Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby

blitter2 · Jan 15, 2011, 06:44 PM

Please is it distorsion of any frequencies of the bass sound if wooden surfaces are nearby the subwoofer?

For example if the subwoofer is under a small desk?

Or is it just amplification?

Tyrsonswood · Jan 15, 2011, 10:09 PM

The desk could pick up the vibrations and do weird things with it (reverb. rattle, ghost frequencies, etc.)

Judas · Jan 18, 2011, 03:59 PM

depends on the types and placement and whats on it..

Some good desks and such will actually "amplify" the sound.... but i usually avoid doing this..

it's always best for most accurate sound i find..... to place a subwoofer in a clear corner, with the port facing one of the 2 walls.. and depending on it's size..... anywhere from 6 to 12inches (1 foot) away from the wall on each side that has a wall.

blibbax · Jan 18, 2011, 08:15 PM

My subwoofer sits under a wooden desk both at home and in my student accomodation. I've noticed no issues. I regularly host film evenings in both locations, and the only comments I've ever ever had complimentary comments regarding the sound quality.

Judas · Jan 18, 2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blibbax

My subwoofer sits under a wooden desk both at home and in my student accomodation. I've noticed no issues. I regularly host film evenings in both locations, and the only comments I've ever ever had complimentary comments regarding the sound quality.

generally i haven't ran into a problem either... but i HAVE been at a number of households with many different types of desks and with subwoofers placed in places both under and around a desk with utterly horrible results..

Worst one i'm aware of is one that was assembled and using pretty poor way of "connecting" the chunks of wood together... every time they used their sound.. the subwoofer would make the entire desk vibrate with a terrible sound, almost like the subwoofer was blown and the speakers were distorting...

Another case is where the were draws that would vibrate to the point of absalute annoyance.. made it hard to hear what was said during movies sometimes with the constant vibration...

Tyrsonswood · Jan 18, 2011, 11:28 PM

It is instances like that, that I was referring to in my earlier post. I've even seen some desks that were not much more than glorified cardboard with plastic fasteners holding it together.......

Judas · Jan 19, 2011, 12:12 AM

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

blibbax · Jan 19, 2011, 12:28 AM

I dunno, I've had a couple of solid bits of IKEA furniture. Never tested one with a sub on or near it though :P

Tyrsonswood · Jan 19, 2011, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

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

I was trying to not name, names.......

blibbax · Jan 19, 2011, 01:52 PM

Other brands of cheap, flat packed, Swedish furniture served with meatballs are available.

blitter2 · Jan 23, 2011, 01:48 PM

Which posision can be best for an 8 ich subwoofer? on the desk, under the desk or very near to it (5cm)?

I can deal with any amplification that I will encounter by lowering the bass volume.

Tyrsonswood · Jan 23, 2011, 02:12 PM

Should be on the floor, either under or near the desk.

blitter2 · Jan 23, 2011, 02:33 PM

Does it mind if one side of the subwoofer directly touches the desk?

Tyrsonswood · Jan 23, 2011, 02:36 PM

That would vibrate, I would keep it at a slight distance away from any surface.

blitter2 · Jan 23, 2011, 03:06 PM

Tyrsonswood won't the subwoofer under the desk have more surfaces nearby to help it reverb, rattle, ghost frequencies, etc. ?

In addition the place next the desk I mentioned is a small place as well, little larger than the place under the desk.

All this time I had the subwoofer placed on the desk and it didn't sound bad. No surfaces around it, just wall little behind it. Which are the disadvantages of that placement?

blitter2 · Jan 23, 2011, 04:58 PM

Ok Tyrsonswood. I guess you ment the desk pickup vibrations is less at the placements you recommanded.

Thanks.

Tyrsonswood · Jan 23, 2011, 07:56 PM

Right, desktop would be prone to causing rattles, etc. while the floor not so much... under the desk could be, depending on the desk, as was mentioned above. Also the floor is a more "natural" place as far as listening goes..... a true subwoofer is "felt" more than heard, having it on the floor is more conducive to that experience.

blitter2 · Jan 23, 2011, 08:57 PM

So, 2cm right of the desk can mean the desk won't pick anything?

Or is it the best placement from the three ones I mentioned?

Someone once told me a subwoofer needs to be 50cm away from any wooden surface. Is it true?

Tyrsonswood · Jan 23, 2011, 09:36 PM

At what volume? It basically comes down to what sounds best to you, and sometimes that involves "what you can tolerate" as far as non-linear amplification.

An audio-snob will have you clear the room of any furniture, place components according to some mathematical formula and tell you to enjoy..... meanwhile there's no place to sit.

In the real world we do the best we can and enjoy the music anyways...... If you are forced, due to a small room, to have a sub under or very close to your desk and it's not causing any major problems to your ear, then it's fine, even if it breaks all the "rules"....

sapo_joe · Jan 24, 2011, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood

At what volume? It basically comes down to what sounds best to you, and sometimes that involves "what you can tolerate" as far as non-linear amplification.

An audio-snob will have you clear the room of any furniture, place components according to some mathematical formula and tell you to enjoy..... meanwhile there's no place to sit.

In the real world we do the best we can and enjoy the music anyways...... If you are forced, due to a small room, to have a sub under or very close to your desk and it's not causing any major problems to your ear, then it's fine, even if it breaks all the "rules"....

I totally agree with that! My sub is located under the desk because it hosts the remote control IR receiver, so it's the only spot in range. I only had to down its volume a tad, and it's sounding very well!

blitter2 · Jan 25, 2011, 06:28 PM

Tyrsonswood I read on the net that a room corner placement for a subwoofer gives a "boomy" bass. Is it true?

Tyrsonswood · Jan 25, 2011, 07:03 PM

Double reflections if it's in a corner, I guess that could be called "boomy"..... Reverb can be generated this way if things are just right. ( or wrong.... depending on your viewpoint)

Note: if a desk were solid enough and went all the way to the floor that's almost a corner also. (some of the odd reflections or ghost sounds I mentioned)

blitter2 · Jan 25, 2011, 07:06 PM

Which is please the correct way for a subwoofer to face when near a corner? One corner wall or the room space?

Tyrsonswood · Jan 25, 2011, 07:08 PM

Yours isn't ported, it's direct I believe. I would face it towards the room.... if faced at the corner the odd reflections could be an issue.

blitter2 · Jan 25, 2011, 07:10 PM

It isn't ported no.

Thanks.

sapo_joe · Jan 25, 2011, 07:57 PM

The front of the sub should be facing the room. Even if it was ported, I believe.

Tyrsonswood · Jan 25, 2011, 08:59 PM

Unless that put the port directly into the corner.......

blitter2 · Jan 28, 2011, 10:24 AM

Ok Tyrsonswood.

So, reverb happens when the subwoofer is facing the incorrect way.

Now my desk, which is close to the subwoofer (no direct contact), is little rattling, please does frequency ghosting occurs at any degree?

Are the ghost frequencies the ones I hear when I put my ear onto the desk's drawer area and hear what the desk is picking from the subwoofer?

Tyrsonswood · Jan 28, 2011, 12:49 PM

Ghost's are anything that's not supposed to be there that can't be easily explained/eliminated. Your desk drawer rattling it just that, a rattle and you know what is doing it...... fixing it could be a challenge though.

blitter2 · Jan 28, 2011, 02:25 PM

Thanks Tyrsonswood

Jan 15, 2011, 06:44 PM	#1
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Please is it distorsion of any frequencies of the bass sound if wooden surfaces are nearby the subwoofer? For example if the subwoofer is under a small desk? Or is it just amplification? Last edited by blitter2; Jan 15, 2011 at 06:59 PM.

Jan 18, 2011, 08:15 PM	#4
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,230 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby My subwoofer sits under a wooden desk both at home and in my student accomodation. I've noticed no issues. I regularly host film evenings in both locations, and the only comments I've ever ever had complimentary comments regarding the sound quality. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Jan 19, 2011, 12:28 AM	#8
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,230 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby I dunno, I've had a couple of solid bits of IKEA furniture. Never tested one with a sub on or near it though :P __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Jan 19, 2011, 01:52 PM	#10
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,230 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Other brands of cheap, flat packed, Swedish furniture served with meatballs are available. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!

Jan 23, 2011, 01:48 PM	Thread Starter #11
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Which posision can be best for an 8 ich subwoofer? on the desk, under the desk or very near to it (5cm)? I can deal with any amplification that I will encounter by lowering the bass volume.

Jan 23, 2011, 02:33 PM	Thread Starter #13
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Does it mind if one side of the subwoofer directly touches the desk?

Jan 23, 2011, 03:06 PM	Thread Starter #15
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Tyrsonswood won't the subwoofer under the desk have more surfaces nearby to help it reverb, rattle, ghost frequencies, etc. ? In addition the place next the desk I mentioned is a small place as well, little larger than the place under the desk. All this time I had the subwoofer placed on the desk and it didn't sound bad. No surfaces around it, just wall little behind it. Which are the disadvantages of that placement? Last edited by blitter2; Jan 23, 2011 at 03:21 PM.

Jan 23, 2011, 04:58 PM	Thread Starter #16
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Ok Tyrsonswood. I guess you ment the desk pickup vibrations is less at the placements you recommanded. Thanks. Last edited by blitter2; Jan 23, 2011 at 05:18 PM.

Jan 23, 2011, 08:57 PM	Thread Starter #18
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby So, 2cm right of the desk can mean the desk won't pick anything? Or is it the best placement from the three ones I mentioned? Someone once told me a subwoofer needs to be 50cm away from any wooden surface. Is it true? Last edited by blitter2; Jan 23, 2011 at 09:34 PM.

Jan 25, 2011, 06:28 PM	Thread Starter #21
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Tyrsonswood I read on the net that a room corner placement for a subwoofer gives a "boomy" bass. Is it true? Last edited by blitter2; Jan 25, 2011 at 06:38 PM.

Jan 25, 2011, 07:06 PM	Thread Starter #23
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Which is please the correct way for a subwoofer to face when near a corner? One corner wall or the room space?

Jan 25, 2011, 07:10 PM	Thread Starter #25
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby It isn't ported no. Thanks.

Jan 25, 2011, 07:57 PM	#26
sapo_joe HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby The front of the sub should be facing the room. Even if it was ported, I believe. __________________ Stayin' aLive! Rig#1 (Main): Phenom X4 955 BE / 4GB RAM / Asus mobo / Radeon 5670 1GB / Samsung 26'' LCD Display / 2.45 Tb HDD Storage / Sound Blaster Xi-Fi Titanium / Edifier M3351 5.1 speakers / Windows 2008 Server Enterprise R2 Rig#2 (@ parents): Pentium 4 Dual Core 3.0Ghz / 3GB RAM / MSI mobo / Geforce 8600 GT 256 mb / LG 19'' LCD Display / 860 Gb HDD Storage / Sound Blaster Audigy Value / Edifier RT1900 III 2.0 monitor speakers / Windows 7 Ultimate

Jan 28, 2011, 10:24 AM	Thread Starter #28
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Ok Tyrsonswood. So, reverb happens when the subwoofer is facing the incorrect way. Now my desk, which is close to the subwoofer (no direct contact), is little rattling, please does frequency ghosting occurs at any degree? Are the ghost frequencies the ones I hear when I put my ear onto the desk's drawer area and hear what the desk is picking from the subwoofer? Last edited by blitter2; Jan 28, 2011 at 11:48 AM.

Jan 28, 2011, 02:25 PM	Thread Starter #30
blitter2 HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 196 Rep Power: 26	Re: Subwoofer and wooden surfaces nearby Thanks Tyrsonswood Last edited by blitter2; Jan 28, 2011 at 07:21 PM.