put a suba anywhere but it depends what your after. if you want tight bass then put it next to the tv or somewhere un enclosed. if you want boomeybass then put it behind the biggest sofa you have. just experiment. Have you been into a dealer and listend to any speakers? if you have spent 450 an a dvd n amp id recomend saving a bit more for better speakers. If you have a small room i hate to say it but id recomend a bose speaker only package. their great in small rooms. kind of artificial bass sound which you either love or hate. i love it
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Originally Posted by Ridge Racer
i know it says you can put a sub anywhere but that maybe pushing it a bit !! i myself think it would be a bad idea
Besides the bass speaker is pretty large so it would be good to have it out of the way.
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usually can put them anywhere but generally people put them next to the telly. I have mine next to the sofa though so its sort of behind you...
to be honest your plan seems a bit OTT for the type of kit you have. youd have to cut a hole int he floor to let the sound through... it wont be that powerful.
to be honest your plan seems a bit OTT for the type of kit you have. youd have to cut a hole int he floor to let the sound through... it wont be that powerful.
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Originally Posted by C2forWRX
How big is the room mate?
you can put a suba anywhere but it depends what your after.
if you want tight bass then put it next to the tv or somewhere un enclosed. if you want boomeybass then put it behind the biggest sofa you have. just experiment.
Have you been into a dealer and listend to any speakers? if you have spent 450 an a dvd n amp id recomend saving a bit more for better speakers.
If you have a small room i hate to say it but id recomend a bose speaker only package. their great in small rooms. kind of artificial bass sound which you either love or hate. i love it
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People may say you can put a sub anywhere, but that's not strictly true.
What is true, is that the right place to put it in your particular room could be anywhere - but you'll have to experiment to find out where that is.
Even though bass is non-directional - you can't hear exactly where it's coming from - it can set up standing waves within your listening room. This is where sound bounces off solid surfaces and interferes with the original source. This interference will be constructive in some parts of the room and destructive in others, so in your listening position you could hear massively overblown bass while someone elsewhere in the room hears nothing.
You can break up these waves, giving more consistent sound level throughout the room, by rearranging solid furniture, or you can position the sub such that you get a reasonable level in and around your listening position. Where that is will depend on your room size and layout.
For what it's worth, I have my sub tucked right into the corner of the room and set 180 degrees out of phase with the main speakers. But, I have a long thin rectangular lounge/diner, and standing waves are a problem. When I want to hear the system at its best, I move.
What is true, is that the right place to put it in your particular room could be anywhere - but you'll have to experiment to find out where that is.
Even though bass is non-directional - you can't hear exactly where it's coming from - it can set up standing waves within your listening room. This is where sound bounces off solid surfaces and interferes with the original source. This interference will be constructive in some parts of the room and destructive in others, so in your listening position you could hear massively overblown bass while someone elsewhere in the room hears nothing.
You can break up these waves, giving more consistent sound level throughout the room, by rearranging solid furniture, or you can position the sub such that you get a reasonable level in and around your listening position. Where that is will depend on your room size and layout.
For what it's worth, I have my sub tucked right into the corner of the room and set 180 degrees out of phase with the main speakers. But, I have a long thin rectangular lounge/diner, and standing waves are a problem. When I want to hear the system at its best, I move.
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Originally Posted by AndyC_772
People may say you can put a sub anywhere, but that's not strictly true.
What is true, is that the right place to put it in your particular room could be anywhere - but you'll have to experiment to find out where that is.
Even though bass is non-directional - you can't hear exactly where it's coming from - it can set up standing waves within your listening room. This is where sound bounces off solid surfaces and interferes with the original source. This interference will be constructive in some parts of the room and destructive in others, so in your listening position you could hear massively overblown bass while someone elsewhere in the room hears nothing.
You can break up these waves, giving more consistent sound level throughout the room, by rearranging solid furniture, or you can position the sub such that you get a reasonable level in and around your listening position. Where that is will depend on your room size and layout.
For what it's worth, I have my sub tucked right into the corner of the room and set 180 degrees out of phase with the main speakers. But, I have a long thin rectangular lounge/diner, and standing waves are a problem. When I want to hear the system at its best, I move.
What is true, is that the right place to put it in your particular room could be anywhere - but you'll have to experiment to find out where that is.
Even though bass is non-directional - you can't hear exactly where it's coming from - it can set up standing waves within your listening room. This is where sound bounces off solid surfaces and interferes with the original source. This interference will be constructive in some parts of the room and destructive in others, so in your listening position you could hear massively overblown bass while someone elsewhere in the room hears nothing.
You can break up these waves, giving more consistent sound level throughout the room, by rearranging solid furniture, or you can position the sub such that you get a reasonable level in and around your listening position. Where that is will depend on your room size and layout.
For what it's worth, I have my sub tucked right into the corner of the room and set 180 degrees out of phase with the main speakers. But, I have a long thin rectangular lounge/diner, and standing waves are a problem. When I want to hear the system at its best, I move.
I get the feeling it may have to go in a corner somewhere and we'll just have to suck it and see.
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Originally Posted by OllyK
Would I be able to mount the sub under the floor facing up or would that really knacker the sound up?
Behind the telly is a good spot.
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Bass is non directional, try different places to see if that helps. put it closer to where you sit if you want it louder if you are at max volume on the bass
My mate has his under his settee but is a lazty bugger and never moves off of it.
My mate has his under his settee but is a lazty bugger and never moves off of it.
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Thanks for all the replies, this under the floor thing isn't in an attempt to get the "best" sound, it is to try and recover floor space in the lounge. It is looking like I may just have to accept having it in a corner or go for a sub-less Bose system.
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Just to clarify - were you planning on recessing the sub into the floor, or going the whole hog and actually putting it under the floor with floor-boards etc. on top?
If it's recessed (i.e. with the outlet exposed to the room) then that may not be a bad idea. You'll need some sort of grill to stop small animals falling in, and it'll be worth sealing the join between the sub enclosure and the floor around it.
One way of finding a good position is to put the sub roughly where you sit (although not on a sofa or anything else which is soft, as it will absorb some of the energy which should be going out as sound). Then crawl around the room listening to the bass until you find somewhere that sounds like you want it. Corners etc. generally increase the bass whilst the further out in the room you go the bass gneerally lessens.
Anyway, when you're either happy or bored with crawling around, place the sub where you are. Then sit on the sofa and have a cuppa.
If it's recessed (i.e. with the outlet exposed to the room) then that may not be a bad idea. You'll need some sort of grill to stop small animals falling in, and it'll be worth sealing the join between the sub enclosure and the floor around it.
One way of finding a good position is to put the sub roughly where you sit (although not on a sofa or anything else which is soft, as it will absorb some of the energy which should be going out as sound). Then crawl around the room listening to the bass until you find somewhere that sounds like you want it. Corners etc. generally increase the bass whilst the further out in the room you go the bass gneerally lessens.
Anyway, when you're either happy or bored with crawling around, place the sub where you are. Then sit on the sofa and have a cuppa.
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Originally Posted by ru'
Just to clarify - were you planning on recessing the sub into the floor, or going the whole hog and actually putting it under the floor with floor-boards etc. on top?
If it's recessed (i.e. with the outlet exposed to the room) then that may not be a bad idea. You'll need some sort of grill to stop small animals falling in, and it'll be worth sealing the join between the sub enclosure and the floor around it.
One way of finding a good position is to put the sub roughly where you sit (although not on a sofa or anything else which is soft, as it will absorb some of the energy which should be going out as sound). Then crawl around the room listening to the bass until you find somewhere that sounds like you want it. Corners etc. generally increase the bass whilst the further out in the room you go the bass gneerally lessens.
Anyway, when you're either happy or bored with crawling around, place the sub where you are. Then sit on the sofa and have a cuppa.
If it's recessed (i.e. with the outlet exposed to the room) then that may not be a bad idea. You'll need some sort of grill to stop small animals falling in, and it'll be worth sealing the join between the sub enclosure and the floor around it.
One way of finding a good position is to put the sub roughly where you sit (although not on a sofa or anything else which is soft, as it will absorb some of the energy which should be going out as sound). Then crawl around the room listening to the bass until you find somewhere that sounds like you want it. Corners etc. generally increase the bass whilst the further out in the room you go the bass gneerally lessens.
Anyway, when you're either happy or bored with crawling around, place the sub where you are. Then sit on the sofa and have a cuppa.
I guess the only way to know, is to give it a try once I get the speakers but before I finally finish the decorating and flooring in the lounge.
#16
I agree with AndyC, I personally prefer it close to the TV. Is your TV against a flat wall or in a corner? if a corner, try placing the sub behind it. I found this site to have some useful info; http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/...ementguide.php
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Originally Posted by Rioja
I agree with AndyC, I personally prefer it close to the TV. Is your TV against a flat wall or in a corner? if a corner, try placing the sub behind it. I found this site to have some useful info; http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/...ementguide.php
I'll have a look - cheers
#18
if you suspend the sub/ into the floor, be aware that if its bass reflex rear port, you will you turn your underfloor space into a huge boom box, the sub will either sound pannts, or you will need need sh*t loads of volume to get decent results..
i had a standard sony sub with my system ( mixn match) not the best option, but it worked.. anyway one day i came a across an old kenwood clamshell sub..
fits in the corner of the room behind a speaker and sound superb...(kenwood amp) tight bass and has a nicle lamp built in to boot
Mart
i had a standard sony sub with my system ( mixn match) not the best option, but it worked.. anyway one day i came a across an old kenwood clamshell sub..
fits in the corner of the room behind a speaker and sound superb...(kenwood amp) tight bass and has a nicle lamp built in to boot
Mart
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