Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby

blitter2 · May 22, 2011, 09:42 PM

Tyrsonswood, please when a subwoofer is cornered, and its back side has wall near it, does reverb or odd reflections happen or only amplification?

That is when the speaker and air hole are not facing any walls, but into the room.

Tyrsonswood · May 22, 2011, 10:17 PM

You kind of have to let your ears tell you....... different walls will react different. Say a "sheet rock or gypsum board" vs an old horsehair plaster wall.... one reflects more than the other. (plaster is much harder, more reflection, more chance for a reverb effect) If there's wood paneling, that would add another layer, more absorption less reflection (and also a chance for vibration) I'm just saying there are a lot of factors involved, many of which really only apply with "pro-sound" equipment where there is hundreds or thousands of watts being applied to each channel....... You aren't going to be seeing (hearing) that with a home setup, usually.

Also, I know you're working with a corner but shouldn't the hole in a vented subwoofer face to the side instead of directly at you? Not sure if that's a "standard" or not but it seems that most will suggest that. If it sounds okay, it's not an issue and may tame some possible problems that way.

It is, after all, what sounds good to you is the "right way"....... and some issues may not arise because you never listen at a high enough volume. (or the equipment can't get that loud) I don't recall, did you mention what gear you are using ('scuse me, but it's been awhile since this thread started)

blitter2 · May 22, 2011, 10:42 PM

Logitech Z3 8 inch sub and Hercules sats 2.1 LFE setup.

I came a setup up with the sub at the center of the room half a meter away from where I listen.

Does the close distance between the sub and the listener have any dissadvantages?

Or a sub has to be at least x meters or cm away from the listener to be heared the best?

I only want to be listening from that possision.

Tyrsonswood · May 23, 2011, 12:27 AM

Shouldn't really matter, a sub is more felt than heard.... Should be centered in the stereo field and is usually along a wall but could be the center of the room (Just that the wires become a hassle)

My 12 inch 230 watt Onkyo subwoofer sits under my desk....

blitter2 · May 23, 2011, 12:07 PM

Thank you Tyrsonwood.

blitter2 · Jun 11, 2011, 05:40 PM

Please when a subwoofer is placed at the center of a room, does it matter which way its speaker looks at?

Parhaps best way is the opposite direction from listening posision to more felt than heared?

Tyrsonswood?

Judas · Jun 11, 2011, 06:01 PM

when it comes to subwoofers..... placement (direction) doesn't matter..

however location does even if they say "it doesn't matter" because surfaces AROUND the subwoofer will either dampen or amplify it's effect.

Putting a subwoofer in the middle of the room will dampen it's effect greatly, as the sound and vibrations will be soaked up by the airspace and furniture around the room... (which depending on your tastes may be better for you or worse)

This is kind of a thing in which you are going to have to trial and error for youself in which you end up liking to really determine what you want.

Some people don't like an amplified resenation by putting it under a desk.. others do... some people don't like it in the corner giving it a more throaty beefy effect.. some people prefer it in a dampened place..

some people like it behind them.. some like it beside them.. some like it in front of them.

SOME even like it under them (built into the furniture somewhat)....

In the end it's up to you, whichever is both conveinent and not in the way... and sounds good to you or the people you select to be your gage to figure out what it best.

We just recommended some of the most common solutions that most people tend to agree on for being the best.

Tyrsonswood · Jun 11, 2011, 10:48 PM

The subs that are designed for center room location are usually speaker facing down closed box....... also typically not "computer grade" audio. Think theaters, professional sound stages, auditoriums etc. with very large speakers and high wattage dedicated amps. Putting a computer grade sub in the middle of the room may not get you where you want to be, but as Judas said, it's subjective and what sounds best to you (and others that will be listening) One thing about the sub you have been asking about is they tend to be directional, so if you get it to a location and orientation that sounds good to you, in your chair, it may not to someone over "there" on the sofa.

I also would guess you are not dealing with a very large room...... and certainly not an acoustically designed room. There's only so much you can do and at some point "good enough" will have to be good enough.

**kris23** · Jun 12, 2011, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

IKEA....... generally not a brand of desk you want to slap a subwoofer under....

i haz a Z-5500 sub under an ikea desk...

Tipstaff · Jun 12, 2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

i haz a Z-5500 sub under an ikea desk...

There's a joke in there somewhere, just can't think of one at 6:30am...

Judas · Jun 14, 2011, 05:24 PM

i figured with a z-5500 under an ikea desk.. it would disassemble itself and even put itself back in it's own box... with the sub woofer at 3/4 and playing a gnarls barkley song of choice

It will drive itself back to ikea if it's a remix by DJ Igor

**kris23** · Jun 14, 2011, 06:06 PM

lool

still going strong after all that... but it is more steel than wood so it holds...

May 22, 2011, 09:42 PM	Thread Starter #31
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Tyrsonswood, please when a subwoofer is cornered, and its back side has wall near it, does reverb or odd reflections happen or only amplification? That is when the speaker and air hole are not facing any walls, but into the room. Last edited by blitter2; May 22, 2011 at 09:50 PM.

May 22, 2011, 10:42 PM	Thread Starter #33
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Logitech Z3 8 inch sub and Hercules sats 2.1 LFE setup. I came a setup up with the sub at the center of the room half a meter away from where I listen. Does the close distance between the sub and the listener have any dissadvantages? Or a sub has to be at least x meters or cm away from the listener to be heared the best? I only want to be listening from that possision. Last edited by blitter2; May 22, 2011 at 11:04 PM.

May 23, 2011, 12:07 PM	Thread Starter #35
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Thank you Tyrsonwood.

Jun 11, 2011, 05:40 PM	Thread Starter #36
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Please when a subwoofer is placed at the center of a room, does it matter which way its speaker looks at? Parhaps best way is the opposite direction from listening posision to more felt than heared? Tyrsonswood? Last edited by blitter2; Jun 11, 2011 at 05:59 PM.

Jun 14, 2011, 06:06 PM	#42
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,018 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby lool still going strong after all that... but it is more steel than wood so it holds... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!