Sub Placement

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Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

#86252 4-Jul-2011 18:04

I'm considering shifting my sub from the "normal" spot (by the front floorstanders) to the vacant spot between/behind my couches.
To do this I will need about a 10m cable, so want some opinions before I pay ~$50 ffor one

I know bass is omni directional, so assuming I can get it far away from the wall to eliminte the boominess it seems to get, can anyone see any reason why this would sound bad?

I want to shift it for space and aesthetics, and was thinking if it is closer to the ear the volume could be turned down to compensate, and maybe the added bonus of really feeling big explosions etc in movies.

Thoughts?

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RunningMan

8955 posts

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#489297 4-Jul-2011 18:26

Can you get a temporary cable and try it first?

Nety

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#489299 4-Jul-2011 18:37

There is a method to use when finding sub placement. As below from www.home-theater-systems-advice.com

One technique for finding your best subwoofer placement is to "trade places" with it. Place your sub in your normal listening position -- on your chair or couch at ear level -- with it playing bass intensive media and then search for the spot(s) in your room (on your knees with your head at just above floor level) where the bass sounds more pronounced. This unconventional technique is best performed alone so as not to draw strange looks and comments regarding your level of sanity from family and friends. ;)

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richms

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#489323 4-Jul-2011 19:36

Bass is anything but omnidirectional when you are talking about the freqs that most subs end up putting out to get some bass on a system with weak as high-WAF speakers. If your mains are good to 40Hz or so and you have it set up properly then yeah, you can move it heaps and the mains will still anchor the sound, but much higher than that and you will always hear the sub, and if you move the crossover lower it doesnt work either, unless there is content from the mains as well.

Also if the sub is really close then the port noise might become a bit annoying too.

I have found about a meter into the room along a sidewall worked great in both places I had the HT set up, unfortunatly now the room it has to go into is all windows so I cant use it properly because its louder outside than inside :(

Richard rich.ms

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#489332 4-Jul-2011 20:12

Buy the cable from Dick Smith, then, if you don't like the result - return it. ;-)

Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

#489374 4-Jul-2011 21:29

Thanks for the replies. Nety, i have used that to position the sub currently, but would still need the cable to do this.
Rich, my wharfies are good till 40hz, i cannot noticeably hear the sub with how things are set. The transition is near seamless. I can actually happily watch a good movie without it on and hardly notice except the walls dont vibrate!
By the sounds of it i may just have to try and see

richms

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#489406 4-Jul-2011 22:09

Rollux: Thanks for the replies. Nety, i have used that to position the sub currently, but would still need the cable to do this.

Rich, my wharfies are good till 40hz, i cannot noticeably hear the sub with how things are set. The transition is near seamless. I can actually happily watch a good movie without it on and hardly notice except the walls dont vibrate!

By the sounds of it i may just have to try and see

You will be fine almost anywhere then. Its on the systems that woman have ruined that you have problems.

IMO, womans rights was the worst thing ever to happen to audio ;)

Richard rich.ms

Jaxson

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#489638 5-Jul-2011 13:12

RG69 cable and some compression/hex crimp/solder rca plugs. Total cost would be more like $25 perhaps?

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Rollux

362 posts

Ultimate Geek

#489685 5-Jul-2011 15:16

richms:
You will be fine almost anywhere then. Its on the systems that woman have ruined that you have problems.

IMO, womans rights was the worst thing ever to happen to audio ;)

Haha, I know what you mean but my wife actually Likes the big floor standers (as long as they're in the right colour ;) ) so that wasn't an issue in our house. Space to set a proper soundstage is the most difficult, so if I can move the sub without upsetting things audibly it will enable me to have a wider soundstage :)

As a side note, my wife wanted me to get these http://www.avland.co.uk/aasp/wharfedale/0920/diamond10.7/diamond10.7lrg.jpg but unfortunately aren't brought into NZ